COMEDY COME-BACK

Evening Post, Volume CX, Issue 36, 11 August 1930, Page 5

COMEDY COME-BACK

810 XIGUT AT OPERA HOUSE

The come-back of hilarious musical comedy to Wellington, ut the Grand Opera House on Saturday night, was startlingly successful. Even the warmest friends of the old order must have found their most sanguine anticipations exceeded; and when Mr. liric Edgley (co-proprietor -with M.. Kieliiird White) remarked, in a neat fall-of-cnrtain speech, that they hud showed thci-o was vstill some kick" in the old game, he put it quite modestly. "Love Lies,'" as played by Mr. Clem Dawe and his clever co-players, gives a high-power kick, not only iv the ballet, but in all departments. The company had a great opportunity—the huge concourse of people who had witnessed the Homeric struggle at Athletic Park were still iv town, eager to be amused—and iivst-rate artistry made .such excellent use of the opportunity that as the evening wore on the crowded audience fairly bubbled over; and the proceedings, quite spontaneously, assumed the tone o£ n gala night. Once- again one ! could sense the sub-conscious thrill that arises when live players on the stage are in immediate though invisible touch vvith an eager, keyed-up audience. This directness of touch and responsiveness of stage and auditorium became the more striking because of the months (or is it years?) during which Wellington has seen, on the professional side, nothing but film actors | who go on their way inevitably, whether 'the audience is hot or cold, whether it laughs or sighs or jeers. As befits the occasion, the return of the old order, with its greater adaptability to the mood of the moment, signalised also the return of the local "gag," aud a well-worked-in reference to the bulging pockets of the New Zealand Kugby Union brought down the house. And "let it'not be forgotten that the- come-back of the old order included the come-bar-k of the orchestra under the direction of Mr. Gregory Ivanoff. Mr. Olem Dave is the corner-stone, but with him is quite' a strong team of com : ediaus. From the time when ho first partnered Mr. Erie Edgley in a pantomime specialty turn in this country—liiany years ago—he has never lost his grip on audiences, and it is now perhaps stronger than over. F,rom his last tour emerges a memory of the Da we smile and an extraordinary pair of trousers. These low comedy pants are not now in evidence, for his part (Jerry Walker, medical student) is mostly a dress-up part'(the "first real musical comedy star role" Dawe has undertaken), and no one. will deny that he makes a pronounced success of it. pn Saturday evening, the big audience acclaimed hit after hit, and sang the chorus of the "I Lift.up my Finger"—word for word after the comedian—with a vim that recalled comedian triumphs of long_ ago, triumphs that have been "well nigh, lost in lapse of time. Needless to add, "the gods" were easily first in this vocal contost, and would have gone on singing under Mr. Dawes's leadership all night. In Mr. Bobby Gordon, the company has a tall comedian of the spectacled order— a sort of foil to the squat Don Agar, who played an avuncular part —and a good deal of the action of the musical comedy turns on Mr. Gordon's drolleries as a clandestine bridegroom who has married secretly against the uncle's wishes. His bride—who at one stage of the plot is forced to lay claim to two husbands—is Miss Catherine Stewart. Their combined work is clever, including a specialty dance. The romantic couple of the play are Miss Betty Eley and Mr. Michael Cole. Miss Eley, who, like Mr; Gordon, is making her first appearance in Wellington, has beauty-as well as voice. She and Mr. Cole are associated in some appealing duets, "You've Made a Difference to Me," and "A House on a lIUNTop," but these are only two in a, series of catchy numbers enlivened with notable chorus work. Good character-burlesque is shown by Mr. Compton Coutts as Lord Luston; by Miss Marie Eaton, as a fiery Spanish lady with a passion for the accommodating Mr. Dawe; Mr. Les White, as a. butler; Mr. Paul Phmket, as another uncle; and Mr. Eric Edgley, as a traffic constable. The dance feature in the second ■act by Miss Mona, Zeppel and Mr. John Kobcrtson is well up to the dance-acrobaey level of the old times—perhaps a little above it.

A special word must be given to the ballet-chorus, and to the costuming of it. It might have been believed that all possible body-movements in ballets had been thought of long ago, before the eclipse (temporary, be it hoped) of revues and comedies; but this company comes along with new movements, with new music, nnd with beautiful and varied dressing. The ballet, s:m,all but efficient,- was a feast (if colour and a riot of grace. There was a melodious- run-along number in the second act, ending with a fall-down as though caused by fatigue-—a novelty and a distinct hit. Just to drive home the point that this is indeed a flesh and blood performance, the girls wear no stockings. Economy could not have been the motive, as the costuming otherwise must have cost no small penny. Under Mr. Gregory Ivanoff, the orchestra did excellent work, and his violin solo ill the interval was an applauded feature.

The curtain fell amid enthusiasm, after Mr. Dawe, as well as Mr. Edgley, had returned thanks for the significantly enthusiastic reception accorded by the public. Mr. Dawe is determined to keep the flag flying, and those who would help him may do so by visiting the Grand Opera House tonight or following evenings.