BRIGHT VAUDEVILLE.

Press, Volume LX, Issue 18266, 27 December 1924, Page 12

BRIGHT VAUDEVILLE.

LATEST "ENTERTAINERS" COMPANY. Every portion of the Theatre Roy a! was crowded yesterday afternoon and evening, when New Zealand Entertainers Ltd. presented their latest vaudeville company to Christchurch patron? at ?. matinee and again at night. The huge audiences were in holiday mood. | and the entertainers gave a performance ' which was well in keeping with that ; mood. Indeed, had it not been holiday i time, the bright show would have made 'it seem so. The programme is rich in "star turns." for it has at least two — ■ Bert Errol, the female impersonator j from London, and {)i*> II it van a kind. : from the Savoy Hotel, London. Those j patrons who had not made a study of '■ their programmes were at once '"set guessing" when a well-built and exI (julsitely gowned lady appeared and bej gan to warble somewhat throatily. and i trey remained in a state of perplexity j almost right through her song, until j "she"' interpolated an observation in a I distinctly masculine voice. Then the audience recognised that the joke was on them and hearty laughter interrupted the remainder of Bert Errol s vocal effort. Quickly changing his costume. lie next appeared in a beauHnil bridal costume of modern crinoline design and sang "Bells of St. Mary's." Tin? was a straight-out burlesque, but a clever and subtle burlesque. The j artist did not at any time in uie course J or his lengthy turn descend to any- i thins: in questionable taste in order to I get his laughs, as is some tintes done ! by those who essay impersonations of ; the other sex. The manner in which j he purposely gave himself away was at | all times genuinely humorous. After j his second song he made a quick change | to jnale attire and sang Tn j a fine tenor voice a Dleasing ! little song about a gipsy. In this i he was assisted by his partner. Rav j Hartley, who danced with verve and considerable charm. In response to an enthusiastic demand for more he sang ' On With the Motley." in which lie | showed that he was possessed of a - powerful tenor and abilitv for dramatic I interpretation. Still the audience refused to part with him, and his partner danced a dainty number the while he changed back to a woman's garb this time a dazzling creation of spangles and black evening frock.' The song and "business" which was introduced on this lagj; occasion proved the J culminating act in his triumph. Singing all the time in a contralto voice ■which could rise to a high and sustained note, he changed his mannerisms from those of a woman to those of a man, and back again, almost continuously, sending the audience into convulsions. Only a speech him from having to continue his act interminably, so far as the demands of the audience were concerned. It is seldom that a Christchurch audience can be roused to furore on two occasions on the one evening, but this occurred last night, the cause of the second outburst of enthusiasm being the Havana Band. This combination of seven men soon had the audience clamouring for more. The band consisted principally of saxophones, trombone, cornet, banjo, piano, and tympani, though. other instruments were introduced at short notice, and it produced melody which held the big hopse enthralled. Syneopated airs predominated, but they were more than ordinary ragtime. Bert Balton, the leader of the band, was a host in himself. He was on his feet throughout the long turn, snatching up first one instrument and then another, and all the time his feet twinkled to the lively strains. He was the most versatile of a very ver- ' satile and merry team. His comedy was good, he even whistled melodious- | ly, while his banjoist showed that he j eould dance a vigorous "buck and I wing," bnt throughout it all the harj mony and rhythm of the playing of the whole band never faltered. Fox-trots, medleys of Southern and Scottish airs, popular hits, eccentric one-steps were played with an abandon which was infectious. Even after the band had responded to a quite reasonable number of insistent ereores the audience remained seated and still demanding more. Further items were given until one completely lost count, and it was •with the greatest reluctance that the happy little combination was finally allowed to withdraw. One of the most bewildering and original acts seen for a long time wag that presented by an artist billed as "Mr Hymack, the Indescribable," who presented "In Bogey Villa." The stage was set as a very ordinary looking room, but in it the most amazing things happened. The visitor to the room found remarkable things happening to him all the time. Harmless- | looking books turned their pages, and all sorts of things happened to the visitor's attire, his ties changing colour, hig euffs growing to incredible sizes, and his whole suit changing in a flash. The climax came when his 1 dross-clothes disappeared, leaving him clad in pyjamas, and a bed sprang up apparently from nowhere. Cardini provided another outstanding turn, his manipulation of cards in a scries of tricks being truly wonderful. He did back and front palming with his hands encased in gloves, he picked | cards from packs while blindfolded, and ! generally carried out his mystifying tricks with a neatness that almost obscured their genuine merit. Isolde and Alexis appeared in a series of dances ranging from those of the ballroom type to acrobatic and whirlwind gyrations. They received a welldeserved ovation. Scott and Graham presented a slight turn. The male member of the duo sang of "mother" and while the lady infused a good deal of comedy into her impersonations of juvenile elocutionists. They were at their best in a song "Sam and Liz." Marie Kendall appeared in. several character songs, in which, though the -comedy was not subtle, she heartily amused. Good work was done throughout in support of the deservedly-popular company by the orchestra under Arthur G. Forrest. There will be two performances today at 2.30 p.m. and at 8 p.m.