"THE BING BOYS ARE HERE"

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 268, 1 August 1918, Page 6

"THE BING BOYS ARE HERE"

GIRLS, GOWNS AND GIGGLES

"Tho Bing Boys Are Hero" is a revue in eleven panels by Geo. Grossmith and Ered. Thompson, with music by Nat. Ayor, Gano Buck, and Herman Darcwski. Its chief ingredients are girls, gowns, and giggles, ilung together with a cheerful irresponsibility as to sequence, to a lilting, laughing score that keeps the feet tapping, and a merry continuity rf musicul and comedy stunts that cheerfully, and sometimes daringly, amuse: and distract. It follows no sot form, other thnn the alternation of front scenes with full stage sets, and whil'fc the gay panorama passes one finds; oneself entertained, without any very logical foundation on which to base such, an.experience. One outstanding feature' of (he "Bing Boys" is the opulence of its sartorial and scenic fnrnishintfs. Money has been freely lavished on beautifying the oddest exaggerations of Dame Fashion's humours (and tlicrein lie? the lure for the ladies); the colour schemes are extremely varied and bold, and someof the stage sellings proclaim (hat not yet is the scenic artist at the cud of his resources. There is humour in patohes, some of it not without a trace of coarseness, yet to the regular playgoer who goes with the trend—not an upward on« —matter for laughter. This is rather a pity, for.the comedians in chief, Messrs. Leslie Holland and Jack Cannot, are both able mummers, capable of good legitimate work in (he demesne of comedy. But the coruscations of pretty girls cover a multitude of minor defects, and as every one appears to be skilful iu tho dance, a certain joy of youth travels with the lilt of the ear-tickling music. The Bing Beys, Oliver and Lucifer, are, two country lads, the pride of Biiighampton, who take it into their heads lo go to London, and with them goes Emma, the cook-general of the Bing household, who develops with meteoric rapidity inlet a blazing star on the stage, and is pinsued, in a variety of comic: disguises, by Lucifer, who is a giddy buck by nature and inclination. Oliver is slow on the tip-take, and in his chase for fun is classed by his more mercurial brother as,"a- silent worker." There the plot begins and ends„ leaving the comprchensibilily of the ■audience as far as denouement is concerned absolutely "without a Irace." So the entertainment slithers awny into an elaborate vaudeville entertainment, with (he ever-dclighlful flapper ballet embellishing the scenes in those fearful and wonderful creations dear to tin frivolous imagination of both sexes. Mr. Jack Cannot is skilful in the inconse-. quontial art of revue humour. He, with the others, frequently drops the character names of the cast, and resort to their own. ft was rather unfortunate in his caso that he was concerned iu two numbers which have become dreadfully hackneyed; The reference is to "if You Were the Only Girl in tho World,"' delightfully sung with Miss Minnie Love, and "Good-byeei" which is given a freshener in the form of a signallers' ballet.. Mr. Cannot's unction and daring flippancy caused plenty of laughter. Mr.. Holland was quaintly lugubrius as Oliver, but his chances to do anything' worth while were few. One of his most comical stunts was the alleged imitation of people everyone has heard of, but know not—Dr. Morse (of Koot Pills fame), Mr. Eno (of Eno's fruit, salts),. Keating, etc., were some of the jokist's. faked impersonations. It is carious how; seriously some people took this "wheeze." Whilst leaving tho theatre one lady was heard to remark that she "never thought Dr. Morse was like that!" Miss MinnieLove is ahv:iys clever, and with personal charm and a sympathetic- voice «s additional assets, she is continually interesting. Her little bit of character work 03 Emma in the first'.scene was excellent, and it was almost regrettable Hint she developed 'into agiddy darling of tho theatre. In that role, however, she gave more than a dash of her gift for burlesque" in a costume drama (which showed tho scene "off'-' as well as "on" thei stage), and also in a crazy love duet, based on an idci created by Rostand ia "Cyrano do Bcrgerac." .With Mtssrs. Holland and Cannot she frivolled, gaily in "Another Little Drink." One of. her costumes is almost wholly composed 'of ostrich feathers, tinted tha very faintest pink, and probably one or tho .-most elaborate "freak" frocks ever seen on tho stage. She was delightful,, too, in the "Clvu Chin Chow" number, which concludes (he revue In this rc-» vue black and gold colours are. used by the scenic artist, who has followed thet methods of the Chinese artists in lacquer vovk with striking effect. The scene lifts to expose a section of cross-ladders, .illuminated by electric lights which aro daintily-stepped, up and down, in time to the "music—a very charming and novel effect. The most thoroughly satisfying feature of the show is the dancing. Mr.. Clyde Cook is back again with his auiaz-, ingly clever eccentric dances, whrcli cm-' brace the art of tho ncfobat and contortionist. His solo dance was the hit of the evening—but Mr. Cook should never speak. Miss Maic N Baird is also a delightful dancer—a fairy-footed nymph, who can be graceful even in her acrobatio intervals. Miss-ltegina Seaton is a fascinating little miss, with a pretty pipe. She sang a pyjama song, and v/as tho soloist in tho "Swing Song," which has an elaborate two-storied girl backing t» her floral swing. Miss Nellie Payne and Miss Hilda Guiver also added to tho success of the revue. Mr. Billy Henrne was clean and dapper as a man about town. Mr. Walter Howard figured as the pompous Mr. Bing, and Miss Jennie Opid (from out the Tollard past) was Mrs. Bing. The catchy music was efficiently played bv an orchestra tontiiilled by Mr. Claude Solomon. Miss Minnie Hooper deserve* commendation for tlic arrangement, of tho ballets, and Mr. Leslie Board for the scenerv. The stase manager is Mr. ltichnid Shortlaud. "Tho Bing Boys will run -'or a week io come. ■