FULLERS' OPERA HOUSE.
* PROGRAMME OF VARIETY. "General" Hermie ScliulU (tiro. H. Ward! appears at Fullers' Opera House thi.-i week in a story of complications of marric'l life AVard ami Company's nc-.v revue, which commenced it* season of mic week !«si rich'. ii entitled, "Who's »xi'.'" General Hermie was happy en his wedding dnv until ho was I old that, his wife, had already had four huabanda, and poisoned each and all of them. C'onsequentlv he s;':d "Who .* Xcxt?" Then ho found tli.it hi* Worn fnend, August Summer, sen. (Lcs Wharton). was engaged to a charming lady. Summer, jun., also thought he lwd entered into :i contract with t.he same girl, a.nd ''rovn that somewhat complicated base arose further mix-ups, which kept, la,M night's largo audience, in a. continual simmer «t amusement. When Hermie realised that lie was the fifth husband he shuddered at the thought of bean soup, the particular dish used by the ladv for carrying hc r fpecial pofSon. He could not be induced to look at the soup, so she, dropped a little powder into his evening wine. His friends also had a sip, and until they were informed that the powder was merely* a sleeping draught, for General's ncrvos. there was consternation everywhere, resulting in laughter-producing scenes. The plot—or what, there was of it was skilfully strung together, and made a. decidedly interesting co-ordinated whole, with pleniv of musical interludes and comedy turns sandwiched in. The best musical numbers were "Xobody Loves "ion (Patsio Hill and Snapshot Six), "Song of the. Clock" (Vernon SeUa,rs\ "Dutch Lullaby (Daisy Yates and Snapshot, yisi, and. "Me and tho Bov Friend" (York© Gray and the Six). One of the brightest bits of coniedy in tho show was the drilling; of the "army under General Hermio, who could not, understand whv 0110 member of his squad failed to obev his" commands. Tho obstreperous one (Bert I*> Blanc) upset the manoeuvres by 'turning right when the others turned IoU, aiid was brought back io his proper position by main force. Tho Snapshot Six a well-trained ballet, arc seen in many prettilycostumed dance numbers, and provide a considerable portion of tho show. In the first half Farrell and Massev are tho ice-breakers. They arc original in costume, .cestui*, and steps, and their dancing turn ia a. strenuous one. Slavin and Thompson follow with\ parodies. The daintiest turn of the evening is presented by Grace and Keats. The man of the plays the piano we.ll, and oings tunefui.r, and his pretty partner produces an exceedingly well-controlled voice and a charming stage appearance. Billed as "a. picrrot, a. pierrctte, and a piano," tho turn is highclass and full of musical happiness. _ "With a number of Bongs at the, piano, with .a. banjo-ukulele, and several new stories, Harold Valdcn, tho Yorkshire. Gentleman, received an ovation. He openrd with a song about his "English Rose," and from then onwards found it difficult to get off-stage. The. audience woJild not let him go until they had heard "Only Me Know 3 Why," his biggest hit Ho has considerable personality, a taking smile, a, good voice, and is something of a, jazz pianist His banjo accompauiment, without tho orchestra, showed his versatility, and ho finally left the stape to tho tuno of big applause, but one of tho most artistic turns on tho programme was that of Henri French. Mr French has been known to present almost anything but a comic song. Ho does conjurinr;, juggling, -ho sings on occasions, and last night he provided impersonations of groat men, paafc and present, including General Brarowell Booth, Dr. J"el;yll and Mr Hyde, several famous composers, such «s Von Suppe, and Liszt. Ho (followed tho stylo of many popular impersonators in making his lightning change on tho stago in full view of tho audience. His finest piece or work wa» as the- late Henry Irving iu Dr. Jokyll and Mr Hyde, full of realism. The whole programme is well up to standard, and should draw large houses for the rest of the week. Mr Albert Bidgood and his orchestra helped the show along in their usual efficient manner.
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Press, Volume LXI, Issue 18571, 22 December 1925, Page 17
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687FULLERS' OPERA HOUSE. Press, Volume LXI, Issue 18571, 22 December 1925, Page 17
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