"LOOK WHO'S HERE!"

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 36, 6 November 1917, Page 7

"LOOK WHO'S HERE!"

A SMART MUSICAL REVUE

Smart, clean, clever, and brillinnllv musical, "Look Who's Here!" Ihe revii'o prcsontod by Mr. .lack Wfillm- at tho (i rami Opera Jlonsn last evening, is an entertainment of imiuy uncommon qualit'es. Tho show is a musical-cum-farcicnl hotch-potch of a dolcclablo character, roguishly up to <lato in ils chaste futuristic selling and costumes—a study in black and white, with a purple patch thrown in— with nothing commonplace, anywhere, plonty of excellent comedy of the burlesque- order, some screamingly funny little "potted plays," which hit of! somo of the dramatic whirls ono eeea on the screen (ami sometimes on tho stage) most comically; some excellent dancing; ami more than a eoupcon of good music, ingeniously interlaced with merry jingling rag-time lilts that caught the car familiarly. "Look Who's Hero!" was introduced by a lengthy musical mosaic which everyone, should arrive in Ijnio to hear, played by an orchestra that knows its business, under the baton of Mr. Siinms Waller. After trifling gaily with "That Simple Melody," the company appear in a capital burlesque court scene, with Mr. Waller as a barrister, Mr. Howard Hill the judge, Misses Cecilia Gold and Ada Smart as tear-stained plaintiffs, and Mr. Wylie Watson ns the defendant with an inadequate idea of his responsibilities. Mr. Gregory Ivnnoh", I lie gifted violinist, in the garb of tho Kuss, played some appealing but disjointed Slav music, displaying a very complete technique and good tone. The quick-firo dramas, which had their own little setting, are hvo skits that oiiyono could laugh at. Tlio one-minute drama in five acts, in which no character was allowed more than opo word per speech, might have been written by G. JJ. Shaw in a. wild moment if Mr. Waller had not got ahead of Lim. In all three the fooling was competent. Mr. Wylie Watson is a resourceful performer, with the personality of a comedian and the soul of an artist. Hid dry humour in "Tho Fireman" kept the audience in a, state, of sustained giggle, his 'cello playing is always acceptable, and as Verdi, protesting against l.is operatic airs being syncopated by the giddy throng, his make-up was excellent, and his tenor voico was a valuablo asset. Wellington playgoers will all remember Waller's Hungarian Orchestra—Messrs. Waller, F. Dennett, and W. Watson—and as a specialty turn last evening.it was as fresh andf-inny as ever, Tho finalo of the first part'was a delicious mixturo of grand opera end rngtimp, concluding most effectively with line Pilgrim's Chorus from ''Tannhauser." Mr. Fred W. Dennett is easily tho best pianist Wellington has heart! in this class of entertainment. His touch is crisp and sure, and in the many little bits from Liszt, Rachmaninoff, Puccini, Techaikovsky, and others he was always tho artist—ovon when laughter was tho object in view. Hie association with the orchestra in the second part was win of tho musical hits of the evening. One of tho best pieces of comedy was the, "naughtickio" scone "On Board the Pianola," with Mr. Waller as a very seasick passenger, Wylie Watson as a comical tar, and Mr. Hill as the skipper with the wayward wife. The dancing interlude of the clever White Trio vhi as neat and airy an exposition of simultaneous stopping as could be imagined, as the applause which followed indicated. Finally the bard-worked Waller etepped forth as Napoleon, and ordered tho destruction of several nations in tho red glow of burning Moscow, merely as a prelude to a remarkably effective performance of Tschaikovsky's "1812" Symphony, la this always-popular number four "pianos, a, full orchestra, Messrs. Watson ('cello) and Ivanoff (violinist), and a set of bells were employed to eome purpose,- whilst the banging of guns ami the Tolling clouds of. smoke, they gayo off gave some folk a Jiasal reminder of tho date.

"Look Who's Here!" will be. played throughout thn week. A look is well worth while.