LET’S GO

Northern Advocate, 20 August 1929, Page 4

LET’S GO

A NIGHT OF DELIGHT. SPENT WITH THE “FRIViS.” In town and countryside, over a widely extended radius having Whangarei as the hub, the populace has for weeks past, been echoing and re-echo-ing the Whangarei Frivolity Minstrels' clarion-cry, “Let's Go,” and it is apropos to say “We went,” as a rejoinder to the slogan. Unfortunately the “we” were far fewer than the occasion deserved, due to the long-sus-tained threat of rain materialising at exactly the wwong psychological moment, a couple of hours before the first of the triple performances, billed for last night at the Town Hall. A regular deluge, with a gale of wind in association, poured from the sky without intermission, and it was surprising that even so many patrons put in an appearance under the wretched circumstances. They were no doubt actuated by the objective of the entertainers in founding a fund to establish first-aid stations throughout the district, in connection with the Whangarei St. John Ambulance branch, and also by the impelling incentive of a “true to label ” production which was bound to ensue in the hands of such capable artists. Of course, everybody expects a mdnstrei presentation to be more jocand than profound, yet those, who attended the “show”' last night could hardly have been prepared for the excellence of the vocal and instrumental melody, individual and collective, the staging, costuming, and lighting, which combined with mirthful quips and cranks and fantastic gyrations to place the troupe on an envious plane far beyond the reach of average exponents of minstrelsy.

For three happy hours dull care and dreadful weather were alike relegated to the the limbo of oblivion, and spec-’ ifiic reasons are pot wanting for tho creation of such a diverting interlude. For one thing, the organisation is efficiently officered, the personnel comprising the following.—President, Mr K. G. M. Kelly; vice-presidents, Messrs R, Laurie, F. Reynolds, B. M. Gurr;

hon. secretary, Mr F. J. Howie; hon. treasurer, Mr G. W. Wilding; scenic artist, Mr S. Gribble; property master, Mr R. M. Gurr; lighting effects, Mr Joseph Johnson; producer and musical director, Mr Drayton Yena/bles, A.L.C.M., L.L.C.M., L.T'C.L. Others responsible for the stage appointments were Messrs R. Laurie, F. Reynolds and W. Stewart. There can be no invidious distinctions here, though it must be recognised How vast a task fell to Mr Venables, and how admirably he acquitted himself therein, along with his able and devoted confreres.. Again, the respective members of the troupe i shirked no time and sacrifice in their close application, to rehearsal over a prolonged period, working zealously towards the splendid consummation as staged at the initial production. The east was compounded of the following:—lnterlocutor: George Larking. Bones: Frank Howie (Ria»tus) and Stan Gribble (Jobo). Tambo: Em. Dennis (Washington) and Reg Weston (Sambo). The Circle: George Wilding, Harry Preebe, Algar Ohissell, Harry Smith, Mac. MeClusky, Will Cole, Dave Jones, Frc*d Street, Tom Kidman, Milton West and Artie Sutcliffe. Plink Plonks (Banjos, guitars, etc.): Rob. McKenzie, Charlie Peterson, “Dusty” Rhodes, Hanley Cliff and Erie Miller. Accompanist; Will Newberry. Assistant accompanist; “Punch” Munro. Orchestra: Miss Eecles and Mr R, Hughes (first violins), Messrs D. L. Simedley and R. Stewart (second violins), T. Middleton (bass viol), W. Palmer and N. Naughton (saxophones), R. Leckie (Clarionet), A. E. Leatherby (cornet), A. Leathcrby (trombone) and M, Stewart (trap

drums). The orchestra's inaugural overture, "Darkies' Delight,' 5 gave confirmation of the unusual musical calibre which was expected of such an accomplished coterie, and then the curtain lifted to a gorgeous setting which did the utmost credit to the conception of tho originator, and which, indeed, was symptomatic of the scenic effects, in ail instances pleasing to the eye and appropriate to negro themes, Tho limelight projections were equally meritorious, and greatly enhanced tho chafm of the surroundings and the numerous acts.

The first seena disclosed an admirable blending; of colour, with a red and black, striped rear curtain bearing the “Let's Go” motto conspicuously centred; five twanging musicians seated on a. raised platform at the back of the stage, and in front of them, occupying a semicircle, with the interlocutor in the centre, on each side of him five members of the company flanked by two “Bones” to his left and two “Tambos” to his right. The chairman was in correct evening attire, and the corner-men similarly clad, though with the embellishment of broad red facings and voluminous neck-bows, while the remainder of the cast were in white with red sashes. This is descriptively detailed in order to demonstrate the attractive harmonising of the ensemble. Before the standing “circle,” the corner-men waltKed with grace while the “iSearchlight Chorus” resounded, and then the presiding genius warbled most tunefully “The Midnight Son” and gracefully invited his entourage to “Be seated, Gentlemen.” There followed a programme splendidly diversified and attractive to high degree in every phase, but somewhat precluding lengthy review' of each item, since there were no fewer than 22 of them, and these interspersed the customary “conundrum” interchange —witty and topical—between the direc-

tor of ceremonies and his men at the ends.

I Mr Em. Dennis immediately “caught jon” with his singing of “Oh, My, Vos!” and the Glee Party came next, with a beautifully balanced quartette, “In the Moonlight,” that stirred the listeners to acclamation. Mr Reg Weston took his turn with the catchy vocalisation of “The East Wind,” and w T as followed by the “Blink Plonks” ((banjos, mandolins, bones and tambourines) in fascinating airs, evolving a distinctive, organ-like effect. Next on the list, Mr Prank Howie told his hearers in song all about “Skipper Sardines” and their uses and abuses, and the flow of melody was taken up by Mr George Wilding as soloist in “The Little Green ■Valley,” a lilting ditty, that lived near to Nature and gave a pleasant impression. The cornermen revealed that they were somewhat captious maile creatures and very averse from feminine charm when they sang unanimously “We Don't Want a Girl,' ’ putting plenty of vim into their negation. Mr Stan Grabble gave vent to a very hilarious song entitled “Tweet, Tweet, Come, Come,” introducing a shrilling falsetto phantasy that brought forth an encore call which he had no chance of side-stoppng. Part One came to an end with the three-ply company chorusing of “The Dusky Stevedore,” “Rainbow Round My Shoulder” and “Abie, My Boy.’ ' . Part Tw« brought about a change of stage view delightfully arranged, with a distant landscape, a log cabin .in closer vision and the company, posed sitting and reclining at ease in the foreground, A series of four choicely sentimental solos and choruses led the way, of which the singing/ of. “Sonny Boy'' by Mr Milton West, with a cherubic juvenile companion, moved the sentiment of the audience by its pathos. The other soloists—all well appreciated—were Messrs G. (“Down in the Cornfield), G. Rhodes (“When I Hear a Lullaby”) and Arthur Sutcliffe (“ Aloha. Oe”). A character sketch, dressed and acted precisely to the part, by Mr Will Cole, bearing the title “Levinskl at the Wedding,” was a laughable representation. The succeeding .item was the song “The Spirit Mower,.” in the interpretation of which Mr George Lawson displayed a magnificent tenor voiee that rang cl.ear and "resonant to the highest register. It was .a misfortune that Mr Lawson, due to travel weariness, was unable to gratify the audience with an, encore, for which there was much insistence. “ Bubbles” transpired as a fetching song turn by Mr Fred Street, with Millais ’ famous creation pictured in living form by Mr Em. Dennis in a pretty alcove. Mr W. Palmer gave pleasure with expert manipulation of the saxophone, and after that a short comedy farce denominated “The Bbxie Mghfagraph ’' caused considerable merriment. Mr Frank Howie was more or less liberal with wise advice and funny information in answer to curious enquirers, as brought to light in “Editing a Ladies' Paper. ” “ The . Forty-seven Ginger-headed Sailors” gave good scope for the cast to present crew manoeuvres and the Bailor's Hornpipe on deck, with Mr Wilding (naval officer) and Mr Dave Jones (the 'bosun) taking first and second principal parts respectively. Introduced as “The Girl and the Professor,” Messrs Dole and Larking put in a brief, but decidedly hectic appearance, especially per tailing to the former, who abused “Annie Laurie” most shamefully in a frightrally discordant howl misnamed, singing. A “Darby and Joan” number, the joint contribution of Messrs Dennis and Algar Chissell, was for . the added cameo characteristic of a venerable old couple viewed through a parting of the curtain. Mr Arthur, Le Hue was at his best in “The Pigtail of Li Fang Fu,” the performer being translated into a veritable Chinese and ha ving the assistance of a peopled," Far East opium den, whore murderous crime was depicted to the accompaniment of subdued, creepy, orchestration music “By special request, ” '‘the Hilaric Pour each sang a separate,air together, resolving them into a surprisingly harmonious whole. Then Mr Will Hillyard was wall to the fore with a fine /baritone song, “ A iSilerit Night,” creating an excellent impression, -and the admirable programme came to an end, nigh upon 11 o'clock, when the whole company . joined in medley harmony and applied the closure with the* National Anthem.