WILKIE BARD.

Press, Volume LVII, Issue 17316, 30 November 1921, Page 10

WILKIE BARD.

A FINE COMEDIAN. During the past few years New Zealand aaa been lucVy enough to see eome of England's greatest stage celebrities. Oscar Asche, H. B. Irving, Cyiil 3lar.de, Mario Tempest, Ada Beeve, Harry L-iud:i, a'.l representing the theatre in its vario-.ts phases, have coma ar.d conr/iuro 1 ., zr.i now v/e have in onr midst one of the most 'popular of London's 'West End music kail cawdiaus—Wilkie Bard.. For rcanv y*ars four comedians have reigned supreme on the London halls, George Kojcy, Harry Tate. Harry Lauder. and.-Erilki* Bard, and it is not detrimental to the o'tiiers in any way to si'* that Bard is the best and most popular cf them all. How many popular ynng books can be fovvr.d without several numbers labelled "written and sung by Wilkia Bard"? It is indeed an honour to jvew Zealand that such a comedian should consider :t worth his while to visit these shores, for however e-hort a sea«on. The Theatre Eoyal was well filled hst night when Wilkie Bard opened hi< brief Cfcristclusreli season, and the audience went away mora than satisfied. Here and th*ro one -hoard comment- that there was "nothing new" ia ifc'. l show. %nd that all Mr Bard's jokes were old Those who spoke in thai strain lost the main print of Mr Bard's performance. They had heard his- quips and ins "handed acrrss" the vaudeville foot'tights in days gone by by indifferent artists who were altogether plagiarists. They forgot that tr.r various songs and scena. with all their attendant- natter, were originally written by Mr Bard himself, and that the actual auiho: v:as now giving his own original conception < f his writings. Those who wont expecting to hear a- loud-voiced, blatant low comedian were dis-appointed; those who thought to hear a thorough artist were not. Mr Bard is known as a "quiet comedian," and such he is to the life. His work all through is characterised by restraint, and this point and humour <f all'his jokes lit? in their quietness. Mr Bard, unlike Mr George Hobey, for. instance, docs not fringe on the suggestive or vulgar. His patter is essentially clean, and his inimitable gesture, appropriate to jeaeh character ho enacts, helps very considerably to "catch the laughs." Lust night Mr Bard gave three of the items which helped to build up his fame in London. In the first two he resembled very much a pantomime dame, "a rait, a bone, and a hank of hair" and— Wilkie Bard. His- opening number, "I Want to Sing in Opera," was murdered here a few years ago by a certain artist-, but in the hands' oi Mr 3ard, who originated the song and the attendant acena, the piece went exceedingly well. The by-play was masterly, m a quiet fashion, and the manner in which Mr Bard carried, through the dialogue with an assistant in tho circle was excellent. An old woman make-up sufficed, too, for the second piece, '"ihe -Stage Cleaner," which was not only a first-class piece" of burlrsque; but more fhan a slight study of the genus "char-lady." Incidentally Mr Bard produced quite a lot of fun from a" bucket of water, a floorcloth, and a bar of eoap. His final turn, one that is well remembered by secrte of "Diggers," was "The Sight Watchman," one cf the best of his innumerable successful sketches. Mr Bard was the old-time watcher of drainpipes and street holes to the life, and he mixed a little sentiment with a lot of humour admirably. The sketch was a long one, but there was a touch of human interest in it right through, while its fun was irresistible. Mr Bard's whistling 1 capabilities, it might bo remarked, were not lost to the audience. In response to an enthusiastic encore Mr Bard gave a farcical recitation, and then announced that he would change bis numbers at each performance during his brief season. He in ft comedian amongst comedians, and no one should miss the opportunity of seeing one of London's favourite music hall artists at his .best. Surrounding Wilkie Bard is a very strong company. For instance, Sutter, if Mr Bard ■were not on the programme, would immediately be hailed as a, star. His forte is playing, music in national costume, and as a quick' change artist he is really remarkable. With practically no perceptible interval he was a monk, a Serbian, a Swiss, a Belgian, a Frenchman, an American, an Indian, a Dutchman, a Britisher—in fact, almost everything on, the face oi the earth, and in his various roles he <pl*yed cornet, bagpipes, clarinet (normal and exaggerated), saxophone, violin, and 'cello equally well. His was certainly a remarkable turn, Bad one that was loudly commended. - The brothers Eclair gave a very clever "»« J" 51 " exhibition of balancing, whilo Pedro ana Pedrino, the former a trick violinist ot more than usual ability, and his partner en operatic aoprario of the Carmen type, gave- a high-class turn, which kept the on the stage for about twenty minutes. Miss Peggy- Peat proved heiaedf a curious mixture of soubrette and vocalist. She is a most winsome voung lady, with a pleasing soprano voice and a very pleasing manner, and sno had *o give three or four numbers before the audience would let her to. Daly and Marr provided a turn of 'P«***» "»jj«W' dancing, and banjo playing, while; Creighton, a, clever juggler,, who is not altogether a stranger to Christehurch, gave an <mtetauiing exhibition, dancing the while. r,ot the least part of tho entertainment was the trap-drwnmer's work, under * green. spo»lieht. in the entr'acte. ■ The company will appear again %>*&*. and there will be a matinee this afternoon.