"OVER SHE GOES"

Evening Post, Volume CCXV, Issue 13, 17 January 1938, Page 4

"OVER SHE GOES"

BRIGHT AND MERRY SHOW

"Over She Goes," the J. C. WMliamson musical comedy—or farce—is a frolic from start to finish. Its. reception at the Opera House, on Saturday, should have been gratifying to the management, for it unquestionably met the demands of the crowded house. People went to be amused, to look and to laugh, and they got full value for money, and said so with gusto, by recalling the principals again and again, and applauding the scenes and ballets with cheers. Giving the public what they want—and will pay for—is one of the toughest problems managements.-are called upon to solve. "Over She Goes" solved it. In racing parlance", it was a winner. It opened with an effective introductory scene of men in pink and women in ■jodhpurs: There were.no horses on in this scene, but one George Gee was well in front. The play was remarkable less lor its wit than its humour, and of the latter.the helpings were frequent and generous and enough to fill nearly three hours of continuous, entertainment. A better play for a race week or season ■of carnival could not have been selected. No strain was put upon the intellect. Although there seemed to be something in the nature of a plot or' story to' "Over She Goes" it was not obtrusive and no one seemed to bother about finding it. The dialogue was quick and snappy, but it was quite easy to miss one smart point in trying to catch up with the next, so fast was the pace Jrom first .to last; Then there were the scenery and the dresses, which were extraordinarily attractive. The company has been on the move ever since it arrived in New Zealand, but there was no sign of "anything goes" about the production on Saturday night. Looking at the performance from the sober tecn- : nical side, the wonder was how the company was able to impart to the show all the spontaneity and freshness, of first production. But there it.was,; six different sets to be arranged and' some of them to be built up in the brief moment the curtain was lowered. The cast was a big one and distinguished, having regard for this particular style of art. It was headed by George Gee, who was last in these parts some ten years ago. He made a great hit then; he made a bigger one last Saturday night, and, incidentally, carried a good deal of the'weight of the show on his shoulders. In addition to his resourcefulness and faculty for springing obviouslyunpremeditated surprises, he has the natural gift, of making every mobile feature of his face'tell'a story, and'using every hmb,| .to equally eloquent effect. No doubt , liis success is due to careful and intelli-; gent work not seen on the stage—and | he is now' no; beginner; but,he''does;! know how to get on good terms with' an audience and t keep, so, no. matter what he has to say, sing,, or do. He did so with the scene to himself, "Yes, No." He was remarkably quick in making up, darting .off- the.stage "'■ as George Gee, darting back again as a middle-aged . gentleman, with full whiskers, beard, and moustache, grey: frock coat,.and white hat,' or appearing as a white-robed angel complete with harp and halo. '■' ' ; • . Percy Le Fre, a brisk, bustling comedian, and a neat dancer, gave the impression ■of knowing* his ■ business and entering fully into the spirit of-fun in his part. In Donald Burr, an American member of the company, was discovered a personable and accomplished juvenile lead, and showed them all that he knew how; to, dance, and sing, Especially''in: the, number • '"Mine's .a Hopeless Case," with Valerie1 Hay, who. herself' is; a, clever. and; > ■captivating actress, one who ieally'can,, sing arid act, .Billie.Wbi'th,'an,?ngaiing, artist also from the y.hitM;-.S.tates,:'- proved a favourite oh th'e^ Jscoire:.of talent ■ and: good looks, and- was"highly.■ successfol; ■dn^Tum ■: cm %$&: TapS;%;iii;^hiclj*s3i| shd the. boys'aeßgHtedv:ithe-'hbuse ■ with' jhjßir,| tap :\ dancjhg ■*■■■ exhibition. Lois ■Gfeen, that-jolly and lively little artist, danced her way into the good graces of the audience as the fiancee of Tommy Teacher, or George Gee. Enid JHollins and Viviene Arnold proved valuable and capable members of the cast in subsidiary parts. John Dobbie as a detective out of patience with the Trenchard system of training policemen, and Ken Tuckfield as a "cissy" sort of sergeant, provided a lot of fun and their comments on ancient and modern methods of criminal investigation were pointed; and funny. Other members of the cast were Phil Smith as a butler, who had a hearty reception, also Jean Slapoffski and Tommy Jay and William O'Neal, a splendid figure of American manhood, endowed with an agreeable tenor voice which he used with excellent results in "The Dance Goes On."

Lovers of tap dancing had plenty of it on Saturday in "Over She Goes," and it was of high quality, smart and neat and faultless in its time. The chorus and ballets were the same, Scenes that caught the fancy of the audience and deserved all the applause they received were thp Terrace and- the Palm-' Court.. of DrewsdenTowers. There was, too, an e-x-quisite bedroom set. .'. " .'.■. " ■' '

Under Mr. Fred Quintrell's baton the music of an unusually full Orchestra with a generous provision of brass, was fast and thoroughly in keeping .with" the high speed and hilarious character of "Over She Goes.-" The play will be repeated until replaced by "Nice Goings On."