AMUSEMENTS.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10222, 25 April 1911, Page 5

AMUSEMENTS.

"THE WANDERERS." AT THE MASTERTON TOWN HALL. The elements' were unkind to MiGeorge Stephenson and his brilliant musical costume comedy company for the first appearance of "The Wanderers" in Masterton. This notwithstanding, the Town Hall wan wellfilled last night to enjoy tho clsver variety entertainment presented by this versatile organisation. From start to finish, "The Wanderers" kept the audience in a simmer of laughter.

They are out to make fun, and they make it in such a fast and furious manner that the auditor?, havo scarcely time to breathe between their fits of convulsion. Possibly the most interesting feature of the programme was the first appearance before a local audience of a lady monolognist. Miss Phyllis Hopwood Foldi is a bom entertainer. Her gestures, her unique character impersonations; acUbd to a delightful piquancy in manner, contrive to captivate the affections cf all who are privileged to see and hear her. She is'in fact every inch an artiste—and a skilled one' at that. Mr Leslie Holmes is a master comedian. His songs are crisp and catchy, his get-up original, and his patter irresistible. The audience could not have enough of him, and his sketches also with Miss Ruby Guest were quite the most entertaining that have been witnessed in Masterton for years. Miss Madeline Verne, who possesses a pleasing soprano voice, was most successful in her items, whilst Mr George Winstanley was imperiously encoured for his clever "male soprano" efforts. Mr J. Keith Harvey, who was unfortunately suffering from a cold, was unable to take his solo, but he is a tenor-singer of more than average ability, and he quickly established himself a favourite with the, audience in his duet with Mr John D. Keenan, who is r. very fine baritone. As a Japanese danseuse Miss Everil Heggie is excellent, and her singing is bright and pleasing. The selections on the banjo and mandoline by Miss Ruby Guest were skilfully rendered, and proved most acceptable. The descriptive choruses were new and novel in their way, a number entitled "Bottle, Ho!" witli. a,musical accompaniment on bottles, being excellent. The whole programme was varied and entertaining, and was unanimously acclaimed the most popular of the kind ever presented in Masterton. The company will appear for a last time this evening, with an entire change of programme, when the latest Continental attraction, "The Harem Skirt Brigade," will be introduced. Those who can enjoy humour of a superior kind should not miss the opportunity of seeing "The Wanderers."

THOMPSON-PAYNE PICTURES. Despite the wet weather there was a good attendance at the Foresters' Hall last evening to witness the screening of the new programme. One of the most interesting and at the same time most instructive of the films shown was that illustrative of bee farming. The various stages of this important- industry were pictured with fidelity, even to a fight to the death between two queen bees. Of the dramas "Hearts and Politics" was an excellent one depicting the methods resorted to in the UnitecLStates to win an election, and abounding in exciting situations. Of a very like nature was "Through the Clouds," in which an aeroplane is made to play an important part in the righting of a wrong. "On the Mexican Border" was a splendid cowboy drama, in which some remarkable horsemanship is displayed. Two excellent comedies were shown, viz., "Neighbouring Flats," and "The Recreation of an L Heiress." "Street and Canal Scenes in Singapore," and "From Dawn to Sunset" were particularly fine travel | scenes, giving the audience a capital idea of the manners and customs of the places pictured. A number of other first class pictures were presented. The programme will be repeated to-night.