“THE RILEY SHOW"

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 69, Issue 77, 11 January 1949, Page 4

“THE RILEY SHOW"

Presented at St. James GOOD ENTERTAINMENT Creative artists, we are told, “learn in suffering what they teach in song,” but there was nothing melancholic in the “Riley Show” vaudeville presented at the St. James Theatre, Ashburton, last evening. Indeed, comedy was threaded through the entire entertainment, with Jack Riley, a creative artist if ever there was one, keeping the large audience chuckling, and carrying the show on his shoulders.

The non-stop nature of the revue was a pleasing feature, Jack Riley, Art D’Arcy and Sylvia Pointer bridging the gaps with clever patter and Wise-cracking, and glossing over any individual mediocrity. Comedy, instrumental, vocal, and novelty items were packed into 21 hours of good entertainment.

A slippery stage set Betty Richards a problem in her tap-dancing routine, but otherwise she impressed. Cyril Pascoe, in his violin solos, did his best along with the orchestra. There was startling realism in the impersonations of the overseas artists, Bonnie Baker, Deanna Durbin and Lena Horne, given by Kay Cargill (Mr Riley’s yOung daughter). A further youngster in the cast was Mervin Smith, who amused with his Yorksliire-accent items.

One performer who threatened to steal the show was the lyric tenor, Pat Johns, while another vocalist in serious items was Sylvia Pointer. Pauline liastie was heard on more modernstyle numbers. Novelty was introduced by an entertainer known as Merdini, who plucked lighted cigarettes from thin air, manipulated playing cards, _ and all the while kept up a flow of skilful patter. Electrically-lit clubs swung on a darkened stage by Joan Bullen fascinated the audience as something approaching the unique. Hailed as the best trumpeter in the Dominion, Bill Bailey, of Christchurch, gave an interpretation of “The Lost Chord.”

When Ngaire Bufler whistled “ Thp Dickey-Bird Song” with great gusto, 4 and considerable tonal quality, the audience went into raptures of delight. There’s no doubting that “tune-of-the-moment” hit < the mark, and it only needed a yvolf-whistle from Miss Butler to have raised the roof.

The Riley Show presented a matinee this afternoon, and it is worth anyone’s while to attend the final programme to-night. Goodness knows, there is a dearth of entertainment the year round in Ashburton.