"COME INSIDE"

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 215, 30 May 1918, Page 3

"COME INSIDE"

THE HETUBN OP SYDNEY JAMES. ■ "Come Inside" is ft gay robe wrapped round the ]{oynl Strollers, the little company which first (introduced to the Wellington public that notably gifted and versutiie entertainer, Mr. Syduey James. Indeed, despite tho various settings and curtains and comedy nets which constitute the revuo idea, the show is rather more "Jamesequo" than ever, which is a distinct virtue, for Mr. James is a fine all-round artist—a capital straight or character comedian, a faithful mimic, and one of the smartest and most amusing liguro ventriloquists wo have ever seen. His chief associate is that graceful dancer and soubrette, Aliss lladolino KosDiter, whose striking personality und infiiiitq talent made her extremely popular in Wellington a couple of years ago. Miss Kossiter's vorvo and elan as a dancer and her treatment of ballads, flippant and sentimental, nre as clever and re--eourceful aa ever. The revue opens in n novel way with a kinema picture of I'iilher Time, calling the Strollers from the tall lirnber. They all come romping over the field, until they burst through the screen on. to tho stage, up goes the screen, and there they are in the Forest of Ardffii or some such retreat, fooling away the hours close to the taproom of the Strollers' I'.est, the extravagant proprietor of which has concealed a grand piano in the rocks nea,!- by. Sydney James reappears with sdnie clever imitations of various odd folk singing "Titwillow," which ie followed by al fresco cords and the way they are played by amusing offshoots of society, in which each of the players assumed distinct comedy identities. With, a hefty ballet oi four as an animated background, Miss lioseiter sang "You Can Never Be Sure of tho Ladies" (a war-time ditty), and also a,bout "Alabam" and ragtime iu the moonlight anions the cotton trees (or nre they plants?), ■leg; o My Heart," was a lovely edition in one ,6ccno of the fetching comedy of that name, and Mr. James got in many .absolutely faithful touches highly reminiscent of Sara Allgood in the part. inflexions, laugh, and walk were Mis.y Allgood in an out-size. Misa Josie Jackson assisted as Mrs. Chichester. Mr. George Graystone sang a Germanised version of "Tho Admiral's Broom" and "Booked- in the Cradle of the Deep." Later, in the comedy scene 3, he was distinctly valuable. One of the brightest bits of up-to-date comedy was provided by Mr. James as the liightivatehman in the sketch "Come Inside," being tho adventures of a watchman with a cold in his nose witli adventurers of the .night, concluding with a romance showing the frailty of man under s given set of circumstances. Mr. James's mumming was admirable in this sketch. He also appeared once more with the irrepressible "Billy," who is as fresh at repartee as of yore; and made "laughter uncoufined" for an all-too-brief ten minutes. Misa Josie Jacltson has a doubletoned ■ voice. A break in her register gives her contralto ami mezzo voices of distinct individuality. She eang "When You Come Home" very tastefully, and was a lively aid in the sketches. Miss Madeline Rossistcr was again attractive in "Gee! But You Babies are Wonderful Things" (at the piano), and in tho bright revuo number, "Daughters of Eve," eho danced beautifally. Miss Ira Bissett, a newcomer, has a pretty bird-liko soprano, and warbled a lay very prettily, and was amusing as Marguerite in the broad burlesque on "Faust," which brought down Hie curtain. Mention should be made ot the ton-armed "Zimniy" in tho orchestra, who is the eoul of efficiency as a purveyor of efl'ecfcs. "Como Inside" ' will be repeated throughout the week. A. change is due on Monday evening next.