'OUR REVEILLE’

Evening Star, Issue 17327, 15 April 1920, Page 8

'OUR REVEILLE’

A BRIGHT AND NOVEL SHOW. TOOK ON AT ONCE. At His Majesty’s Theatre last night the entertainment entitled ‘ Our Reveille ’ was produced by Mr \V. Lints under the auspices of the Dunedin Returned Soldiers’ Association. Christchurch voted it the best of all amateur entertainments, and crowded the house night after night for two weeks. _ Dunedin seems likely to be ecu ally enthusiastic. The theatre was filled in every part for the initial performance, the audience showered appreciaupon the performers of every item, and on all side* one heard people declaring that they would come again and bring others with. them. Mr Lints has struck out on lines of his own. No ether entertainment that we remember was quite like this that he presents. The programme is mads up of marches, ballets, d ances of all sorts (some with and some without singing, some by individuals, others by groups), also tableaux and gymnastic posturing, all beautified with fine displays of colored lighting and stage settings' that have been well thought out. Further, the costuming is on a most elaborate scale, quite a sight in itself. The mimic also came m for much praise. The songs aro simple and appropriate ; the choruses show evidence of being well rehearsed, and tney are given with fine animation, and the orchestra, conducted bv Mr Leslie B. Borrow, deserve hearty thanks for choosing music that is worth listening to, it being bright and melodic, absolutely innocent of crashy circus effects irom drum or cymbals, and consistently well played, in nice bain nee and beautifully proportioned to the voices. Once for a moment a chorus ran away with the time ; but such a happening is sure to be guarded against now' that the first night is over. _ Mr Lints is evidently an expert at organising and producing, being able to control his large corps with fine precision and keep them lively, yet in order. Here ana there little individualities obtruded, as might be expected at a first performance, such as a momentary irregularity it ony the strict line of dressing' or the sticking out of a. limb at wrong angle, liiese happenings, however, were imrequent, and Mr Lints is sure to have them corrected now that the show is in the mam in running order and he has time to attend to tfie emails'* matters. No fewer than 43 items are described on the souvenir programme. The arrangement is to select from these each night enough to make up j an entertainment of the required duration, and acquaint patrons of the order by means of indicating cards hung on the proscenium. Last night we had 18 items, so that tho full list is not half 'explored. Most of them were encored: yet, 60 smartly were they put on, die show' ended before 10.50.“ As a matter ot tact there was only one ‘‘wait” apart from the interval. Such expedition is marvellous, considering that the performers number over 250, and that all are amateurs, most of :hem with no st-me experience. ‘Ten Minutes in Cherry Blossom Land,’ solo my .Miss Matheson, is an exceedingly pretty spectacle of the Japanese character, no'table for delicate color contrasts. ‘The Military Ballet’ is entrusted to 16 of The grown-up young Indies, who come on in white-end-gold uniforms, and go through the perpetual figures with splendid precision, ending with a sensation in the shape of a "rouped fall. ‘ Whistle It,’ solo by Miss R. Wooton ls a romping act bv little girls dressed as sailor boys. ‘The Quaker Girls,’ solo by Miss Bowles, counts ns the daintiest of the group items, the grey-and-white dresses very pretty. ‘ Over the Rhine,’ solo by Miss Matheson, is an impetuous and animated chorus by the bigger girls dressed as troopers, and it got tho honor of a double encore. Tho ‘Original Dutch Dance waa singled out for special applause. _ The ‘Argentine Fox Trot’ is an exhibition of a new' kind of dancing by Miss J. Kempthorne and Mr Lints. Human Statuary ’ is a well-managed act, the girls smartly going to stations and moving about with unerring precision I ho Human Bar of Music’ has been done before, but not so elaborately. Pleads pop through the crochets and sing separate notes, which make up a victory song to the tune of ‘Robin Adair.’ The item in which we find Red Cross nurses at pkv, solo by Miss Matheson, introduces the favorite song ‘Pack up your troubles in your old kit bag.’ The ‘ Arizona ’ clog dance and chorus (soloist, Mite Wooton), the ‘Black-and-white Ballet,’ and the , -'-3 '■ ri g bong and Ballet ’ (solo dancer, Miss D. White) are also well presented. Special features of the entertainment are the J Grand Empire March,’ with Miss I). Hanlon as Britannia, and the ‘Liberty March’ by 150 performers, Miss Burns the soloist. The audience bestowed high fators upon Miss Dorothy White in respect to her delightful solo dancing in ‘ The Camovale,’ and if a vote of the onlookers had been, taken there is little doubt that the fox trot by Alias White and Mr Lints would have taken the prize. Their dancing was up to a high professional standard, and it was embellished by acrobatic feats such _as to astonish the' audience. Our Eoveil e is tn be given again tonight.