REVUE AT ST. JAMES'.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 20072, 9 October 1928, Page 14

REVUE AT ST. JAMES'.

OLD FAVOURITES RETURN. SUCCESS OF OPENING ,NIGHT. After a lapse of over five years Stiffy and Mo have returned to Auckland. At the head of a new company they opened a season aL the St. James' Ilieatre last evening, and with all their old-time buffoonery, to which there is allied genuine wil, succeeded in prostrating with laughtei an audience which packed the the.iti e. 'There were 110 half measures in the reception accorded to fliese t\yo old and trusted clowns of the Fuller management.' Their first appearance was greeted uproariously. .Mo lisped a few of his familiar catch-words and the applause dissolved into gales of laughter which is his right. The partners of comedy arc not allowed to monopolise (he honours. They received support from a strong company and other old friends were warmly welcomed Roy Rene and Nat Phillips, the one an absurd Hebrew and the other a species of Australian Cockney, will always have their following, but. for their present visit they have taken a third partner in Jack Kcllcway, more Cockney than Australian, and bearing with distinction the name of 'Erb. They form a triumvirate which can reign undisputed. They give the public vi;hat it wants, and they give it in plenty. Mo, as a photographer, makes a somewhat inglorious mistake in the uso of a focusing cloth. With St iffy he makes a glorious aristocrat attired in two pairs of trousers, wearing one pair as a coat, and at the final curtain ho appears in the guise of a baby, complete with his accustomed hirsute adornment. But Mo's best work—it is much easier to call him Mo than Roy Rene—is done when he listens to some old jokes,from St iffy. The manner in which he collapses with laughter like a punctured balloon is inimitable. There is more than mere mirth-provoking farce in his stage-door sketch with Miss Sadie Gale. Mo, in another of his characteristic costumes, burlesques the manner of approach adopted by the gilded youth, tells an actress all about the sheep, at Wanganui, or at least on the outskirts of Wanganui, and altogether gives a rare cameo of comedy. Stiffy gives Mo wonderful support, and also manages some very lino individual efforts. His air of nonchalance is in itself enough to set an audience laughing, and when he can introduce in facetious mood references to a certain historic happening at Ellersbe his success is assured. Mr. Kelleway, 'Erb to be consistent, is also delightfully funny. It is hard to recall more amusing dancing than that which he gave last evening. Apart from the humour of the triuinvirato and the excellent work of Miss Sadie Gale, there was the music of the Charleston Symphonic Six, a jazz band worthy of tno name. The audience last evening was loth to let the players krive the stage. They also accompanied Miss Amy Rochelfe and Peter Brooks in the "Miserere" duet. It was announced that during spare time the band would play at various hospitals and homes in the city Inmates of favoured institutions will be given a genuine treat. Miss Rochelle is well known in Auckland, and her voeal work, ■ together with that of Mi. Brooks, is most pleasing. Miss Daisy Mcrritt, Dan Dunbar and Dan Weldon all add to the general hilarity and to completo an excellent bill of fare there is the dancing of the Terry sisters and a ballet which for grace and agility excels anything before seen on the revue stage in * Auckland. The whole production is excellently staged and the ballet girls wear some charming frocks to good advantage. There should be no limit to the success of the coming season.