“OFF PARADE”

Dominion, Volume 37, Issue 210, 2 June 1944, Page 3

“OFF PARADE”

Amateur Army Revue A group ot voung men and women ot the armed' forces were presented by the Manawatu Army Entertainment Club m a revue-cniuA-ariety show entitled "Off Parade,” at the Wellington Grand Opera House last night, an entertainment given in aid of the funds of the Wellington Returned Services Association, which should benefit by this well-intentioned effort. The revue consisted of songs, choruses, ballets, sketches, and other light and airy trilles, calculated to set the feet tapping and raise laughter among the not-too-partieu-lar. Some of the fnusicnl sketches ivere most amusing, and. In places, reminiscent. This was the case when the "Old Time Music Hall” was revived with the performers representing old-time stars such as Charles Coburn, Vesta Victoria, George Leybotirue. and others in songs they, in their days, made famous, and which -'the audience hugely enjoyed. Another sketch which had gleams of merit was "Night Club Scene." with S/Sgt. B. Chadwick as the dry sophisticated compere. His "Brevity is the Soul of Wheat" (a poem for farmers) tickled the audience, as did the dressy parade of those guileful women who helped to make history In a younger world. Another jolly interlude was the pally vocalized "Musical Comedy Memories,” in which all hands participated. The sketch, which was intended to typify “Paris," was scarcely so convincing. Vocally the company is not very strong, even though the crooners use loud speakers as an aid to audibility. Among the best of the soloists are S/Sgt. Owen Bonifaut, S/Sgt. Andrea Lawson, and Corporal Cope. Sgt. Chadwick, who supplied most of the comedy, raised laughter as "Doris, the Goddess of Wind,” but was probably at his beet as a drunk in the midnight sketch with Pte. Kitty O’Connor. The ballet was quite attractive and competent. as were also the girls in khaki shorts who marched so brightly to the music of Schubert’s "Marche Militaire." An orchestra ot eight pieces under Mr. Harry Brusev, supplied the musical embroidery. “Off Parade’’ will be repeated tonight.