The Birkenhead News and Wirral General Advertiser. — 1908-05-27 (Birkenhead, Merseyside, England)

PUBLIC AMUSEMENTS. NEW THEATRE ROYAL  The gentleman who from the gallery of the New Theatre Royal on Monday night , rewarded "Mr. Sexton Blake, Detective," with the heartily expreosed remark, "Bully for you. sir," probably expressed to a "T" the feelinps ot the audience Tethered on that occasion. The doings of Sexton Blake, Which for soma time have formed the body work of tales appearing in several periodicals, absolutely cry out for dramatisation, and the result of such Is certainly succes; in no small degree. "Sexton Blake," "Tinker," • and "Pedro" • (the bloodhound) had very evidently the add'tional charm of familiarity to Monday night's audience,and their manosuvres in the cense of justice were followed with breathless interest. For the purposes•of the play, an episode hes Iran chosen dealing with the murder of Squire Lovell, of which Roger Blackburn, whose suit for the hand of Marjorie Lovell has bees spurned by the squire, is suspected. By the efforts of Bloke the crime as brought home to Randolph Lovell (the squire's nephew), whose marriage with Marjorie is prevented at the last minute, thus leaving the field open to Roger. In the portrayal of the great detective Mr. Horace Hunter achieved a success, and at the same time a gratifying popularity: His appreciation of the varying moods which lend the charm of mystery to the character was perfection, and his acting throughout was cheragterised by commendable spontaneity. Mr. Bertram Neel kept the fun ing b hie tricks as "Tinker." and "Pedro' commanded attention by his every movement while he was on the stags! Miss Lily Haminersley made a graceful "Marjorie Lovell," and her acting, particularly in the more impassioned scenes, showed her to be possessed of considerable histrionic ability. The two villains of the piece, Randolph Lovell and Simon Paggas, found able representatives in Mr. H. 1.1. Barrington and Mr. John 31. East.  ARGYLE THEATRE OF VARIETIES Owing to the persevering and ',raiseworthy efforts of Mr. D. J. Clarke, the genial "Argyle" propn:etor, to please his patrons and give Ahem "value for the,r money," Birkenhead is favoured with the very essence of music-hall talent. There is not the slightest doubt that Mr. Clallee's efforts are more than appreciated, for the large audiences which are to be lonild in the Argyle at fiery performance spell* eloquently for the popularity of this comfortable little hall. AL.hough the weather on Monday evening was oppressively warm, there was a crowded audience at each house. What a splendid artiste is Harry Lauder, and how he carries the humour and feeling of his hearers with him! In fact, the more one sees him and hears him sing his strikingly. characteristic Scottish songs the more one ss impressed with his rare gifts as an artiste. On Monday evening as the second house he sang. three songs in all, and he " pattered" and "carried on" in a way which compelled- the people to laugh :oud and long. His Aiit two songs, which ai quite-new, were —When I go back to Bonnie Scotland" and "The Wadding Be!" were ringing," and the latter song his jokes and 'poetry' Caused great amusement. In response to II vociferous encore Mr. Lauder sang his old ditty. "Calligin," and the audience were simply con%irlsed with laughter. They allowed him. to Tears "the boards" ouiv with much reluctance. Toni and Maas Montramo. in a musical and comedy eketch. caused much amusement. their *kit, "Po you reverse?' being remarkably funny. Queenie lases is well described as a talented comedienne, for rho possesses a remarkably sweet soprano voice thick was heard to great 1414444gtji humorous and operatic selections on .34011day.,4alias .M.si&ot'S the shatter tag dames" proved Nimeelf to be a. tr •comed as. sad the Three Fanamis appeared au a erairt acrobatic tad dancing act. Other artistes who added to the success of the programme were John Robbs, tenor vocalist; Beaty and Blanche. duettists and dancers; Marie Dane, charming juvenile comedienne; and Fred Hallam. comedian. Brown's bioseope pictures are also excellent features of the bill.