"CROOKS, LIMITED."

Auckland Star, Volume LVIII, Issue 107, 9 May 1927, Page 8

"CROOKS, LIMITED."

STUDENT MIRTH OX THE STAGE

Every youngster likes playing at Ma a pirate, or_a robber, or a shopkeeper, ai Auckland University students showed tk other day at the capping ceremony ■ the Town Hall that they are not so gram up that they have quite outgrown mm of the illusions most men shed when tfcf go into long trousers. To this inhcrnt instinc-t of juvenility for doing someUnag that runs contrary to the wish the must be added the influence of the morion which is distinctly in the direction of tbe very wild west.

So it is not surprising that He young people of the University should in carnival time, lightly turn to thoadM* of c-riuie. They call their play this year "Crooks, Ltd.," and the author, Mr. J. Dumble, has made a very amusing stay out of nothing, garnished with that peculiar brand of foolery which reqrana youth to carry off with anything fibe success. One does not expect anything very subtle from young folks who chafe under the discipline of having to msxdi in the narrow way that leads to knowledge or a modicum thereof, and when tbe reaction comes it generally takes the fora of throwing tomatoes, and presenting nose» gays of farm produce to very estimable people whose only fault is that they have acquired some of the dignity that if a* inevitably the gift of increasing year* ai additional avoirdupois. "Crooks, Ltd.," is just a jolly bit ef fooling, full of amusing skits and knocks, which are innocuous because they- are to obviously the ebullition of boyish aidwr* Mr. Dumble's creations go about commit* ting all sorts of amusing crimes, and tbe fun is accentuated by the fact that the company (a limited one at that) also does a little in the private detective line, and the divided allegiance of the shareholder* to crime and sleuthing is very diverting. Needless to say all this is done in quite the modern way with song and danceNaturally when the compauy makes it* entry it does so in the most public part of the stage, and broadcasts the sr "We're a Gang of Malefactors," and so on right through the laughable story. For an amateur production it is quite good, and should have no difficulty i* amusing as many people as can find roM* at His Majesty's Theatre nightly until next Friday evening. The opening performance on Saturday was well received by the audience. It may be mentioned that ajf money raised goes to the funds of die Students' Association, which looks after it® finances in a much more sane manner than might be imagined from its methods i» augmenting them. In a long cast of fifteen people, that were only two girls, Miss Jeanne Robertson, who, as Valerie, is quite an important young person, and Miss K. .Johnson, «• is the solo dancer. Miss Robertson stall® out all the more against such a very like background of people, who, if n®* crooked, were a trifle bent. She sang a"® acted with a freshness that was a great help to the show. Mr. Win. G. Trevarthe" not only produced the piece, but also cleverly took the part of Lulu, tj 1 ® allegedly female member of the gang. MrIt. Raymond Anderson made a good Colonel Majoribanks. full of tobasco sauce and India. Mr. B. Hutton as Herbert Hendcr* son had most of the attractive music » interpret and did it well. Mr. K. FHudson as Silas P. Hicks, was the AP Yankee to the life. Mr. Canavan as 63, a lunatic," was very comical in unpleasant part. Mr. J. Ramsay had * W to do as '"The Boss of the Gang,' did it most naturally. Other character who helped in a laughable evening Mr. N. Gould, City Council representat»«> Mr. M. Rattray. Antonio: Mr. B. Fenw**» Dudley Jones; Mr. D. Plummer, All» L. O. M. Brown, Fred; and Mr. T. Hay Jimmy. The ballet comprised Misses Briejv* Laurie, Hunter, Hayward, Batty, Mw*" mick, Hammond, Hitchings, Joafr Watson, Porter, Jewell, McDuff, and uje men of the chorus were Messrs. But*** Weir, Aubin, Edgecombe. North, Port®» Hudson, Adams, Watt, Wood, Gcant, M McElory, Sir. Trevor Sparling made*® excellent musical director. The manager was Jlr. A. G. Lowe, while *- W. Rudman looked after the front ofOJ house. The ballets and ensembles "J?* arranged by Madame Edith Baird. lj" piece will be repeated tor five move ujS»>"