Enterprising, Enjoyable Intimate Revue’

Press, Volume CVII, Issue 31449, 16 August 1967, Page 18

Enterprising, Enjoyable Intimate Revue’

Three enterprising young men from Auckland and a talented spare part from Christchurch entertained a large audience in the Ngaio Marsh Theatre on Monday night with their clever intimate revue, “Time ’n’ a Half.” Like “Cambridge Circus,” on which it is modelled, the show has some poorly scripted passages, especially in the middle, which sags rather alarmingly. But the excruciatingly predictable is far outweighed by the hilariously incongruous, and such offerings as “La Sopopera,” “People in Glasshouses Shouldn’t,” “Cyclic Concerto,” “Fairytale” and “Evolutionary Struggle” will linger in the memory. Given with verve and dash the revue is at its best in the realms of fantasy or sophisticated slapstick; its satirical edge is not particularly sharp. The most spectacular of the players was Stew Ross. Versatile, ebullient, acrobatic, endowed with a sure comic sense, he coaxed his audience into amused identification with, and belief in, his eccentric, twitching creations', his balletic Rugby prop and his whistling witness in “The Greatest Case on Earth” were pure delight What is more he revealed an unusual ability to appear surprised at everything he said or did—as if his bodily machinery, which in fact worked with remarkable precision, were part of some alien reality. Only during his unevenly scripted soliloquies did the magic fail—and then only for odd moments. Hardly less effective was Roger Simpson, whose stage image appeared to be that of a shiny Narcissus, congratulating the pool, which was the audience, on its great good luck. Combine this with excellent facial and bodily control, splendid timing and considerable musical ability and you have an actor of no mean talent In the last exhilarating sketch he ran the evolutionary chain from happy simian to beaming beneficent Japanese judoist with consummate ease. One hopes that his vocal equipment which needs just a little development will soon be brought into parity with his other abilities. Roger Oakley spoke well and, on occasion, revealed a flair for comedy, but his creation of character was not of the same standard as that of Mr Ross and Mr Simpson. His eloquent eyebrows are capable of incredible elevation and should be an acting asset;

employed too mechanically they tend to become a liability.

The fourth member of the cast, the Christchurch actor, Patrick Evans, is a replacement for an Auckland player who was not available. His warmth of personality and undoubted skill did not always compensate for indifferent scripting, and his vocal projection was not powerful enough. “Time ’n’ a Half” will be presented again tonight and Thursday. —M.G.T.