HIS MAJESTY'S THEATRE.

Evening Post, Volume CVI, Issue 82, 16 October 1928, Page 5

HIS MAJESTY'S THEATRE.

"Step Lively" is this week's presentation by tile "Whirl of Mirth" Revue Company at His Majesty's Theatre, and as every member puts his or her best foot forward to make it a success, it Is. The big turn of the first half of the programme is undoubtedly the playing of Davo Mereditli and his Melody Five, who excelled themselves in such numbers as "Chloc," "Tho Vagabond King," "There's a Rainbow," a musical paraphrase of "Faust," "Fidgety Fingers" (a piano solo played at break-neck speed), and a. Scotch medley. The ballet, led by Jean Keith, and dressed to suit the music, helped to spread the atmosphere of gay enthusiasm, and the audience would hardly let tho musicians go. "Mind Reading Up to Date," by Maurice and Valdor, helped out by various articles loaned from the stalls, was an amusing slut, and Al. Maurice by himself gave another of his original monologues. Kathleen Ward and Jean Keith paired well together in a musical interlude, when, smartly dressed and wearing shining silver wigs, they sang "I'm Somebody Else's, Now," and "My Home Town." The popular Gus Dawson appeared in a scarecrow dance, and George Ward ("Littlo Hcrmie") and Charles Sherman made their debut together for. the evening in "The Banana Kings." The turn earned hearty applause, but the comedians' best work was done after the interval when they arrived in military kit, and as tho captain . (Sherman) and the recruit j (Hermie) provided. some 7nost diverting moments. Hermlo later becomes a general, and drills a somewhat lax army of three, of which Al. Maurice is the ludicrously awkward centre. Ladles are .not banned, although the daring' troops-are ready, to go "over the top" at any moment, and there is plenty of scope for the ballet In Irish and other interludes; and for Colleen Hope to take the part of Yvonne in a song scene of that name, supported by Hprmie, Sherman, Frank Moran, and Maurice. Gus Dawson is to the fore in his song "Big Blonde || Mamma," with tho Mamma girls, and again in "Whistle Your Way to Ypres." There are spy scenes and cafe scones, and all kinds of funny situations in "Step Lively," for the entanglement of the principals and the amusement of the audience before the grand finale comes along, and tho revuette should prove very popular through tho week, which is only the company's seconii one in Wellington. The frocking is unusually well designed, and a flue orchestra under Mrs. George Ward rounds off the programme effectively.