HARRY LAUDER

Evening Post, Volume LXXXVIII, Issue 59, 7 September 1914, Page 3

HARRY LAUDER

YET ANOTHER SUCCESS GATHERING AT THE GRAND OPERA HOUSE. Harry Lauder has been pictured and phonographed as much as any public entertainer of the day or, of the past has ever been. In that way he has become known to the ends of the earth wherever the British are. All felt that they knew him in advance before he came into these paits, but they realised their mistake when they saw and heard him in the flesh. Here is a man, it might be argued, who is loceiving kingly revenues, and all for what? 'lhe answer was supplied to a packed audience at the Grand Opera House on Saturday night. The ni^stmvv was unravelled, the secret cell disclosed : the man is a genius. He already had the cards, and he had what many geniuses who have come and gone unseen had not— the opportunity of playing them,' and knowing how. It was hard at first, for no one particularly wanted to hear a Scots comedian. Whatever small success Lauder may have had in his own country did not count in London, the place where genius receives its hall-mark. Now Lauder wanted that stamp put upon him, wanted it badly,' for it meant all the difference between a possible bare living and ample funds lor the future. To London he went, and by a. lucky chance obtained a lead, then, having the cards, he played— and won. And, oh, the host of imitators that has followed in Lander's train, a long, long way behind him, and no hope of catching up. Why? _ Because there is but one Lauder in this century, and if more than one, then because ne was the first to arrive. There is nothing to rave over in Lauder's songs, in their melodies or their words ; and Lauder cannot seriously be considered as a brilliant vocalist. His strength lies in his admirable use and husbanding of a divine gift of comedy. He has a deep, strong voice, a voice that arrests the ear whenever he speaks, but it is only one vehicle for his talent. His facs is part of his fortune, and his short, firm, thick-set body, with the limbs that belong tq it, is another part of his fortune. Lauder copyists may sing Lauder songs, do Lauder '' business," utter Lauder patter, but they can never be as good as their model. They lack his personality, his peculiar j gift. He is quite human and . natural j all the time, and seems to enjoy his own fun along with his audierfce. In his own words, addressed to his hearers on Saturday : "I want ye tao imageen ye're in ye're am wee parlour wi' a few Men's aroond ye." Ho \b probably the most "intimate" comedian on the British stage to-day, and he is in all* things truly human. What seems spontaneous wit is, no doubt, the essence of years of experience, and yet it must have been spontaneous at one time. Lauder appeared as a great hulking, unkempt, grubby, untidy school boy in his song or "scene," "The Saftest of the Family." j His acting clearly showed that he had j not only been an elementary school boy himself but had also made a thorough study of the species, and he knew that his faithful delineation and description of it would be recognised as true by those who saw and heard him. This song alono sung by any other singer would fall into thai category which is described on smoke concert programmes as merely "comic." Lauder opened with "Tobermory," the song that laid hie London foundation, ilo came on in a ridiculous travesty of Highland costume, came- on in contortions of laughter which set the whole house roaring in sympathy. The song iteelf did not matter, it was the Lauder colouring that told. He kept the house laughing until the tears stopped flowing. His pauses are most judicioub. He knows that the joke at the end of his sentences will strike the gong, and he is always right. Of course he sang 't Love a Lassie." This is one of his best numbers — at least ho thinks so, and he should know. He sang 11 with his face, his torso, his hands', his legs, and ho sang it with the wag of >his kilt. W,hile Lauder was on the stage tho grim struggle in Europe and all it means for us, even out here, -was forgotten. Therein he rendered a real service to humanity in i successful momentary, dispelling of ,thg "bhifSi"- H§,

k rendering that service all the time, and in that he is a real friend to the lace. It is too narrow a. description to call him a Scots comedian, He liaa won thft hearts of all English people who have seen and heard him. He belongs to them all. The first part of the programme is supported by ajtists who in their own way are no less distinguished than Lauder. Better have not appeared on any music hall stage in the world, and this is stated deliberately. As a matter of fact, every turn is of a character that is very properly "starred in the bills." The French diabolo performer, Jack Ark, does wonderfully skilful things with this common toy. Ernest Sewell's ca.rd tricks are clever and above the ordinary high level of the first 'class manipulator 5 and, besides, he has a little marionette show of his own which causes unrestrained laughter. Selwy'n Driver's pleasing prattling at the piano and his droll American stories were new and refreshing. Irene Bercseny, described as a cymbalist, did not play upon crashing brass disks, but upon the cimbalo, a kind of Hungarian great aunt of the

dulcimer. She played with a, brilliancy, fire, and tziganerie that held her audin ence captive. Yoska, a fine violinist', also assisted her. The three Hassans were thrilling enough in all consciencein their dadng walking, skipping, dancing, and tumbling — all upon a single wire. Miss Kitty Eyaa sa«g "AcuslilaMacree" in excellent taste. A word forthe orchestra. It is unusually capable, not large, but exceedingly well directed by Mr. Horace Sheldon. "Harry Lauder and the clever peopld with him provide an effectual antidote to war depression. ' *'