HIS MAJESTY’S THEATRE.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20965, 3 March 1930, Page 5

HIS MAJESTY’S THEATRE.

JIM GERALD’S REVUE. There is no room for doubt on the score of the popularity of Jim Gerald aud his revue company now at His Majesty’s Theatre. Another capacity house greeted the initial performance of the second programme of his present season, and an extremely delighted audience expressed its pleasure in very certain terms. Gerald himself, as is his custom, bore the lion’s share of the burden of entertainment. and never left the footlights for more than a few minutes at a time. His floundering, bouncing, jumping, and rolling around the boards, which he accomplishes in perfect slapstick style, roused roars of merriment, and his public never seem to tire of that ridiculously ill-fitting and disorderly dress which be uses to such advantage. If he throws his body perilously near the edge of the stage, and balances precariously above the orchestra well to give his audience a thrill he certainly succeeds. It seems sometimes as if he must fall headlong among the drums, but somehow that amazingly supple trunk of his saves, although one is justified in thinking that he himself doubted his discretion on one occasion on Saturday even ing. Once again also he managed to get his feet entangled in the footlights, smashing another bulb with a bang. The house cheered madly, aud gave no thought to the management’s possible disapproval of such antics. It is these boisterous frolickiugs, however, that keep Gerald’s shows going at the top-speed which characterises all of them. There is never a minute of wasted time. The revuette on the new programme is a ludicrously disconnected piece entitled “ Oh! Mum,” in which the comedian discards his baggy trousers for the equally comical habiliments of a mother of a large family. His female impersonation was exceptionally well done, but it is to he conjectured that many of the wisecracks and hardly reputable jokes which he put into her mouth never issued from the lips of any widow, no matter how attached she was to such a bottle as Gerald flourished with great gusto at various intervals. The humour he introduced into “ Oh 1 Mum ” was a credit to the comedian inasmuch as a good deal of it was new, and most of it was clever, but on the numerous occa sions on which he turned the conversation to topics and things of which everyone is aware but of which few speak (publicly at least) be was a trifle disappointing. The vaudeville side of the programme was characteristically varied. If it wore necessary to pick out a couple of real gems from the evening's entertainment they would be found in the first half of the programme. The “ nagging wife ” sketch was one of them, and the “ haunted house ” skit was the other. In the former the comedian had the unusual experience of seeing one of his assistants outdo him. Miss Lily Coburn excelled herself as " the wife,” and poured out a torrent of invective and quarrelsome abuse at a speed that was all but incredible. Her tongue raced, but she never made a slip, and the roar of applause that greeted the very effective climax of the sketch was as much for her as for Gerald. In the “ haunted house ” item Gerald and Reg. Hawthorne made the fun between them, but it would have been a poor effort but for the very excellent stage effects and setting. The two principals played the parts of unfortunates compelled to spend 24 hours in a haunted iiouse, the perils and ghostly unexpectedness of which were splendidly presented. The rousing opening ensemble was such as to put the audience in a very happy

frame of mind, and was followed by several minutes of Gerald’s inimitable fooling. Miss Lily Coburn’s " Why Should I Weep Over One Sweetie? ” was well received, and the dancing of the Six Twinklers was also suitably recognised. Miss Joan Graham made a good impression in “ Smiling Irish Eyes,” which she sang very well, later joining with the chorus in a variety of jigs and gyrations, apparently Irish. In the Hawaiian finale to the vaudeville section, a delightfully staged item, the same young lady again distinguished herself in a dance number with Reg. Hawthorne, which uas executed to the accompaniment of singing hy the entire company, led very effectively hy Miss Linda Foy. Mr Reg. Hawthorne, in “ When Dixie Stars are Playing Peek-a-boo,” proved very popular, and his yodelling of the chorus aroused a storm of applause. The “;Oh! Mum! ” was a riotous affair, with half a dozen. players gambolling around the skirts of Mrs Muggins in ridiculously childish garments. It was good fun from beginning to end, and the musical interludes found ready acceptance. Miss Joan Graham’s duet with Mr Tom Dale. “I Han’t Give You Anything but Love,” was one of the best, but Miss Linda Foy did equally well in <t P,™-!! 1 House.” Miss Coburn sang My Pet in that delightfully ronrrish style of hers, and Miss Graham’s “ Lucky :" ane . was another pleasing number. Miss Linda Foy also sang “ Cherie ” exceedingly well. Miss Essie Jennings had three numbers, "Paradise,” “I’m Coming Back, Bonnie Mary,” and " The Garbage Gentleman’s Ball,” in which she appeared with the irrepressible Gerald. Mr Dales “Nirvana ” did not impress. Mr Claude Bennett is to be commented on the capable manner in which he assisted the players with his orchestra. ' . i , h ® Programme will be repeated nightly this week until Saturday, when a new bill will he presented.