HIS MAJESTY'S.

Evening Post, Volume CVII, Issue 96, 27 April 1929, Page 13

HIS MAJESTY'S.

Frank O'Brlan and his Revellers, in their fifth programme of fun and frolic, drew and delighted a largo audlenco at His Majesty's Theatre last night. Jirst came Bert Lee, the ballet, and the boys in "Chloo"; then the amusing trio, "Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Sailor," rendered by little Iris Gumbley, Big Joe Hudson, uiid Gordon Neville, and a new song, "Marry tho Girl," by Bert Lee, very appropriately led u[i to "Tho Marriage Exchange," run on up-to-date lines by the proprietor (Bert Lee), tho manageress (Mabeile Morgan), tho partner (tho versatile and ever-popular Frank O'Brlan), Lord Bob (Gordon Norville), the girl (Mario Ward), and those who wish to wed —a very flno assortment, the ballet. A beautiful song of Spain, "An Old Guitar," was expressively sung by Janice Hart, and the- ballet presented a most attractive dance with silken shawls, followed by "Mine, All Mine," sweetly sung by Marie Ward. A screamingly funny telephone talk between Heaven and the othor extreme was given by Joe Hudson, and tho irrepressible Frank," and Gordon <Norvilla and the ballet indulged in a love song. The first part of the programme was concluded by Tiny Douglas and his talented .'Varsity Boys' Jazz Band, their Items Including "Sunshine," "Valse Caresso," Frank Torrens; "My Blackbirds are Bluebirds Now," Janice Hart: "Back in .Your Own Backyard," the Boys; "Nagasaki," Frank O'Brlan; "Songs of Old Ireland," the Boys; and some very clever dancing, twice encored, by Tiny himself. The second part of the programme was the hilarious burlesquo of array life, "Khaki—Memories of 1914." Father Time sets the clock back to August, 1914, and then the fun begins. The declaration of war breaks in upon a frolicsome party of tho boys and girls, and Marie Ward and Gordon Neville sing a tender parting song, "Beforo the Dawn," and then comes tho "Recruiting Office" sketch, with Joe Hudson as tho bluff and burly recruiting sergeant, and Frank O'Brian as a lightning change artist who manages to get recruited and to draw his "two and ninepence" four times over, not to mention drawing another recruit's "two and nine" for him. "I'll Make a Man of You" is finely sung by Mabeile Morgan, and then comes a particularly clever "Barrack Square" scene, with Big Joe, the sergeant, drilling a specially awkward 'squad, and "Our Frank" proving himself a general nuisance and a generous '.purveyor of laughter. "Over There," syrapathetfcally rendered by Janice Hart, heralds a .chance of sceno to "Somewhere in France," where Frank is found on sentry go, is deeply disappointed at not getting a letter from home, and, quite inadvertently, "steps forward" to volunteer to take' a message across "No Man's Land" to a stranded forlorn hope. The din of battle is most realistic; then comes the Armistice, the welcome home, and an amusing closing sketch "Light Refreshments," "An After-the-War Episode at tho British Legion Club," in which Frank O'Brlan and Marie Ward, as "Mr. and Mrs. Depressed," manage to get away with the swell dinner ordered by "Lord and Lady de Vere" (Gordon Norvillo and Janieti Hart). The curtain falls on a great scene of mirth and jollity, in which all the Revellers take part.