THE DIGGERS

Evening Post, Volume CI, Issue 50, 28 February 1921, Page 9

THE DIGGERS

A VERY BRIGHT ENTERTAINMENT.

The New Zealand Diggers are back at Wellington again, and. opened their return season to a full house at the Grand Opera House on Saturday evening with a programme every bit as smart, bright, and entertaining as those offered by them on their previous visits. The personnel of the company has altered somewhat, but tho leads, the big people, are the same—Stan. Lawson, the girl, and a very nice girl, too; Tano Fama, the comedian and whatnot—and their orchestra is an excellent combination. In their vocal work the Diggers were consistently ■ good, though on Saturday night they offered nothing as catchy as their old '.' Wild Thyme," and in all-"their sketch dud burlesque turns is now a rounding off and sparkle that brings those items to the very, front rank. Item 11, "A Tooth for a'Tooth," was a most clever little sketch, episode, or what y.ou will. The title suggests burlesque, but one would be wrong to make that guess. The first scene is surfeited with dumbplay thrills, for the moment somewhat meaningless, but in the second scene, occupying but a few moments, a surprise solution is sprung upon the audience. It is a first-rat^ piece of work, but i"t would be unfair to the Diggers concerned —Stan Lawson, Len Walker, Don Wallace, and Gus Dawson—as well as to those who have yet to enjoy the item, to go into details. Capital burlesque was ■ provided by Stan Lawson and Tano Fama in " More Sinned Against than Necessary," for though the particular "plot" is now somewhat v'shaky from sheer old age the astoundingly good, or bad, puns worked in brightened it up again, and the audience laughed very heartily, which was all that was required of it. Everyone hugely enjoyed Tano Fama in his pride at being able to tl^im and to prove his words, " I'm a Dadda." They insisted on more, and laughed again at his imitation of a, barnyard rooster which had caught the Harry Lauder craze. Without Stan Lawson the Diggers could not very well carry on, for he, not she, though his make-up is so good that one might be pardonedl for contradicting the programme, " makes " many of the items. Gus Dawson, as Fi Fi in the nonsense finale, a " potted revue," is another gay deceiver in petticoats. The Digger quartette sans " Farm Yard Melodies," and a humorous recall number with good balance and blend, and the ensemble helped on the evening with chorus and feature songs. Each, member of the company gave individual turns, and of these Don Stuart's eccentric conjuring deserves a line. He offered old tricks with a brand-new finish. Colin Campbell was twice recalled after his tenor solo, "Take a Pair of Sparkling Eyes," and saDg "Loch Lomond" and "Rosebuds." The notes of his upper register are not always true. Don Wallace was well received in a character song, "Jogging along the Highway," and as a recall gave "The Ne'er-do-we-H." George Proctor was' quite successful in "A Farewell" and ati encore .number, as was also Frank. Perkins in "Come to the Fair." When recalled he sang "I Passed by Your Window," a song now somewhat worn by long and frequent use. Other items, all of them good, included a Dutch duet and dance by Gru Dawson and Len Walker, who wore costumes used by the Diggers when they appeared in their , first work, within sound of the guns on the French front, a comic interlude by Tano Fama and Gus Dawson, and half a dozen bright individual items. The present' season will run till Saturday night.