BRIGHT REVUE

Northern Advocate, 21 August 1929, Page 4

BRIGHT REVUE

“LET'S GO” AT TOWN HALL

FRIVOLITY MINSTRELS’ SUCCESS. i Nearly three hours of cheerful ontniument were provided by the Whangarei Frivolity Minstrels in the second presentation of their latest offering, “Let’s Go,’’ .at the Town Hall last evening. The authentic minstrel note was sounded at curtain-rise and continued in good volume until cur-tain-fall, and all the items between wen; crammed with “turns” that kept the audience in a .state of hilarity until the final selection. Variety is the spice of revue, and in “Let’s Go” there were all the necessary ingredients in profusion. There were songs and choruses, gags and mock heroics, amusing recitations and instrumental selections, all in typically picturesque and atmospheric settings cleverly designed. During the first half of the programme the negroes sitting in the half-circle with the interlocutor, Mr George Larking, in the centre, and Messrs E. Dennis as Washington, R, Weston as Sambo, P. Howie as Rastus and S. Grabble as Jobo, as two Tamboa and two Bonos respectively, proved to be irrepressible, and some screaming attitudes were struck, which moved the audience to paroxysms of mirth. The inimitable conundrums and remarks by the corn or-men and their facial and physical contortions were always entertainingly funny, arid no > sooner would the mirth subside and the house settle down than the black comedians would make some other remark that would move the audience to the heights .of cachinnation.

“Let’s Go” is something rather different from the company’s past production last year, and plenty of scope is provided for the revelation of, considerable talent. The whole cast of minstrels figured in several popular choruses, including “The 'Searchlight,'’ “The Dusky ‘Stevedore,” “Rainbow Round My Shoulder,” “Abie, My Boy,” “Down in the Cornfield,” “When I Hear a." Lullaby,” ‘' Sonny Boy, ”; “ Aloha 0e ” and “Sing Mc> an English Bong,” and the numbers were all sung well with a charming versatility. Solos were sung to several of the above choruses by Messrs G. Larking, T, Kidman, D. Rhodes, Milton West, A, Sutcliffe, M. MeClusky, F. Street and E. Dennis, all making notable contributions to the evening’s enjoyment.

The programme did not depend Solely upon humour for its attractiveness. Behind the merry 'moments which were provided so freely there were the two selections played by the : Frivolity Harmony Orchestra which were , exceed: ingly popular. Mr George , Lawson, tenor, was heard to effect in “The Spirit Flower, ” and Mr W. Hillyard, baritone, sang an attractive item, “A Silent Night. 1 ’ Then for good measure there was a rendering on a saxophone by Mr W. Palmer, who was well received. Mr A. Le Pine had plenty of opportunity to demonstrate his recitative powers in “The Pigtail of Li Fang Fu,” with a suitable background. On the humorous side of. the extensive programme, Mr W. Cole was again prominent in his “Levinski at the Wedding,” and Mr F, Howie pleased with his infectious talk on “Editing a Ladies’ Paper,” Particularly amust ing was “The Boxie Pightograph,” | featuring Messrs G. Larking, E. 1 Dennis and S. Gribble, and the cheerful piece * ‘ Forty-Seven Ginger-Headed Sailors,” with Messrs Wilding and D. Jones as principals, was a bright, breezy number. Another attractive item was “Darby and Joan,” a harmony number by Messrs E. Dennis and A. 'Ghissell, while some very clever acting was done in “The Girl and the Professor” by Messrs W. Cole and G. Larking. Rastus, Sambo, Washington and Jobo all had their opportunity in •solo items to create an atmosphere of mirth, and all four also featured in a winning quartette. Other items were “The Little Green Valley” by Mr G. Wilding, the Minstrels harmonising the chorus, “The Midnight Son” by Mr G. Larking,” <r ßubblcs” by Mr F Street, Mr E. Dennis amusingly clad to represent the famous masterpiece of the same name, forming an appropriate background, while the “Plink Plonks” provided some melodious contributions. The “Glee Party” and the “Hilarie Four” were accorded an enthusiastic reception for their clever interpretations

This bright .and amusing production ■will be repeated for the last time tonight.