OPERA HOUSE

New Zealand Times, Volume LIII, Issue 12441, 8 May 1926, Page 7

OPERA HOUSE

SPLENDID VAUDEVILLE UNIQUE AND MARVELLOUS TURNS. Ordinary adjectives hardly suffice to describe the most unique performances given at the Opera House last night, when J. C. Williamson’s International Vaudeville from the Sydney andi Melbourne theatres made its initial appearance in Wellington. Two or three of the turns are full of thrills from beginning to end, while others are as enjoyable as thejr are extraordinary. Not for one moment does the interest flag, and time and again the house rang with appreciative applause. A bright musical overture by the orchestra, conducted by Mr Clias. Ares, L.R.A.M., introduced Francois, the globe, trotter, who gives a. wonderful display of agility and balance on a huge golden ball, and does amazing stunts, not the least being a riskv performance on a see-saw, and finally piloting it down several steps while he retains his insecure perch on top. Jones and Raines, the Welsh Rarebit, and his dainty partner, gave some delightful patter and song, which kept the audience in excellent humour, particularly the burlesque. The world-famous aviary act, in which two score of cockatoos take part, is introduced' by Madam Harmstroll, and this is a performance that oaptures both old and young, and juveniles will delight in it. One bird performed on a small golden ball with an agility almost equal to that of Francois, and they perform 1 on a miniature trapeze and parallel bars with alacrity. Two older birds are almost human in their intelligence, one playing a set of bells while the other counts, subtracts, or rings given numbers on a gong. A performance quite off the beaten track. What made the audience gasp was the daredevil performance of the master unicyclist, Walter Nilsson, whose amazing versatility upon a single wheel was simply extraordinary. In one of his stunts he rides on a wheel 10ft in the air and the manner in which he manages to mount to the seat of the cycle —or unicycle—is something best known to himself. It has the appearance of achieving the impossible. Nothing of the land has been seen here before. Dorothy Browne, with l\er melo-piano, gives & charming and melodious selection of Scottish and English melodies, and also a little jazz and some of the newest -popular airs. She is the dainty American girl from Colorado. The Fleming's “Studies in Alabaster” are graceful and artistic, and the wonderful feats of strength and the graoe with which they are performed make them comparable to the famous Grecian athletes. They are indeed superb. Odette Delage as the Apaohe violiniste gives a masterly performance on one of the sweetest of stringed instruments, and is followed bv Rupert Hazell with Elsie Day, in “harmonylarity,” a word which aptly describes the entertainment they present. He is humorously garbed as a parson, and his affected witticisms and stories convulse the audience. Miss Day sings delightfully, particularly Gounod’s “Ave Maria,” in whicn Rupert Hazel! plays the obligato on the phonofiddle. The grand finale is the world-fam-ous attraction, Niobe, the acquatio star, who breaks world’s records under water with ease. She eats, drinks, writes, sings, and powders her face under water with no more trouble than she would perform the same acts the table or in,her boudoir, during which she remains under water for spaces up to a minute, and had hardly had time to gain her breath when 'she again went to the bottom of the tank and remained there for two minufc©B 20 seconds. It was a perform•noe which cannot be adequately desmbed and) mast be seen -to be believft wonderful show is assur«d of a successful season in WeJlincton, but it to book seats.