FULLER'S OPERA HOUSE.

Press, Volume LX, Issue 18013, 4 March 1924, Page 12

FULLER'S OPERA HOUSE.

REVUE COMPANY'S LAST WEEK

To the regret of many patrons who had become accustomed to the antics of the chief comedians of the Stiffy and. ilo Com-

pany, and who looked forward with relish to the weekly offerings of that talented company, tiie Christchurch season is now approaching its cicse. The final revue, which will see out the present week, received its premiere last night before a crowded and certainly most enthusiastio house. The title of the revuo was ''The Jockeys," and as its name indicated, it provided new opportunities for the two comedians, The Irishman and the Jew, to show what fun may be produced in the sporting world. Through most of the piece they sustained with lortitudo the character oi incorruptible stable boys prooT against all delicate propositions inconsistent with integrity, such as one put to them that they should dope the favourite then in their charge in order to promote the chances of the hoise of another ornament of the Tun". An affecting scene between

"Mo" and the trainer of the favourite "Mr Mason," in which mutual adulation dissolved both into tears, showed how unlikely it was that a friendship and respect so cemented could suffer betrayal or disintegration for so worth.ess a bribe as that offered, namely, anything up to 5000 dollars. By such integrity and loyalty they rose to further promotion, even to the sublime elevation of a jockey, and in the last scene they finished the great race triumphantly first and second, one astride a collie, the'other a goat. The machinations of the polluters of the fair fame of the Turf came comp.ete.y to naught, and in any event were not so persistent or dominant as to exciude all other interest from the action of the piece many other episodes occurred; whether they fitted in or not, and the whole inwardness ot a revue, incoherence, was thoroughly established. There was a surprising -William Tell" scene between the two stable 'boys," an unmistakable burlesque on the real incident with the thrill extracted, for by the time the shooting wa3 due to 'start the apple was no more, being- consumed by the two characters in alternate bites. This difficulty, however, was boldly overcome by piercing the target and the apple together, one containing the other. Other comedy interludes were also given. Some good musical items were -incorporated. Stiffy, Mo and a comedy lady sang a laughable trio "Miss O'Shea" and danced accordingly. Miss Queenie Paul and Mr Mike Connors gave the duet "Cry Over You," and Xvlr Phillips and libs Davis sang "M'arie.'' The song "Leave Me With a Smile" was sung by Miss Davis with Mr Pe,ter Brooks assisting. A_ very pretty setting was introduced for this number. Mr Conners sang the new jazz song "Barney Google" with topical verses added, and he was recalled several times. The sc-ng certainly made a. hit. Other enjoyable items were "The Kruschen Feeling," suns: by Mr Connolly, "Silver Lining," by Miss Paul, and "The Man that Wrote the Sheik," by Misa Shaw. In the vaudeville section, which preceded the revue, Mr Tom Te Puni, a Maori, sang two comedy songs and one pathetic. Mr Fred Bluett contributed several new comic songs in character, the McKinnon Boys iplayed l instruments and sang, and the Hilo T)uo demonstrated their digital dexterity in the manipulation of the primitive stringed instruments of the Hawaiian Islands. The orchestra, under the leadership of Mr Albert Bidgood, pleased everybody. The programme will be repeated to-night.