CAPPING FROLICS

Evening Star, Issue 20846, 16 July 1931, Page 5

CAPPING FROLICS

HIGHLY DIVERTING CONCERT

Visitors to His Majesty’s Theatre this week can bo assured of several hours’ delightful entertainment. For the students of Otago University have succeeded in preparing a concert programme which includes numbers calculated to please all tastes, and which, viewed as a whole, reveals the inventive talent that Dunedin has learned to expect from her frolicsome undergraduates. At last night’s opening performance of the 1931 concert there were very few vacant seats, and when news of the entertainment’s high quality is spread abroad it is likely that the students will find themselves playing before houses that are completely full. The public which welcomes tho presentation of local topics in caricature will discern much that is amusing in the jesting and harmless foolery of tho sketches, and it should also have no difficulty in appreciating the bright spots of the various interludes. Among the amateur actors several performers of previous years can be recognised, but there are in addition many fledglings who, fortunately for the success of tho entertainment, are untroubled by the lack of confidence which so often characterises a first appearance, A particularly happy feaure of the concert is tho music provided by a full-blooded orchestra. Indeed, the presence in a theatre these days or a largo and well-equipped group of instrumentalists provides a note which is not far removed from being, entirely original. Following the usual preliminary sallies, the students introduced themselves in colourful massed formation, and gave spirited renderings of tho University anthem, Gaudelamus Igitur, and tho carnival chorus, A haka of welcome was very much appreciated by the audience. Despite tho handicap of masculinity, the ballet dancers in 4 Capping Slide ’ carried off their chosen piece with a good deal of appropriate grace. ‘ Toozliug Mrs Fox r was the title of a tabloid comedy which, being distinctly “P. G. Wodehousoy ” in flavour, provided some of the most humorous titbits of the evening. The work of tho anonymous female impersonator was decidedly good. This gifted performer was again seen in tho, dancing interlude which followed, his really graceful gyrations making strange contrast with tho intended clumsiness of his foil. One of the big successes of the evening came with tho appearance of tho Knox Glee Club in tho singing of tho negro spirituals, 4 Steal Away to Jesus,’ 4 Down by de Riverside,’ 4 Good News,’ and other quaint melodies. The soloists managed to catch the negro intonation to a nicety, while in the chorus work all tho rules of harmony wore faithfully observed. The first half of the programme concluded with a sketch, 4 Venus de Mildew.’ In this item the pagan and bacchanalian atmosphere could bo definitely sensed, but the actual motif was rather obscure.

Part 11. opened with a cleverly presented farcical version of 4 A Country Girl,’ several well-known members of tho Operatic Society, as well as other folk who are prominent in our urban life, coming in for their share of attention. Selwyn’s interlude, 4 Broadcasting,’ in which the announcer addressed some public figures in his 44 children’s hour’’ chat, was neatly done. Two other short offerings were also well received, and the audience settled down to enjoy tho singing of 4 The Nonentities.’ These eight young men have evidently • stepped into tho shoes of the popular sextet, and it can be said at once that in the matter of entertaining the audience with topical rhyme and melody they have fully maintained the high standard set by their predecessors. For entertainment of the lighter kind there has been nothing in recent years to equal that hilarious farce, 4 ,C0al ’ or 4 Coke.’ Stiffened by more than a suggestion of plot, and sparkling with the wit and satire to bo expected at the carnival performances of University men, this gem was a positive credit to those responsible, both for its conception and execution.