GEORGE WILLOUGHBY

New Zealand Times, Volume XLII, Issue 9600, 5 March 1917, Page 7

GEORGE WILLOUGHBY

AND HIS COMPANY “WHAT HAPPENED TO JONES.” The audience which assembled at the Grand Opera House on Saturday evening to see “What Happened to Jones” was such as would gladden any manager s heart. It lined up in long queues at the various entrances, and a large proportion of the tail end had to b» “sent empty away,” to return on some future night. It was made perfectly apparent that while those who had already had a taste of the vagaries of Jones wished to renew acquaintance with the entertaining commercial traveller, considerable curiosity had been roused on the part of those who had still to be introduced to Mr Jones. Of course the name of George VViljoughby being so favourably known in New Zealand in conjunction with Hugh Ward, Grace Palotta and other members of an immensely successful comedy combination of the past had a good deal to do with the unusual rush for seats.

It was promised in the preliminary paragraphs announcing the arrival of the company that the immense hilarity of Jones and his companions as exemplified ia the past would ho most amiably added to on this occasion by the introduction of many suitable musical mea suies and terpsichorean manoeuvres, unolassical perhaps, but quite iu accord with the mercurial temperament of Jones and those unfortunate wights whom he ropes within his magic sway. Well, the comedy with the music and the dances was unmistakably all right The preliminary paragraphs notwithstanding their glow were justified in cold print In a sentence, “What Happened to Jones” with songs and dances so as to produce a musical farce or something in the nature of a modern revue was a remarkable success.

The entertainment is essentially one that does not call for much detailed comment after what has already been said, but it was certainly a treat to gee George Willoughby once more “on the bean)*' with his easy methods. his smiling face. his musical voice, and very exact steps. It seemed to the audience that he was exuberantly enjoying himself after the troubles and trials of Sydney theatrical management. It is no secret that for some years Mr Willoughby has not practised the actor’s art, but he returns to the boards as a "lion refreshed," and his welcome could U ot have been more welcome than was accorded by » Wellington audience on Saturday night. lie ' revelled in hip part throughout with rolling rollicking levity, and with his able gave a continuous merry-making entertainment exactly suited to the mood of the crowded auditorium. The sudden traiuatiou of Jones from the commercial to the cleric was received with roars of laughter- The beauty of the picture was that he was just as well suited to the Oho character as the other, and it was hardly to be wondered at that he was so long enabled to carry on hie career of imposture. I n the musical lino My Willoughby’s burlesque of thp well-known dust from “II Trovatore,” with Miss Florence Faning as Alvina Star, light, was a rare treat, and threw the audience into convulsions of delight. Mr Arthur Albert as Professor Ebenezer Goodly was particularly lively and adaptable to the peculiar circumstances of the piece, and acted well in conjunction with Mr Frank Brooks, as Dick Heatharly. a brisk light comedian with a good singing voice. Mr Harry Halley as the veritable Bishop of Ballarat was appropriately dignified with the handicap of the boating garb ruthlessly thrust upon him. Miss June Addoll an Cissy achieved a particular success with her song “The Haunting Melody," Miss Edna Seaton attractively assumed the part of Marjorie Goodly and Miss Florence Faning grasped well the idea of the old maid in love with the Bishop. Miss Muriel Dale as the domineering wife of the Professor was completely satisfactory. Mr J. Hardinuah proved an efficient musical director, and there was certainly nothing to find fault with in the stage arrangements of Mr’ David W. Jefferson. >

“What Happened to Jonae” is an nounced for several moro nights.