"LITTLE BO-PEEP"

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXI, 5 April 1926, Page 2

"LITTLE 80-PEEP"

STANLEY McKAY PANTOMIjME COMPANY Tile visits of paiiloTniliiu. Uj Nelson arc i •• ,-. and far between, bill are always appreciated, as tho lal' 1 Johnny fiber:o.in, ulm,' ravo-Tred l'i "'son v.ilii "Or. (i-■;:<■!.'!.j." ;;)':;• r*.'g.\le■•.-.. j -ars ;,»■>. .in I Stanley McK:t\ 'with WioU;?. i- .i .-■ bard i,.iiu years ago, bulb found out, each meeting vvitli the stunt' piobJem ln.iV to accomniodale all des'lrous of enjoying their presentations. Mr McKay was again in the same, position on Saturday evening when lie opened the- current Nelson season of lii.s brilliant pautotmnie company witJi "Little Lio i'eep," and found lite Theatre lloyal, despite counter-attractions, filled to t'U pucity before ihe overture was played, which meant that many mo.te would have paid for admission if seats had been available. Although it, bad "got round" that ihe present company under the AlcKay banner was sucmclitiiig out of the oi'dinary run, lew especled such a splendid entertainment, Willi so many premier players, and such varied aud excellent tare ihai provided a veritable ■ feast of amusement.. Nothing lacked—deligiitruj music enraptured lim ear, ■ pretty gn!s, gorgeous costuming, graceml dancing, wonderful gymnastic. \vr>i*k, Miid artijitic ensenihies and scenery combined to please the eye, while clean anil wholesome comedy completed the good wirni, Marjone Abrahams was winsome as "Ho foe," and while she was on Hie stage. no „„ ft worried over Uie lost merinos. She sang herself into favour ai once with her opening sonand cnortis, "f'm Little Ho Peep," and ttio sam,- may he said of the youri* '"<<>*'« "f Hie chorus. Tne eompat.v tio.sscss-cs three artists of unusual at"laininenli, in i ss |;,., R . Uu . h A||sc; Until LJucknall, and Mr A. K. V. ;;,.,,. ham. .Miss Hicli is acclaimed hv the Sydney press mid Suusiea,! envies' (here I na Australia's greatest girl vioiiiiUle. j bnc- created qwue a furore with her Nelson audience, a rid literally sweiit Dime oil titeir leet. Her selections included a difficult concerto a lively dance, a lifting hdlahv, "Love's Old Sweet Song- and "Yankee' Hoodie"' with variations. She responded smiliti"--ly to the incessant one-ores, and with her artistry. pn IS personal .harm Mr McKay has discovered another star Miss Ruth BttckriaJl. n pupij of .Marthesi, a soprano with the plieiionienal range, of three octaves, was another popular favourite, and her numbers were worth going a long wav to hear. [a liie Mad Scene' from' Verdi's '.Lucia.'.Miss Htukrial] was superb and • received a storm of applause. Mr\Benhain is a hasso who has received hi<di praise, fiora Melba, and his rendition "of .Myself When Voting", "Shipmates o' Mine. and other favourites were highly appreciated and vigorously reMiss Laurie McLeod as' ",'/ae Straw," made a handsome principal boy. singing |, e r lines sweetly and dan- I Cing her way into the good graces of till In the balloon dance she "achieved ' a tremendous success. Mr Frank I'errvn is a comedian with fine stage appearance, a good baritone voice,' and persoriahty that imediatelv makes ho,, •, prime favourite. As' the "Shah of Cashmere" he Was, in movie parlance responsible fop "some of the besl work Of his career." Uis sketch with Miss McLeod. ••Waning the llabv." was a scream of the first water"' (-Don't put this one all over the Palace first") Miss Maudie Stewart ("Simple Simon") and Mr Arthur Meredith ("Belinda liumpku, ) )nd a merry partnership and were responsible for gome "near convnljioiin. Their gongs and duets were distinctly good, while I heir "business, and -gags"- were f„ f ,nv to the nth degree j) nme Meredith ami Simon belted dull rare i„ the boundary with the grealest vigour. Last, hut not least come the rJevrn Little Australian 1W ends (no cona-lwn with the Australian 'tie ptico ol admission. wiUioul a nv exaggeration. Their wonderful displa'v ol _ tumbling, sohrersaulling |,'andspr<ng«, cartwheels, and pyramid pel W'W*fl the audience hv slorm Nol.tmc like it has ■„,.,, s ,eV here or .mn.v,«« and the applause bestowe -t f Sed ,i -sit^«\fs; All Babn and the Fortv Thieve l ' till be presented this evening v } len he oomulete change of bill slnm'ld ~l| 4]lA » !l ">™v anernoS La "' msda - v new Patdomimes will be I,J„ .