MUSGROVE'S VAUDEVILLE

Evening Post, Volume CVII, Issue 82, 5 April 1924, Page 9

MUSGROVE'S VAUDEVILLE

LONG TACK SAM AND HIS

COMPANY,

Musgr.ove's Celebrity Vaudeville, comprising a brilliant collection of artists, was presented at the Grand Opera' House last evening, when Long Tack bam, who heads a remarkably clever band of/ Chinese artists, /made his reappearance in Wellington. Long Tack Sam presented an act that would stand alone, but on this occasion he had the support of a- number of vaudeville artists, all of-whom have reached the top of the tree in their particular line. The whole went tq make up one of the brightest all-round entertainments. The act presented by Long Tack Sam and his ten associates provided a crowded hour in which thrills abounded. The' leader made friends at once with his audience and he further established himself in their favour by performing all manner ot wonderful and mystifying feats m an accomplished manner. Whether ho was puzzling onlookers with sleight-of-hand or whether he was causing a thrill, bending his supple body into' all sorts of shapes, he was ever the happy Celestial, taking a genuine pleasure in his work. One of his best tricks was that in which, he threaded a, packet of needles in his mouth. First of all Long Tack swallowed a packet of needles, remarking in his quaint manner that "they tasted good, and then followed a piece of cotton, probably a yard long. After swallowing a glassful of water he drew the cotton slowly from his mouth, and, strange to-sec, each needle was threaded. As a contortionist Long Tack is also a master, a fact that' he demonstrated in neveral startling feats., Long' Tack is not the only member of the troupe who performs in a brilliant manner. Two' of his stalwarts gave a sensational performance 6u v the horizontal bar, their work being such as has seldom been seen in New Zealand. Two little Chinese girls helped the act along with neatlvoxecuted dances, i "

_ All the other acts were of outstanding merit., The Hanlon Brothers appeared in that extraordinary turn, "The Hotel Impossible," in which the fun was fast and furious. The central figures were two bell-boys, but there 'were other .figures as well, including fearsome ghosts which pranced around the stage in an. awe-inspiring manner. An act of thrills concluded with the unexpected appearance of a train engine 'on' the stage It provided a fitting, climax. Eddie and Decima M'Lean provided! a whirlwind dancing tarn, an act which must have placed a great strain on the artists Audrey Knight proved herself to be i comedienne of marked ability, especially in the role of "a London slavey. Her patter was clever to a degree. A unique demonstration of what can be accomplished in the way of training pigeons was given by Bemand and, his partner. The birds were most intelligent" in their'| actions, and responded to the instructions of Bemand in a remarkable manner. ' Jack Cannot, the' well-known comedian, appeared in something' of 3 new- role. Theatregoers who were accustomed to seeing Mr.. Cannot unperson-' ating; some character in a musical comedy were surprised to see him appear in a conventional dress suit. His performance proved a popular one, and he was recalled several times.1 In one of his songs, "Up From1 Somerset," he appeared in a favourable light as a vocalist of ho mean order. The" Two Vagabonds, capable musicians, completed an excellent bill. '' -: ■ ■■■ :

The,; performance will be repeated each evening, and- good houses' are assured.