ENTERTAINMENTS.

Taranaki Daily News, 13 June 1918, Page 5

ENTERTAINMENTS.

THE ROYAL STROLLERS. The appearance of the Royal Strollers in "Come Inside" at the Empire Theatre last night, was greeted by a large audience, which showed its appreciation of the entire programme in an unmistakable manner. The company was headed by that gifted and versatile entertainer, Mr. Sydney James, who is equally successful as a comedian or a clever mimic, and is one of the smartest and taost amusing ventriloquists ever seen. He was well supported, his chief associate being Miss Madeline Rossiter, a very graceful danseuse, whose fine talent has made her very popular with New Zealand audiences. Her treatment of ballads, flippant and sentimental, is as clever and resourceful as ever, and she j quite captivated her audience last night. The whole programme was given with vivacity characteristic of all the "Strollers' " entertainments. The company opened with a medley of musical mixtures, following which Mr. Sydney James gave clever dialectic imitations of the "Tit Willow" song from "The Mikado," and in the second half, in a "revue in three 'tabloids'," he gave a clever interpretation of the song, "He Does It By a Motion of His Hand." The "chief Stroller" also delighted his audience with his powers of "thought-reading," Mr. 6. W. Desmond proving a most docile "subject." In a very amusing character sketch, depicting the troubles of a night watchman, Mr. James was responsible for some witty repartee, in which some good local hits were got home. The irrepressible "Billy," in the ventriloquial item, proved most exhilarating, and convulsed the audience. Miss Rossiter, in addition to her dancing, is also a comedienne of much merit, and a vocalist of a high order. She sang "Babies Are Wonderful Things," and in response to an encore gave "Oh, Promise Me." Mr. George Graystone contributed in no small iuuusure to Clio enjoyment created, ills lirst song was a modernisation oi "The Admiral's Broom," and for an encore he sang "Rocked in the Cradle of the Deep." Mr. G W. Desmond, in company with tour of the ladies, sang "Good-bye to Bachelor Days," and was also heard in a duet with, Miss Rossiter Miss Josie Jackson has a voice of very wide range. She sang "When You Come Home," and a dainty little "lullaby" for an encore. The gentlemen of the party were responsible for a great deal of merriment in their number, "Three Jolly Sea Dogs." The dances by the ladies of the party, ably led by Miss Rossiter, the Tambourine and Pyjama dances being the most delightful. The party gave an ingenious interpretation of "A game of cards in three shuffles," portraying the carelessness of the modern Bridge devotees, the oM-ttme Whist players, and the costermongers' game of "Nap." The programme concluded with a burlesque, in which the whole company was involved, representing a production of "Faust." The "Strollers" will appear again to-night in an entire change of -programme. LEE TOY CHUNG. There was a fair house last evening to witness the farewell performance of Lee Toy Chung and company at the Good Templar Hall. The company starts on a tour Tound' the mountain, commencing',at. Okato to-night