MUSIC AND LAUGHTER

Evening Post, Volume CV, Issue 54, 5 March 1923, Page 3

MUSIC AND LAUGHTER

"THE FAMOUS DIGGERS."-

In the years since the "Diggers" first came to Wellington, the composition of the company has.changed..,.Original- 1, ly there were no women in the company, 'though. Mr. Stan Lawson's excellent mimicry helped greatly .to make good this lack. Now the "Diggers" are assisted in their entertainment by some charming 1 girls—cweet singers and clever dancers. Their assistance proved most welcome on Saturday night; it added considerably to the light and colour of the show. Light, colour, and comedy were the features of the entertainment, which delighted' a large audience at the Grand Opera House. Much artistic skill and in- , genuity had been used in providing appropriate settings, and some' pleasing colour schemes were produced. Particularly charming was ; the Butterfly . Ballet, wherein the six girls appeared with gauzy wings of many colours. "The Midnight Carnival" was a scena wherein, in a colourful setting, comedy was introduced, with attractive variations. Very amusing indeed was a dumb-show vampire act witih Mr. Stan. Lawson as a most alluring enchantress. In this number Mr. Joe Valli put in some fine comedy work as a waiter. All through the entertainment • Mr. Valli's ability ■ as a comedian was much in evidence. In a comedy skit; "The Lost Soil," with Mr. Stan. Lawson, he was most amusing as tho broken-down actor. endeavouring to, play the part-of the deserted mother. A comic interlude, '.'Taxation," and a sketch, "The Rest Cure," provided him with other and entirely different comic roles. One of his best numbers, however,' was his song and eccentric dance (assisted by the ballet), "Back to Alabama." Mr. Stan. Lawson, in various loles, both malej and female, was also to the fore in mirth-making. Had they not known, few people would have believed it to be the same player. Another capable come-' dian was Mr. Jimmy Norton, who found the role of the "Johnny" especially congenial. Miss Eily Dalgleish made an initial success with her song and dance, "Ma," and was equally pleasing in the duet with Mr,, Gus Dawson, "Baby Mine." The dancing in this number was graceful and original. Mr. Dawson also gave the ballet an opportunity for a graceful appearance in his song feature, "Whose Baby Are You?" Most of tho members of the company sing only such numbers as are found in musical comedy, but there are two who are capable of something better. They are Miss Claire Gooley and Mr. Claude Bell. Together they sang "Where My Caravan has Hested," and other duets which won special marks of approval from the audience. Miss Gooley's voioe is a soprano of pleasing timbre, and it proved well suited for such numbers as "Break o' Day" and "In Old Manila."- Mr. Claude. Bell's light baritone was' best heard in "The Land of Delight." Ho was a source of great strength to the company when sundry scenas required that singing should be done. The scenas, all well arranged, with music, comedy, and dancing'mixed in just the right proportions were a feature of Saturday night's show. "The Bride's Trousseau" was on these lines, and afforded all members of the company opportunity for displaying their ' particular talents. It went with a very bright swing, but so did the whole entertainment. It is no exaggeration'"tc say that there was not a dull moment from the opening overture by the "Diggers' " orchestra to the final curtain. Saturday's performance may be expected to be the opening of a. highly successful season.