"THE SCARLET RUNNERS."

Marlborough Express, Volume LIV, Issue 190, 12 August 1920, Page 4

"THE SCARLET RUNNERS."

The Waterlea Park campaign has many friends, all willing to help to further the good cause, and one of the efforts to lover money from the public pocket was made by a party of local .gentlemen, assisted by one lady, at His Majesty's Theatre last night. For some time this devoted b;>nd has been, practising chorus singing, solos, bones and tambo-playing, with all that appertains to an orthodox Christy show, and a large and highly-amused audience were entertained for about an hour and a half by "The Scarlet Runners," the original title chosen by the "niggers." The early part of the evening was taken up with the screening of "Heart of the Sunset," a picturisation of Rex Peach's■ well-mad book. Throughout the Soldiers' Orchestra played the incidental music, also the overtures. At times the audience were moved to an outburst of approval of the music during the course of the screening of the picture. The orchestral pare of the programme was not by any means the least enjoyable part of the evening's (entertainment. The soldiers also played for the minstrel second pr.rt. The "Runners" opened, with the characteristic plantation chorus '"Dixie," after which Mr R. Kingsland sang "Are you from Dixie." Ifc may bo said that each and every performer was applauded heartily, the audience entering into the fun of the thing and giving the amateurs every encouragement in their efforts. A topical round "Parlea-vous" was well received. Miss Bertha Manson, who seemed to bo well acquainted with stage methods of the vaudeville standard sang "Knock the L out of Kelly," ending up with a sand-jig that was a splendid performance. Later on Miss Manson sang the Dietchard song "Baggy Breeches," with its following Dutch -clog dance. The dancer was. clever, and her dance items were among the best things of the evening. She made an appeal for pennies, and the. shower of coins on to the stage washed up into, the respectable total of £2 6s. During the Kelly episode a little boy in one of the boxes (Master Dakin) piped but in a. childish treble the chorus to the sona;, the audience giving the little fellow a special round of applause. Mr A. I?.. Thomson did some wonderful things with a/ tambourine, showing, that he has not lost his oldtime dexterity, Mr J. A. Leslie sang about "Whistling Rufus," Mr W. M. Lambie paid a musical tribute to his "Honey Girl," Mr P. Hale roamed the- "Swaneo River" with a tin whistle, usually an instrument of torture, but this time sweetly played, Mr A. Daniel contributed a black Jewish love song, Mr W. H. Brown told the audience in dulcet tones of his experiences "Down Honolulu Way," and Mr E. J. Rule took his hearers' collective breath away in a rapid-fire patter song, which he supplemented by a talk to the girls. The "Runners" were attired in a very effective costume that showed up well under the electric light, and with a few more appearances to round off some of ■•*the corners the company would be a welcome addition to local institutions.