AMUSEMENTS.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXIX, Issue 6, 7 January 1908, Page 6

AMUSEMENTS.

"HIS HIGHNESS THE BEY." Precocity is sometimes alarming, but always interesting when looked upon with a sufficiently-wide tolerance; and while, as a general rule, "the play's the thing/ the mere fact that the players are children is sufficient cause for the children of larger growth to rejoice in it. It was therefore no cause for wonderment that " His Highness the Bey " presented by Pollard's Juvenile Opera Go. repeated the success which followed their initial effort, " Bluebell in Fairyland." One does not break a butterfly on the wheel, and to attempt serious criticism of " His Highness the Bey" were even more futile. It is just a vehicle for fun, the connecting story a mere play on which to hang a bright evening's amusement. Light and frothy, but with plenty of dash and sparkle, it is carried along by its energetic performers with a swing and a bang which throws its deficiencies into the shade, and brings its stronger points into high relief. A musical satire is is called; one wonders a little wherein lies the particular point of the satire, but it doesn't matter. It ■was written in America, and the humour is of the here-and-gone American standard; the humour of words rather than the wit of ideas and much of it is very elusive. But there ore plenty of smart sayings scattered through and about, and the company lose none of the opportunities of bringing them out. Some are a trifle timeencrusted; - but they get their laugh, and that is what they are there for. The connecting link is all concerning the adventures which befel the quondam leader of a German band who, seeking to answer an application for a leader for a " desperate Turkish band," is elevated to the position of Grand Bey because nobody else will take it—revolutions, bombs and murders hanging thereby. He has a merry time of it until the runaway Bey returns, and it is that merry time which provides the pabulum for the amusement of the front of the house. One has come to expect much from Mr. Tom Pollard in the training and teaching of stage children, and it is saying a very great deal to put it that the expectations were in " His Highness the Bey" more than' realised. Without a good comedian in the name part a pancaice would be as a mountain beside the flatness of the production, but Mr. Pollard has secured the necessary article, and if the cleverness of Master Bert Nicholson surprised Aucklanders in " Bluebell," it must have fairly astonished them in the new piece. A born comedian, he has been led along on the. road he should go, and his least gesture and smallest " business " is as clever as the work of a finished comedian, while his delightful freshness and the childish timbre of his voice enhance the effect. He has to be inconsequential harumscarum and inconsistent in action all through, and to keep such a character going in the way he does is really a marvellous bit of work. His vocal items were effective, and in "In Kankakee" and with Mr. Charles Albert the duet, " The Kitty and the Owl," he scored very well indeed. Mr W. Pollard as the grotesque Abad Khan, has little in the way of opportunities, and the limitations ot the part of Count Casino give Mr. Albert but a poor chance of displaying his abilities. With a decent chance he would put in some excellent work. Miss Lily Thompson as the war correspendent, Richard Hartlet Davies, did her work well, and in particular her song "Stories that the Stars are Telling," was well sung. Miss Cissie O'Keefe's sweet contralto assisted greatly in the success of the production, and her singing of " Orange Blossom Land " was line indeed. The Sisters Topping as the wife of the Bey and the American heiress, Gladys Coyne, both did clever work. The chorus and ballet work" were alike excellent, and a couple of the inevitable coon songs were very well done, especially "Sand Man," a scarecrow dance with cinematograph effects pleased the aduience greatly. " His Highness the Bey" will be repeated to-night.