"TOP SPEED."

Auckland Star, Volume LXVII, Issue 296, 14 December 1936, Page 2

"TOP SPEED."

MIRTH-MAKING PROGRAMME. REVUE AT HIS MAJESTY'S. "Top Speed" "svas the name of the new programme presented at His Majesty's Theatre on Saturday evening by the Connors and Paul revue company, headed bv the popular comedian George Wallace, and it was at top speed that the peri'ormance went. The large audience was kept in convulsions of laughter by the Robeyish antics of George Wallace and his able confreres of mirth, Mike Connors and Will Miller. applause "reeted the singing of Nellie Kolle, Mike Connors and Queenie Paul, Minnie Love and Leo Xrenette. Add t&> this the catchy tunes of the chorus, the lively ballet work, the slapstick comedy and the more su'btle sketches and the special dancing and novelty numbers, and you have a •well-balanced vaudeville programme. , The opening chorus, "Don t Save lour Smiles," was an appropriate introduction to a fast-moving, rollicking programme that drove away all bines. George Wallace and Co. soon had the audience in tits of laughter with their rich nonsense. Their best effort was, perhaps, "The Grudge Fight," in which absurdity reached its .heights. This was a "boxing" match between George Wallace, as "Dreadnought, the pride of the force," and Will Miller, as "Basher Lee, terror of the gashouse," witti Mike Connors as the harassed referee. Wallace, with his inexhaustible ilow of humour, command of gesture and facial contortion and unexpected antics, is an entertainment in himself. With the support of his comedian lieutenants and the others in the cast lie made this scene one ot' slapstick at its very best. At first the "Dreadnought" will not play, the contest then develops into a wrestling match, and finally he "sees red" and there is a side-splitting climax. _ > Other popular sketches included "Short Stories from. Life" and "Home Truths." All the theatre-going world loves a little daring and spice and the onlookers were treated to riotous but inoffensive farce of this vintage. Each Wallace number had a different twist and, if some of the skits were a little stereotyped in pattern, they obviously appealed to the audience. Minnie Love delighted with her impersonations of Maurice Chevaliei, Gracie Fields and A 1 Jolson, capturing to a nicety the mannerisms of each. As an encore she represented a commentator at the Sydney wrestling ringside. Nellie Kolle was a particularly warm favourite and her songs evoked volumes of applause. Mike Connors and Queenie Paul made a I strono- appeal with their rendering of "In Old Shanty Town" and other numbers, as did Leo Trenette with his Toselli's "Serenade." Lulla Fanning delighted with her vocal work in "Winter Wonderland.' Jimmv Coates excelled with the saxophone and Harry Thompson demonstrated the powers of the mouth. organ. The Marcella Trio contributed in no small degree to the success of the show by their novelty adagio, "The Cat and the Mouse." The chorus and ballet work was well up to standard and there was plenty of rhythm and colour. Edna Hardy and Harry Lock were responsible for some clever tap dancing. The programme, in brief, is quite tip-top speed entertainment.