Max Cryer In Wake Of F Troop

Press, Volume CIX, Issue 32215, 6 February 1970, Page 3

Max Cryer In Wake Of F Troop

American comedies are of variable quality, and too many of them are remarkable for the harshness of the voices, the obvious situations, and the over-playing of them. Nothing could be much more obvious than “F Troop” on Wednesday night—but it had the redeeming virtue of laughing at itself and there were some amusing moments in it. Paul Lynde, the masquerading Singing Mountie, is a splendid comedian, with a fine sense of the absurd. His entrance in the Nelson Eddy manner and voice, his tuning whistle— not standard R.C.M.P. equipment his

heavy-handedness and his conceit were delightful. The French trapper, and the forever - failing bugler, also contributed to a not-so-gentle mocking of films of the great outdoors and to an unexpectedly pleasant halfhour. Again it was difficult to find much enthusiasm for “An Evening with . . .” this time, Max Cryer. Seeing hint, it was difficult not to recall with horror his massacre of “What’s Going to Happen to the Tots?” when the N.Z.B.C. was helping celebrate Noel Coward’s seventieth birthday. Mr Cryer seemed to do very well with his children’s quiz programmes, but he really hasn’t the voice to spend an evening with. And his attempt, with Desma, at the Peter SellersSophia Loren “Goodness

Gracious Me” pong failed lamentably. There were some better moments. The children who sang with Mr Cryer, and played their quaint assortment of instruments, were most' engaging. The best part of the show was the band, which was first-class. Bernie. Allen was the musical director; the credits did not name the musical group. But Mr Cryer’s almost permanent, professional smile palls very rapidly. It may simply be that New Zealand does not have the talent to make “An Evening With . . .” anything more than time for tea and talk.