NEW OPERA HOUSE

Press, Volume LXIV, Issue 19376, 31 July 1928, Page 12

NEW OPERA HOUSE

TWO BIG FEATURES. SPARKLING REVUE AND MEREDITH'S BAND. The very large audience at the New Opera House last evening afforded ample evidence of the popularity of George Ward and his Snapshots Revue Company. Since its previous Christchurch season the company has been augmented numerically, and its wardrobe and scenic effects have been materially added to. The result is a well-balanced combination of genuinely talented performers, with all the accessories necessary to present revue in its brightest and most sparkling form. For this week's performance the company is staging "Morocco Bound," a merry musical comedy in three scenes. The story, unlike some revues, hangs well togethor, and is free from .any padding. It concerns the heir to a fortune bequeathed by a wealthy uncle in Morocco. The young 'man in question is indebted to Hermio Schultz (George Ward), the wealthy owner of a loan office. When the young man decides to go to Morocco to claim his fortune Hermie Schultz and the rest of the company decide to accompany him, and it is in the Eastern city, and for the most part in a harem, that the mnin part of the revue occur?. Naturally in such a setting there is ample scope for a wealth of comedy, elaborate frocking and stage effects, and the George Ward company appears to have spared no expense to make the production a brilliant one. Indeed, it may truthfully be said that it is s-ome considerable time since such a lavish production was staged by any visiting revue company. Some highly attractive ballets are presented by the Snapshot ballet girls, and several melodious song hits are sung by the performers. If the company oan maintain the standard of' last evening's performance it should be assured of a very popular season during the remainder of its stay in Christchurch. In the first half of the programme some excellent vaudeville turns are presented, a special feature being the first appearance of Dave Meredith's Jazz Band. The members of the band are all expert instrumentalists, and appear to be able to get just whatever effect they wish from the many instruments they handle. All the members of the saxophone family are brought into, use, and with the aid of numerous queer devices .all the players manage to extract some great

"effects" from their instruments. A feature of the performance is a representation of a train journey, tho many and varied sounds made by a railway engine and train in motion being very skilfully portrayed. Solos are played by each of the players, and a special word of praise is due in this connexion to the very able pianist and to Mr Meredith, who literally makes the trombone speak. A number of the very latest jazz "hits" are presented by the band, and judging from tho reception accorded them last evening they proved highly popular with the audience. The other vaudeville turns this week are all of a high standard of quality, and call for generous commendation. The same programme will be presented ' all this week, with the usual matinee on Saturday.