"SWING ALONG"

Evening Post, Volume CXXV, Issue 19, 24 January 1938, Page 4

"SWING ALONG"

A BRIGHT SHOW

, "Swing Along" proved a very apt title for the J. C. Williamson show which replaced "Over She Goes" at the Grand .Opera House on Saturday. With a minimum of plot and a maximum of sparkle and fun, it swings along gaily from the moment the curtain rises until the spectacular finale, and the audiences on Saturday were left in a state of semi-collapse owing to too much laughter in the tropical heat. Howevere, there were no casualties either on the stage or off, although George Gee, the company's principal comedian, was more than once well peppered with oullets. But his armour-plated vest saved him, and he will be able to carry on again tonight and convulse another audience. George Geq played the risky—nearly as risky as some of his jokes—role of Maxi Mumm, who is discovered when the curtain rises, and when some' preliminary chorus work has been put over, in a beautiful Monte Carlo setting. But he is broke, having lost his shirt at the tables, and is contemplating suicide, hence he jumps at the chance of impersonating (for a consideration) Xabiski, a red-haired and bewhiskered dictator (Tommy Jay), whose followers' sport yellow shirts. Thereafter the pseudoXabiski becomes fair game for the Opposition, who, whatever their sex, wear no shirts, albeit becoming singlets. Impersonating a famous dictator is not conducive to a peaceful life, and the impersonator has to vary his role at times by being disguised as his own bride or as a raw recruit in the No-Shirt ranks. . In proportion as the story grows thinner and thinner, so does the fun wax faster and furiouser (as (Alice might have remarked), until a culmination is reached in a burlesque of a broadcasting scene when "The Worst Than Narkington Quartette" leaves the audience in a limp mess. There are other fun makers in the show besides George Gee, notably Percy Le Fre (a highly original photographer), John Dobbie (who is equal to any two other men, both fore and aft), and Phil Smith (a butler). "Swing Along," in addition to being funny, is bright and tuneful. Valeric Hay and Donald Burr dance'and sing at frequent intervals throughout- the show, and Billie Worth gets much well-deserved applause for her specialty dancing. Lois Green is bright and cheerful, and William O'Neal leads the No-Shirts vocally and otherwise with considerable gusto, "Swing Along" being the title of his imam chorus song. Both divisions of the chorus are -adequate the girls being most attractively attired. . The show is beautifully mounted, the ensembles being particularly attractive. "Swing Along" will pursue its cheerful course tonight and again tomorrow night, giving place on Wednesday next to "Nice Goings On," the final production of the season, which terminates on Thursday. "