REVUE AT ST. JAMES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20312, 20 July 1929, Page 15

REVUE AT ST. JAMES.

BRIGHT ENTERTAINMENT. Now entering on the fifth week of their season at- the St. James* Theatre, Mr. Frank O'Brian and his "Revellers" revue company have established a definite reputation with Auckland audiences. In tho programme presented for the first timo last evening they made merry with a background of tuneful singing and whirlwind dancing, and to Mr. 0 Brian and Miss Janice Hart in particular a largo audience extended a rousing welcome. The "Revellers" arc phenomenally popular, and their popularity is well deserved. Mr. O'Brian was in rare form last night. Blatantly advertised as a spy he made his first appearance in a war-tiine episode and discovered lost parents with amazing facility and side-splitting consequences. A schoolroom episode gave him ample opportunity for some cheerful fooling, and as a cornet salesman ho did his best work of tho evening, not even excepting (ho fifth episode of his serial chat on happenings in the Garden of Eden and his duets with Miss Hart, The manner in which he wilted before the harsh words of Mr. Joe Hudson was a gem of comedy, and no less good was his later attempt to entertain in a very Wild West mining camp with a revolver held by the same Mr. Hudson hovering over him. Mr. O'Brian s dancing continues to be a revelation. Denied tho use of his voice lie could movo an audience to shrieks of laughter by his dancing alone. In many of his best efforts Mr. 0 Brian was aided and abetted by Miss Hart, who also found time to win generous rounds of applause for her singing. Miss Hart scored her triumph of the evening in "An Old Guitar," but it was a triumph shared with the ballet. These eight young ladies appeared in a Shawl Dance, weaving intricate patterns with the gaily-coloured silks and dancing with a grace matched only by their precision. They brought the programme to a close with some marvellous acrobatic dancing—a tinalo calculated to send tho audience away wondering whether there is such a thing as tho law of gravity. Tho Versatile Eight havo played 110 small part in tho success of tho "Revellers," and their work in a long list of numbers last evening was consistently good. Tho jazz band, under Mr. "Tiny" Douglas, excelled its best efforts to date in a programmo of dance and classical music. The rendering of "In a Monastery Garden" was particularly good, and Mr. Douglas deserves high credit for a most effective arrangement. A vocal novelty, "Mississippi Mud," was distinguished by some excellent dancing and comedy in pantomime by tho diminutive Mr. Ernio Brooks, and in "Old Man Sunshine" tho band and Miss Hart were equally successful. A new "Reveller" made his first appearance in Auckland last evening in Mr. Eric Masters. He has replaced Mr. Bert Lee, and before long should bo one of tho most popular members of tho company. A particularly fino ballad singer, his few appearances were most, welcome. Tho rest of the singing was in the. hands of .Miss Marie Ward, Miss Mabel Morgan and Mr. Gordon Norvillc, who were heard in wellchosen solo and concerted numbers. Tho orchestra, under Mr. Albert Batchelder, did its share toward the success of a programme which should keep the theatre liberally patronised during tho coming week.