HIS MAJESTY'S THEATRE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21910, 23 March 1933, Page 5

HIS MAJESTY'S THEATRE

“PLEASURE BOUND

The Frank Neil Vaudeville Company’s first offering of its Dunedin season, “ Pleasure Bound,” will receive its final presentation this evening. The high lights of the production are provided by that incomparable artist Miss Ella Shields, whose graceful and polished stage presence and inherent charm immediately captivate all who see her, and Mr George Wallace, whose popularity in the sphere of low comedy has suffered no diminution from Dunedin during the past few years. Miss Shields’s performance, more especially as regards her world-famous male impersonations, is a source of sheer delight, and the audience is given every opportunity of gauging to the full the artistic qualifications which made Miss Shields the rage of the variety stage in London. One of her greatest triumphs is her singing of that old classic, “ Burlington Bertie.” Mr George Wallace is one of the favoured few in the world of low comedy who possess the ability to invest their quips and sallies with the atmosphere of spontaneity, and this, added to the fact that there is much that is genuinely laughable in the material he uses, provides one of the explanations for his constant success of the variety stage. Associated with the chief comedian in a number of sketches arc Mr Maurice Barling, Mr Billy Maloney, who is the possessor of a singularly attractive baritone voice, Mr William Biddle, and Miss Lily Molloy, all of whom play their marts in an accomplished fashion. Miss Maggie Buckley and Miss Miriam Lester are hoard in several excellent vocal numbers, set in colourful and artistic surroundings, while Murray and Walton, two tap dancers, give extremely attractive exhibitions of synchronised footwork. The spectacular side of the entertainment is provided by the Four Daring Diabolos, whoso gymnastic and acrobatic feats provide the audience with plenty of thrills. A special matinee performance will be staged this afternoon, and

there will be a complete change of programme to-morrow evening, when the company will present the record-breaking musical extravaganza “ Hello,, Happiness ” for a season of four nights. Next Wednesday afternoon and evening, and on the two following nights, “ Whoopee ” will be presented, and on Saturday afternoon and evening the season will be concluded with presentations of “ Sunny Days.”

“ HELLO, HAPPINESS.”

Commencing to-morrow night, for four nights and the Saturday matinee only, J. C. Williamson, Ltd., will present Frank Neil’s brilliant vaudeville revue company in what is generally regarded as his' best revue, “Hello, Happiness,” in which all members of the company are seen and heard at their best. “ Infectious gaiety, genuinely humorous comedy, clever and original ballets, some really sensational acrobatic features, a number of the latest song successes, and Ella Shields and George Wallace at their very best arc,” wrote a Sydney critic, “ features of Frank Nell’s latest revue.” “ Hello, Happiness,” attracted record audiences in Australia for many months, and it is generally regarded as one of (bo best entertainments of its kind ever staged in Sydney or Melbourne. In male attire Miss Ella Shields never fails to prove an attraction to the average playgoer, but she is just as effective when she sings an appropriate song in an exquisite dress of the latest fashion. George Wallace can always make his audience laugh in any costume or in any song or comedy scene that he appears in, and the reports to the effect that some of his most effective comedy features arc presented in “ Hollo, Happiness,” have infused special interest into this revue. It is said, too. that the Diabolos will startle playgoers in their during acrobatic effects, and that Maurice Diamond’s beauty ballet will be seen in a number of brilliant ballets and dances, notably that of the military specialty dance, which in Australia had to be repeated over and over again. Miss Miriam Lester’s delightful soprano voice will be beard at its best in a number of song successes, and also in the music of the last scene of “ Faust,” in which she will be assisted by David M'Gill and William Liddle. Other artists in “Hello Happiness.” include Billy Maloney. Maida Jones, Lily Molloy, Maggie Buckley, and Maurice Barling, and Messrs Walton and Murray will execute some brilliant tap dance featurettes. j