FULLERS' OPERA HOUSE.

Press, Volume LXI, Issue 18487, 15 September 1925, Page 14

FULLERS' OPERA HOUSE.

VAUDEVILLE AND REVUE. The Opera House is enjoying a most remarkable popularity at the present time, duo doubtless to tho excellence, of the vaudeville items in the first part and, the high quality of the revues or musical comedies put on by the Phil Smith Company. Last night, when the weekly change of programme was effected, all seats were taken, and the vast audience present appeared to derive the keenest enjoyment from the many offerings submitted. Certainly the artists had no reason to complain of any lack of cordiality on the part of the patrons. The vaudeville part, taken first, opened with a demonstration of acrobatic work on stilts by Mr Danny D'Almu. Mr D'Alma efi&ayed the part of a storm-tossed royeterer, and in a medley of incoherent movement he demonstrated a most surprising skill in acrobatics and balancing, both with and without the stilts. The movements were in themselves of a complicated nature, and they at all times contained a good basis of comedy, which made the whole turn most entertaining. Mr D'Alma was, in the second stage of his performance, assisted by a trio of alert and. most intelligent fox terriers, who were all well trained to perform their work without visible or audible direction from their proprietor. A boxing bout between, two terriers was * spirited and amusing episode. Mr Walter Vernon, a ventriloquist known to fame in many countries, appeared again after a long absence, and showed that he was etfl.l a complete master of hia art. His firm arid tuneful tenor voice was heard in the old-time ballad, "Darling-, I Am Growing Old." A good comedy element was. maintained with the dummy. The Melford Three, who come from the London halls, gave some new comedy and burlesque character dances. They have developed this particular branch m art rjeng original lines., and their finished performance indicates the thought and skill required ar.d expended to bring them to their present eminence. An "Inebriate s Dance'' was full of good comedy and elaborate movements, but a "Jewish sailor's hornpipe" was something right out cf the ordinary. The h?use was helpless with laughter on witnessing that performance. A sprightly combined step and ballet danco :>.nd various individual dances were included in the joint turn. Miss June Mills, the weighty lady with the bright manner, rushed into a tornado of song and patter, all excellently performed, and her partner, Mr William Innee, assisted in the repartee and sang a ballad, his booniing 'baseo-profundo voice showing all its Temarkabie qualities of tone and range. The Harris Family, a musical quintette, provided a comprehensive programme and manipulated many different instruments. The little soubrctte sang several modern songs, and a small boy, who 13 on his way to becoming a comedian, also did hie share of the vocal duty. The Phil Smith Musical Comedy Company appeared in a new production, "Just A Girl." The members of the company all know their bueiness, and what they do they do. well. "Mr Smith hrmself is a comedian of rare skiil, and he exercised his talents to the full in the representation of a sbaaick passenger and on other occasions when he made an entry into the action of the play. Mr Nat Hartley had a good, part as a lad of low degree, and his versatile performance included comedy work, singing, dancing, and whistling. Many dharming musical numbers were sung, and the ballet and chons party, not onlv accompanied most of the eolo efforts, bnt they presented an enchanting pirouette ballet dance, in which Miss Mildred O'Brien took the eolo part. The Opera House Orchestra, under the leadership of Mr Albert Bidgcod, performed efficiently through tftte evening. The programme will be repeated to-night.