THE ENGLISH PIERROTS.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1221, 1 September 1911, Page 6

THE ENGLISH PIERROTS.

, ' Tho English Pierrots, who became popular with the Wellington public during the recent Coronation Exhibition, commenced a brief farewell season at the Concert Chamber last evening. It is a warm, genial little show, richly veined with humour of a class that all may heartily enjoy without reserve, presented by ptople of indisputable talent, backcd by that experience which is such a valuable aid in gauging the requirements of the public. In Mr. Maynard Dakin, tho Pierrots possess an excellent comedian, whose cheery personality is a fitting background for the fun lie cleverly dispenses witii such generosity. Last evening tho audience could hardly get ejjongh of him. He struck favour in a, comic skit oil "Exorcise," infused a variety of character into "Mv Idea of a Girl," and had to. append his clever soug on "Musical Terms," and a burlesque love ditty which was extremely amusing. J. M. Barrie, in "What Every Woman Knows," found some difficulty in defining what charm in a woman is. .Miss Elsa' Langley lias, a plenitude of this rare quality, - which harmonises pleasantly with her innate refinement and vivacious talents. Ilcr dainty style and winsome way found expression m-"'The Girl with the' Pomeranian," and other 1 ear-ticlding songlets. She was prominent, too, in several of the concerted numbers, and, with Mr. Dakin, sang a capital medley of popular songs, and .acted with skill a broad burlesque on the lower drama. Miss Phyllis Philipson has a pretty, if somewhat tremulous, little soprano voice, and sings ballads to suit it. She was encored for her song, "Once When My Heart Was a Fledgling." Sho was also concerned in several of the vocal sketches, whicli found plenty of appreciation. Tho tenor of the Pierrots is Jlr. Kingsley Chapman, whose light and sympathetic voice was advantageously heard in that sweet ballad, "I'll Sing Theo Songs of Araby," ami, with Mr. Leslie Austin, in the duet from Benedict's "Lily of Killarhey," "Tho Mean Hath Raised Iler Lamp Above." Mr. Austin sang with taste, "Beloved, It is Jlorn," and was doubly encored. Another humorist of a broader order is Mr. W. I'. Turner, who has a stylo of humour and a voice that all may understand.. In Mr. Rob. Thomas the* company possesses a monologuist and raconteur of distinct ability. Quiet and quaint in manner, but always effective, lie was as much at home in drawling out as the Vicar the parish notices at a church entertainment as when intoning at the pianoforte "The Lesson of tho Watermill."

Among the large audience present last evening was his Exc-sllency tlie Governor, who was accompanied liv Miss StapletonColton, Mrs. Guise, Captain M'Dougall, A.8.C., atul Mr. Guise (private secretary). 'J'lie Pierrots will appear again liiis evening in another popular programme.