NEW TEAM AT FULLERS'

Evening Post, Volume CVII, Issue 74, 1 April 1929, Page 5

NEW TEAM AT FULLERS'

"REVELLERS'" GOOD START

Admitting that his company had a fairly still' job in equalling the excellent work of Connors and Paul, .Frank O'Brian yet felt confident enough to assure the crowded audience in His Majesty's Theatre (Fullers') on Saturday night that he had hopes to amuse Wellington as well and as loll" as his predecessors had done. His confidence was based partly on the sound foundation of spontaneous applause, which was very frequent during the evening, and by the time that Mr. O'Brian made his little fall-of-curtain address Ins company ("The Kevellers") and the huge audience had got on thoroughly gpod terms with each other. In fact, this'first appearance of "The Kevellers" was. a marked success, and that result is as much due to allround strength as to the versatility and brilliance of the principals, Miss Janice Hart and Mr. O'Brian. Miss Hart, who brings to vaudeville a really good voice and wonderful enunciation, scored the hit 'the moment she jumped out of a bandbox and sang "Home Again." The audience had previously been, put in a good humour with an opening ballet.,and playette, m which Miss Mabelle :-Morgan ; sang V.-Slum-ber Town," and three, pillar* of the Village life, the butcher, the. baker, and the candlestick maker, were- musically impersonated respectively by .Messrs. Joe. Hudson, Gordon Norville, and Bert Lee. . Then Mr. O'Brian showed his comedy talent in a "drunk" scene with Mr. Lee, Mr. Hudson being the policeman. Equally comic was a silly sailor turn, and it was soon evident that the audience had taken to Mr. O'Brian's comedy-and even more to his eccentric dancing, which has to be seen to be appreciated. Quite, a clever comic song was "Seveilfaud;Six,": '.'by, Mr. Lea, in which it is. pointed/-'"put thit, at the present 'cost' of'Mnafriage licenses, a wife is (per pound) about the' cheapest buying in the market, even if she has no encumbrances. 1 Miss Mabelle Morgan's operatic airs, Miss Marie Ward's silhouette song, and Miss Iris Gumbley's "Short and Sweet," also graced the first act, but the bridal suite was in doubtful taste. Prior to the interval::came one of the best turns on the programme, "Singapore Sorrows," a. wonderful-triumph for the part-ly-masked ballet and for Miss Hart. - Early in the second part came the seven " 'Varsity Boys," with their many and various 'musical instruments, and their selections from "The Girl ■■ Friend" ("Blue Room," etc.), followed by an assortment of other musical contributions. All the soloists as well as the ensemble had a good reception, but the pianist, Mr. Al^Batcljelder, made the biggest hit. '-Tliis.# musical' seven (males) is led by Mr.' Tiny' Douglas, and with the special ballet of eight girls makes a conquering combination. The alleged humour,in "A, Domestic Episode" was mostly poor stuff;.-but'*the ballet was brilliant in some toe-dancing, and particularly in a tap dance, in .which the girls wore tunics of mail. Credit is also due to Fullers' Orchestra and the Australian Gazette (moving, pictures). With the help of- Mr. O'Brian and company, Messrs. Fuller will continue to put life into vaudeville, and Saturday's audience proved how willing the public are to respond.