"WEE" GEORGIE WOOD.

Press, Volume LXI, Issue 18456, 10 August 1925, Page 7

"WEE" GEORGIE WOOD.

WELL-VARIED VAUDEVILLE.

N.Z. ENTERTAINERS AGAIN. On every occasion tliat New Zealand Entertainers, Ltd., in conjunction with J. C. Williamson, Ltd., have presented their high-class vaudeville companies to a Christchurch audience, there has been a very appreciative response, showing that the comparatively new organisation is highly popular. tfy means of the new combination New Zealand is allowed to see international star vaudeville acts that would otherwise not appear here. The first company presented a bill of turns comprising the work of many famous Tivoli and other stars, and the high standard of entertainment value las been kept up by each succeeding conmanv. And on Saturday, opening with a'matinee and evening performance "Wee" Georgie Wood and supporting acts commenced a season at the Theatre ltoyal. "Wee" Georgie W r ood is popularly known as a "vest pocket comedian and the appellation fits him. He is small in structure, but far fr. 0 ™ small in his art. On Saturday ?»g ht his audience was thoroughly delighted and demanded encore after encore, when he appeared in a sketch and a number of song studies. It is the judicious mixture of those two powerful elements, comedy and pathos, that makes his work so appealing, and at the end of every little bit of "near tragedy there was the burlesque note, following sharply in the climax and relieving the tension. He approached reai tragedy at times, and a remark! >.e feature of his performance was. the amount of expression contained in the inflections of his voice. V ood ' : ] ao ® his entry with the sketch, „ Hand George," a playlet of British home-life, assisted by Miss JjoLv Warmer and Tom Blacklo-k. lie played the role of a small bev t'io Poii'ol type, the leader of the "Black Hand Gang." A striking feature of his performance was the al'ci native impressions given of a 12-year-old lad ana a fully-grown man, sometimes breaking down on his mother's shoulder, sometimes bullying her. Georgie may _ be 10, lie may be 20, in fact he might even soar in years to the age of 30. The programme tells nothing eoncernins: his age, but he is certainly one of the best small boy impersonators in existence. The sketch was one of the cleverest pieces of potted comedy ever seen on the boards of the Theatre Royal. "Wood appeared again in the second half with several song and talk studies, including ''Wee McGregor," "Little Piggies," "Sunshine and Rain," "The Scottish Cabby," and "Earthenware.' Each was a gem in its particular way, and the audience could have stood many more numbers, for the small comedian's ability to range over the emotions of childhood is such that! he would be capable of presenting a two-hour show to the delight of his audience without the support of any other turns.

From the Moss Stoll circuit came the Aldor Duo in acrobatic surprises, featuring Marjorie. This act was clever, neatly presented, and with a good finale. Billy Maloney, programmed as the Beau Brummell of vaudeville, held the stage for a considerable time with up-to-date songs, steps, patter, and a novel way of playing with his hat and stick. lie had to reply to many demands for encores. But he had very little success when he tried to induce the audience to sing even such a haunting little song as "Pretty Kitty Kelly." Singing to her own accompaniments at the harp and piano, Marie Lawton was delightful. Her clear and refined soprano was heard in several songs, including two such different numbers as Gounod's "Ave Maria" and "The Kerry Dance," and MiBS Lawton concluded her turn with " a brilliant harp'solo. From the point of view of artistic beauty, Frank's Canine Statuary was really remarkable work. Beautifully lit and cleverly presented descriptive tableaux were shown by Frank and his two dogs. They incuded "Forsaken,"' "The Wounded Paw," "Off to the Hunt," "The Retrieve," "Pals," "The Dying; Pal," and "Auld Lang Syne." Equipped with a violin, an infectious smile and a clever way of manipulating his feet, Jay Whidden charmed the audience with jazz violin work and a couple of songs. His turn was novel and clever. Eddie Lester and his Columbia Syncopators preceded the final curtain and at the night show had to finish in the dark! The power failed. They continued to play while the audience sat still and struck, matches. "Wee" Georgie • Wood aided the jazz band with light from a couple of candles until the theatre light was turned on. Some of the audience thought it was part of the show, but it was another of the tricks of Coleridge power, as they found when going out into the pitch black streets.

Mr A. G. Frost and his orchestra added to the evening's enjoyment. The season will extend over National Week with matinees on Wednesday and Saturday.