HIS MAJESTY’S THEATRE.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20959, 24 February 1930, Page 13

HIS MAJESTY’S THEATRE.

JIM GERALD’S REVUE COMPANY. \ The popular Jim Gerald has never been accorded so enthusiastic a reception as that which was tendered to him and his new revue company at Hia Majesty’s Theatre on Saturday; At the matinee performance there was an excellent attendance. but at the evening entertainment there was no seating room for all who -wished to gain admittance, scores being turned away. The Fuller management has devoted so much time of late to the real stage play that vaudeville and revue have been pushed into the background in Dunedin for some months. This fact no doubt contributed in no small degree to the attractiveness of the present programme to those who enjoy the lighthearted nonsense, frivolity and comedy at which Jim Gerald has proved himself such an adept. He- demonstrated on Saturday evening that he has lost none of the grotesqueries of dress or pose which delighted hia audiences in the past, and he showed conclusively that his hand has by no means lost its cunning in the matter of stage presentation and effects.' If there was anything that distinguished his latest production from any of its predecessors it was the lavish scale on which it was presented. The lighting effects were excellent, although they might have been improved if the revolving spot, with its brilliant kaleidoscope of colour had been better placed. . Unfortunately its swiftly changing hues ( were too often wasted upon an expanse of stage which was at a much higher ‘ level than , the ballet' ever reached. The time and pains devoted to the . staging of “ Barebaeks ” and the Vaudeville- offerings which made up the night’s bill must have been considerable, to say. nothing of the cost, since the smallest act had its special setting, while the opening, ensembles and the finales were presented on a scale that it is not often attempted by this class of producer. The audience placed the hall-mark of its approval on the show a few minutes after the curtain, rose, and the crowded house seemed to enjoy every minute of the evening from then'until the curtain fell for the,last time on the animated “Get Out and Get Under the Moon” finale.

Gerald himself had a very strenuous evening, and was never absent from the limelights, for more than a few moments at a time. He was distinguished by that extreme sartorial absurdity which seems to be the particular privilege of the slapstick comedian, and throughout the night he-made the best use of the baggy trousers ;and floppy coat, wrapping himself np in their ample folds and pulling them into the most ludicrous shapes. He was responsible for a constant now of. nonsense, which proved almost as de-‘ vastatingly effective on some of the mem- ’ bers of his' troupe as upon the audience. Indeed, it would appear, from the manner in which he convulsed certain of hia assistants-that much of hie ribald wit and boisterous humour was of the .impromptu type. He has amazingly plastic limbs, and-an almost indiarubber body, so that when the strain of mirthprdvokirig by word of mouth becomes too great, he ‘simply .throws himself about to hia heart’s content, rolling about the stage and twisting himself up into' the most surprising variety of shapes. His burlesque. on the production of a moving picture was an uproarious , number, in which he dominated the piece. His fooling was irresistible, and ne had very able assistants in Reg. Hawthorne, Linda Foy, and Tom Dale. His . skit on the habit of “cutting in,” the point of which is lost in a community* where the habit is almost unknown, was a delightful piece of exaggeration. Among the contributors to the vaudeville side of the programme were Miss Letty Craydon,. who sang “Some Svyeet Day,” Miss Lily Coburm who was responsible for “ So Is Your Old Lady/' and Miss Essie Jennings in “If You Want the .Rainbow,” all of whom were very effectively ■ supported by an exceedingly competent &nd personable ballet. The dancing throughout ■ the entire evening was a distinct credit to' the halfdozen girls, who rejoice in : tbo name- of “ Twinklera.” The second part of the programme was devoted to a revue . entitled “ Barebacks," and if it was a little difficult to grasp the point of the title, there -was no lack of good, wholesome buffoonery 'to amuse' and divert. Jim Gerald, was never out of the picture, and the success of hia company was measured by the degree in which they played up to him. Mies Linda Foy was his heroine, the lost heiress, whom he, as . a detective, was-bent on finding. It was thoroughly'’'"■enjoyable foolery, and there was frequently the, spice of ,originality about Some . of the comedian’s utterances and jokes, which .made the show more than ever acceptable. However, although Gerald made most of the fun and carried the .burden of the entertainment on his extremely, capable shoulders; he 1 was as-sisted-by ,the entire company, every, member of which did all that was demanded of him or her. , Toin. Dale, Dan 'Weldon, Reg. Hawhorne, Howard Hall, Ronnie Sband, Lily Coburn,..Linda Foy, Mercia -Elliott, Letty Craydon, Joan Graham, Essie - Jennings, and the, Twinklers all contributed their share. There was the customary plenitude .of . musical numbers to cover over the weaknesses of the plot. Mercia Elliott sang' “Lila” with good effect, and-'Tim Dale’s ’ “ Underneath the Blue” went very well. Mias Jennings sang “ Ain I Wasting ■My Time ?and Jim Gerald was responsible for a really good comedy number, “The Garden Subbub”; the duet “You. Were Meant for He,” by Linda. Foy and Tom Dale, was good; and Miss. Lily .Coburn’s “Crazy. Rhythm ’ was loudly applauded. Joan Graham and Shand gave an excellent' dancing specialty item entitled “Honey,” and the- whole troupe ’joined in a very diverting opefia' burlesque/ The finale, of the first half of the programme, in which Linda _Foy distinguished herself in an early Victorian scene, was one of the gems of the. evening, and there was life and zest and gaiety in the closing number of the evening, “Get,and Get Under the Moon, in. which everyone took part. The programme will be presented again this evening and for the rest of the week] a complete new bill being provided for Saturday, when there will be both after-, noon- and evening performances.