AMUSEMENTS.

Auckland Star, Volume LVII, Issue 134, 8 June 1926, Page 9

AMUSEMENTS.

FULLER'S OPERA HOUSE.

One need never spend a dull evening when Ye Old Nigger Minstrels Fun Show or Con. Moreni's Silk Stocking Revue Company are in town. Both these bright little companies submitted new programmes at the Opera House last night. Oeir shows are full of bright and interesting moments; there is nothing with a second-hand flavour on their programmes; nor do they find it necessary to revert to taproom jests in order to amuse. After a good opening chorus Ronnie Whelan gave a couple of excellent dance numbers, and then the sweet tenor voice of John Rorke was heard in an old favourite b.illad. "In Old Madrid." Ward Lear ("bones") in this company, gave a whistling song and afterwards a laughing song. "Queen of the Earth," a fine old song, which one does not hear these days, was revived by George Day, while Will Kenny rendered in fine style another old timer, "My Lad." Jack Kearns the "tambo" of the party, brightened up those in front with his comic songs, while with Ward Lear he indulged in a series of diverting conversations with the interlocutor, Will Kenny. Linn Smith's jazz band, now incorporated with the Minstrels, helped the show along greatly by their jazz melodies, Mr. Smith himself, being well applauded for his playing of "Cavalleria Rusticana" with his left hand. Jimmy Coates played two excellent saxophone solos. This week Con Moreni. in his latest revue, "Girls and Giggles," makes a welcome departure and serves up a bill that has been chosen with discretion. It is not necessary to remove moss from songs or jests before presenting them. This week's revue is a generous one, pleasantly sprinkled with comedy, flavoured with piquant melodies and served with vivacity. A collection of clever sketches is provided, and all these are full of humour and exceedingly well acted. The best sketches and those which pleased the audience last night were "The Tale of a Goat" and "A Little Mix-Up At the Hotel Razzle-Dazzle." In this sketch Con Moreni is particularly funny as the new warder in an asylum. This big cargo of brightness will be shipped nightly until Saturday. " SIZE THREE." A tribute to the skill of the Auckland University students as theatrical entrepreneurs was a full house at His Majesty's Theatre last night when the latest etage production of the students,

"Size Three," was given its first public airing to the cheers of the multitude. What is more, the merits of the piece so obviously pleased the house that it was perfectly clear the students had made another hit with the public, and the only fly in the ointment is that the exigencies of the bookings for the theatre have restricted the season to a bare two nights. Without any attempt at the dimensions of such productions as "Tutankhamen" and 'The Abbess of Whitby," which had necessitated expensive dressing and calling on outside assistance in the cast, this year's offering by the A.U.C.S.A. is a frank musical comedy with an all-student cast. Even so, it is a smooth piece of work in book, production and effects that keeps the audience both amused by the character interpretation as well as by the local hits (always a pungent feature with the students) and interested in the working out of a most unusual type of romance.

"Size Three" is not a clue to a crossword puzzle, but relates to the feat, and feet, of a sporting young lady at a Muriwai motor race meeting, who wins the New Zealand Motor Cup when disguised in motor coat and goggles, allowing the credit to go to Clarence for whose sake she undertook the prank, but in making a hasty get-away after finishing round the corner she had perforce to leave behind a dainty 2S~o. 3 shoe that had got jambed in a foot-brake. This Cinderella finale led to a complete repair of Clarence's broken heart, and to wedding bells. A well-worked out series of comedy situations, catchy lyrics and choruses, and pretty ballets were skilfully embroidered round the eccentircities of Clarence's balky propellor before it was tuned up to smooth working along the customary domestic track, and for the mechanical deftness which contributed to the final success the audience was indebted to Messrs. E. Gordon Millar and J. A. S. Coppard (authors), Isolde and Alexis as producers, and Mr. H. L. Takle and his competent orchestra.

A feast of comedy is provided by Mr. J. Cox in the character as a dude with all kinds of foolish ideas on things in general, and the outre one in particular that cured Clarence of his love-sickness; by Mr. D. V. Todd as a hen-pecked husband who (D.V.) got the solace of an occasional snifter; and by Mr. W. G. Trevarthen who has the divine knack of being such a perfect fool that he is everybody's confident, and has the knack of making everybody laugh at the most inopportunely opportune times both on •the stage and off it. The students are lucky to possess one who has such talent for fooling as Mr. Trevarthen. Messrs. Cox and Todd showed talent for character acting, but not more than Mr. A. H. Fryer-Raisher in the character of the unhappy Clarence and Miss Ruth Walker in the role of a wife of authority. A very dainty and alluring modern girl wae Miss J. Robertson, a≤ the heroine, while the minor characters were admirably enacted. Special mention should be made of Mr. A. G. Lowe's role of a well-oiled mechanic, and his inebriated dance.

The music, ballets and choruses were sprightly and catchy, while the singing of Mr. Fryer-Rarisher and of the sextette party provided extra features, as also did Messrs. Plummer and Fenwick in a specialty dance, a party of Jacky C-oogan motoristes, and Mr. A. B. Thompson in a traffic-cop interlude. Taken by and large "Size Three" was a liujre success, and theatre-goers will be pleased to learn that there is a possibility that the producers may have an opportunity of putting it on again later for a short season. Meantime the season will conclude with the second production this evening. COMPLIMENTARY CONCERT. The booking is excellent for the complimentary concert to Mr. J. W. Eyan, which is to be given to-morrow evening in the Town Hall. The entertainment promises to be one of the best of its kind ever held in Auckland. It has been arranged by the combined Savage and Orphans' Clubs, and will be given by all the leading artists of the city The box plan is at the E. and F Piano Agency. ' MUNICIPAL CONCERT. The next concert of the series to be given in the Town Hall on Saturday evening, J une 12, will be a combined effort by the Municipal Band and the acting city organist, Mr. Edgar Randal, with vocal assistance by Mr. H. Venables. A charmingly varied programme will be presented. Plan opens at Messrs. Lewis R. Eady and Son on Wednesday morning.

J. C. WILLIAMSON'S "NEW J ALADDIN." The lines of the usual panto are departed from in J. C. Williamson's brilliant comedy feature, which opens an eight nights' season at His Majesty's Theatre to-morrow night. A distinctly modern touch is introduced, which with vein of humour keeps the house bubbling with laughter from the initial scene till the final drop of the curtain. The strongest character in the company is Bruce Green, the artist who carries the bulk of the work, as Widow Twankey. He continually has the house in a state of laughter. He is an artist of wonderful versatility, and as the mother of the scallywag Aladdin, has ample opportunity to display his flashing wit and keen conception of the part as the public like it. Widow Twankey's kitchen is the scene of many a diverting rally, where the widow divides her attention between a wonderfully constructed batch of scenes, and her unruly son and hie companions. Floie Allan is said to make a dashing Aladdin, playing her part with confidence and great success. Miss Allan is well-known in this country for her work in musical comedy. Gus Bluett, as Wishee the friend and confident of Aladdin, is responsible for much simmering merriment. One of the most popular items are the "Twelve Wonderful Williamson Girls" in their thrilling aerial scena. They are trained to perfection in their daring acrobatic feats. The box plans are now on view at Lewis R. Eady and Son, and the day sales will be on sale at His Majesty's confectionery to-morrow morning. MISS MAE KINGSLEY. Mies Kingsley"s exhibition of glass blowing at the Auckland Winter Exhibition, is wonderfully fine, both in workmanship and finish. Molten glass was taken from her specially constructed furnace and blown into such articles as kiwis, vases, birds of paradise, kangaroos and a host of other articles. This talented girl is claimed to be the world's only girl glass blower and is a charming personality. Visitors should see Miss Kingsley at work.