REVUE RETURNS

Evening Post, Volume CXV, Issue 139, 15 June 1933, Page 3

REVUE RETURNS

FRANK NEIL COMPANY

Without the magic flourish of Ilarle* quiii's wand, the Cinderella pantomime company at the Opera House was last night turned into a bright revue. "The Whirl of the World" was tho title of the entertainment offered, and enjoyed with great gusto. No speed limit wag set to the turns, which succeeded one another with kinematic rapidity. Jti a shade over two and a- half hows some thirty-two items—all different, all attractive, with many really artistic ballets—were disposed of. There was never a dull moment in the whole show. Syd. Beck ,and George Wallace were responsible for most of tho comedy. Each is a specialist in his own line, and can be relied upon to galvanise the stolidibt of audiences into shrieks of laughter. Their comedy can be, and sometimes is, a little broad. Nt times, but it always "gets over," whic-h accomplishment atones i'or much of the breadth. .Syd. Back gave a short lesson in arithmetic demonstrated on a blackboard, and a parody entitled "The Charge of the Tight Brigade," with these and his own quaint comedy and some mangled examples of aialapropisms, he hud the audience shrieking, with laughter. George Wallace as a 'critic was excruciatingly, funny in his running and * audible comments from a box on. the features of a. triangular play with two men and a woman in the story. He shone, too, in a fadio sketch introducing the "Morrowphone," an instrument recording events twenty-four hours before they happen. Here he was assisted by that versatile artist Billy Malpney, likewise in the bedroom sketch entitled "The Substitute." Miriam Lester, who combines a charming personality with highly artistic vocal attain* ments, was a hostess in herself, and : imparted grace and significance to several scenes in which she appeared with the ballet, and particularly in the scenes "Reaching for the Moon," an "Egyptian Idyll," and an original "Sunshade" dance. The New Big Four, a male quartet ci original vocalists who can not only sing but make themselves generally useful in a little bit of comedy and dance, consist of Billy Maloney, Dave McGill, Fred Webber, and Clifie O'Keefe. Together they are an entertainment in themselves, but separately each is an artist in all he does. Versatility is the distinguishing mark of.this happy combination, and Murray and Walton, who appeared as tap-danc'crsf. in well-cut and faultless evening dress, made a great hit, which they confirmed when later they danced with the ballet as a coupla of toy soldiers. Maida Jones, Lily Molloy, and Maurice Barling all pulled their weight iv a particularly bright entertainment. A clever and unexpected turn vra« provided by Maurice Diamond with a doll as big as himself, but it would §poil the surprise of this item to say. inora than that it was a great succese. The Clevei-es in their beautiful and thrilling acrobatic item, as iv the pantomime, were again vigorously applauded. Jack Spooncr's Savoy band of talented musicians was an outstanding success. Th« beautiful ballets ,and their settings mada "The Whir] of the World" from first t» last an undoubted popular revival of revu*. It will run every night this week.