COMMUNITY SING

Dominion, Volume 29, Issue 302, 17 September 1936, Page 4

COMMUNITY SING

Mr. Vincent Ryan’s Big Day

Had there been two Grand Opera Houses available for yesterday’s community sing there would have been more people than was necessary to fill them. Attracted no doubt by the announcement that the Australian comedian Mr. Vincent Ryan was to make hie reappearance in Wellington, people began to assemble as early ae 9.30 a.m., and by 10 a.m. the stalls of the big theatre were about onethird filled. This is the kind of magnetism a good laugh-promoter -exerts. Long before noon the Opera House was crowded out, and hundreds of people, mostly Women, had to be turned away from the closed dpore. Queues hung on until 11.45 p.m., but as there was still no prospect of admittance they at length dispersed. Mr. Ryan, with his comic sougs, his weird’dances,'his quips and wisecracks, and his personality, dominated the proceedings on the stage without seeming to do so, and, being the accepted wit, he had but to open his mouth or strike an attitude to gain a big laugh. During the performance a box containing a necktie and another with handkerchiefs were sent up to the visitors by women admirers. Mr. Ryan has certainly put himself out of the way to help the community singing committee. Mr. E. Palliser, the chairman of the committee, exprewed his personal thanks and the indebtedness of the committee to Mr. Ryan at the conclusion of a jolly hour and a half yesterday, and hoped that he might be with them again on Wednesday next, but there was nothing certain about that. He informed the audience that Mr. Ryan Was going on tour in this country with Mr. Senia Chostiakoff, the Russian tenor, and was sure that everyone present wished these two artists luck. Finally Mr. Ryan was given a “cheerio,” and the audience saug “For He's a Jolly Good Fellow.” The other song leaders who helped to keep the fun going were Messrs. Will Mason and Harold Hindle, while the invaluable work of Mr. Frank Crowther at the pianoforte was greatly appreciated. The receipts amounted to £52/2/2.