“WHOOPEE”

Dominion, Volume 23, Issue 110, 3 February 1930, Page 7

“WHOOPEE”

A GREAT DANCING SHOW “Whoopee,” a musical comedy in two acts. Book by W. Anthony McGuire; music by Walter Donaldson; lyrics by Gus Kahn. Cast: — Sally Morgan Lilian Crisp Wan-en-is Wm. Perryman Black Eagle 1 red Bonner Mary Custer. Laurel Streeter Henrv Williams Don Nicol The Padre Harry Taylor Jerome Underwood John Byrne Chester Underwood Roy Tovey Timothy Sloane Ivan Squirrel Harriet Underwood . Muriel Lee Petty Andy Nnb John Ralston Morton Chester Harris p e t e James Foran Judson’Morgan Fred Deal Sheriff Bob Wells Hilton Porter Red-shirted cowboys tore out of a red gulch in Southern California to make “■Whoopee” before a crowded audience at the Grand Opera House on Saturday night. It is an axiom in the theatrical business that when “Whoopee” is to be made the brand that comes from the Ziegfeld Theatre in New York, it is pretty reliable in its entertaining virtues. This proved to be the case on Saturday, when the new company and new musical comedy gave the greatest satisfaction. “Whoopee” follows the trail of “Rose Marie” and “Rio Rita” inasmuch as it moves in the open air and wild spaces of the west, and ’ Indians, six-shooters, alkali dust, slapstick comedy and romance get all mixed up in a very jolly manner, to’ the accompaniment of melodious music and amazingly original dances. The particular jubilation on which “Whoopee” is founded is the imminent wedding of Sally Morgan to Sheriff Bob Wells, the local bully and blusterer; but Snlly, who has been committed to this arrangement by her father, is not a willing bride. She loves and is loved by Wan-en-is, the protegee of Black Eagle, the big chief of the Indians thereabouts. Such is Sally’s objection that at the last moment, with the aid of a protesting hypochondriac, Henry Williams, she flies to the mountains in Henry’s flivver. Unfortunately the pair run short of petrol away in the Sierras, and in the .course of a wildly comic scene Henry, a nervous wreck with all the ■ diseases in the Pharmacopoeia, hold's up another party with a gun and forces them to deliver a five-gallon tin. At last Sally and her escort arrive at a ranchero, where they are forced into service by the manager, whose cook has deserted him. No sooner are they installed than the aggrieved travellers, who have been held up by Henry, arrive, and the latter has to seek disguise to evade detection. Then the sheriff comes on the scene and things happen. Henry is detected as the leader of the bandits, but discharges a fusilade into the air and so escapes. The next scene finds Sally on the Indian reservation, whither she has been carried by Wan-en-is, but when the sheriff arrives hot on the trail of his lost bride and her lover he is met by the grave Black Eagle, who makes no demur in handing over the girl to the representative of the law. After he leaves Black Eagle tells Wan-en-is that he is really white-born, having been picked up in a deserted miner’s shack twenty years before. With the "red blood” stigma removed, Wan-en-is, who is well educated, at once renews his pursuit of Sally, and the end is happiness all round. There are several high lights in the production that deserve special mention. Dancing enters largely into the fabric of the show and is exploited with much ingenuity; In this department Pat and Terry Kendall take double honours. With marked facility, abandon and grace this limber couple dance a rhythmical tapgo most admirably in Mexican dress. This is no ordinary ballroom tango, but a wild passionate whirling dance that is half athletic and acrobatic, and yet all part of a complete whole. Their second, specialty dance is also a fine example of the captivating art of these newcomers (who were originally imported by J. C. Williamson Ltd. for the revue “This Year of Grace”). Other dancing specialties are the "Taps” and “.Stetson” ballets. In the former the girls all wear shoes and socks on their hands and use them as though they were where they ought to be. In the “Stetson" ballet much play is made by the cowgirls exchanging hats in a variety of ways as they dance a lively measure. The lockedarm effect in this dance was almost weird. The scenic specialty is the Indian scene at the opening of the second act, and the “Invocation to the Mountain God,” with its parade of Indian mannequins in full feather, formed a really beautiful sight. Vocally the outstanding number was “Come West, Little Girl,” sung by Miss Lilian Crisp and a male quartet. This was captivntingly sung. In melody, harmony and simplicity of lyric and idea the i number made an immense appeal. Other vocal numbers of merit were the duct "Red, Red Rose,” “Makin’’Whoopee,” “Go, Get Him,” “Love is the Mountain," “Red Mama," and “Redskin.”

The cast is adequate in every respect without any overshadowing stars. Sally was played with nice reserve and charm by Miss Lilian Crisp, who is the possessor of a pleasant-toned and cultured soprano, which she never overtaxes. The important part of Wan-en-is. the supposedly Indian lover, was very capably nortrayed by Mr. William Perryman, who looked the young Indian brave to perfection and used his light baritone voice most effectively in the “Red, Red Rose” duet and other love ballads that fell to his lot. A new comedian, Mr. Don Nicol, made an unmistakable impression as Henry Williams. Mr. Nicol is youthful and very energetic, a clever dancer, and is certainly very funny in the broad humour he has to put over. One very funny bit of mumming fyas his hold-up of the car in the mountain pass when he was really half-dead from fright. Another was his disappearance into the kitchen oven on the ranch, to emerge an all-black with an Al .Tolson slobber about “Mammy” to complete the disguise. Mr. Hilton Porter made a handsome and vigorous ’ sheriff, and Mr. Fred Bonner a dignified Black Eagle. Mr. Jack Ralston as Andy Nab, the ranch manager, gave a sterling performance, but Mr. Fred Deal’s glaringly white arms showed he was no true westerner. Miss Laurel Streeter had excellent chances ns Mary Custer, the vigorous of Henry Williams, but whilst she worked with great vigour, the spark of comedy was sometimes missing. Mr John Byrne was admirable ns the domineering Jerome Underwood, nnd Mr. Roy Tovey wns most amusing in his nffected exposition of applied psychology, one of the funniest scenes in the piny. A capital orchestra, under the baton of Mr. Harry Burton, did full justice to the music. “Whoopee” will be presented again tonight. A matinee, the only one of “Whoopee.” will be given on Wednesday at 2 p.m., nnd the last performance of this piny will be on Fridny night. Commencing with n matinee on Saturday next nnd for Saturday nnd Monday nights, n popular revival of the charminjT comic oncra “Tjilnc Time’’ will nfi given with Mr. John Ralston in his original character of Franz Schubert. On Tuesday. February 11. for the one night only. “The Maid of the Mountains will be revived. For the last two nights of the season, commencing with n mntinee on Wednesday. February 12. “The Student Prince” will be presented. The senson will definitely concli’de on Fridny evening. February 13. The box plans for the above revivals will be opened nt the Bristol on Wednesday morning.