“NICE GOINGS ON”

Dominion, Volume 31, Issue 104, 27 January 1938, Page 13

“NICE GOINGS ON”

Musical Nonsense Comedy “Nice Goings On,” a musical nonsense comedy Lyrics by Douglas Furber. Music by Arthur Schwartz. Produced by S. Albert Locke. Cast — Wurlitzer Phil Smith Lorelei , Valerie Hay Paul Ginkier Ken Tuckfield Emmerich Fishlock Donald Burr Carl Eppels William O’Neal Olaf Henscuttle George Gee Tutti Dois Green Adela Tettle Florence Whitwain Louise Enid Hollins Mr. Rumpelmayer Tommy Jay Willy Bobakki John Dobbie Tolly Bobakki Leslie Donaghey Lehmann Percy le Fre If Mr. Arthur Schwartz had been able to compose music as whimsical as Mr. Douglas Furber’s situations and dialogue, “Nice Goings On” would be a much. more satisfactory entertainment than it is. Truth to tell, the music, which shows little respect for the public's love of nielodv, Is' monotonously blatant and undistinguished. This, of course, makes rather heavy weather for the hard-work-ing principals, who do what they can to make light of it, and do it with a smile, /hich is to their credit. To compensate for this deficiency, nearly everything in “Nice Goings On” is said in the rhythmic language of the tap-dance, and ballets employing the double shuffle predominate. The new play is made amusing by the situations and the excellent by-play of Mr. George Gee who is entrusted with a role that may' be described as a piece of red tape on the spree. As Henscuttle, a public servant, who always misses promotion, the comedian is as energetic and inventive as ever, and'is never at a loss to Jill in any situation with laughter-provok-ing business. Henscuttle’s fiancee tires of her man’s static perverseness, and he finds that he has to do something that will command notice before he can expect a rise in the Department of Public Welfare. He gets a tip on how to act from Adela Tettle, a social reformer, who, with Mr. Rumpelmayer, a public nuisance, is outraged at the carryings-on at a new seaside club called the “Pink Spider. Henscuttle slips into the club as a waiter, and from the shelter of a huge black moustache catches everyone in the most compromising situations. Principal among the offenders ar? officials in the Department of Public Welfare, and Henscuttle is about to report them all, when he is squared by being made controller of the whole department. When the report finally appears it is a very milk-and-water one. with n 0 one of any departmental importance incriminated. Mr. Gee is the life and soul of the comedy, and outpours a wealth of smart, sophisticated mirth into his mumming. in lesser measure, Mr. Phil Smith does well as Wurlitzer. a commissionaire, Messrs. John Dobbie and Leslie Donaghey. as the twin proprietors of the ‘ I ink Spider,” cut remarkable figures, as the former could almost put the latter into his pocket and never notice him. Mr. Donald Burr and Mr. Ken Tuckfield, in sleek morning clothes, display a dapper dressiness as two civil servants with leanings for the fair, and Mr. William O Neal looks distinguished as Carl Eppels, still another flirtatious public servant, but is not asked to exercise his vocal. <*nords>, though autstandingly the best singer in the company. Tommy Jay was Rumpelma ver, and X’ferey Le Fre appeared as a troublesome “soak” (with eccentric dance). None of the ladies are given special opportunities to air their talent. Probably the inane Tutti, played by Miss Lois Green, was the best of a poor lot. of parts. Miss Valerie Hay figured as the romantic Lorelei. Miss Florence Whitwam was only fairly convincing as the moral reformer, and Miss Find Hollins looked very handsome as Louis, lienscuttle’s fiancee. Mr. Fred Quintrell was in control ot the orchestra. The drossing is smart and colourful, and the display of bathing beauties in the second act was entrancing. . ■ , V , “Nice Goings On is to be repeated this* evening. To-morrow evening the companv is to leave for Christchurch. After a seven nights’ season there they will return to Wellington and leave for Sydney on route for Melbourne, where they will open a season in “Swing Along,” which so far has not been seen in that city.