CLEM DAWE REVUE COMPANY

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22498, 16 February 1935, Page 11

CLEM DAWE REVUE COMPANY

“SO LONG. FOLKS” 4 With a bright programme entitled “ So Long, Folks,” the Clem Dawe New Revue Company last night commenced the last week of its 10-week season at His Majesty’s Theatre. For many weeks the company has attracted large audiences, and there is every indication of this record being maintained right up to the performance one week from to-night. The new change of programme again shows the collective and individual versatility of this popular band of entertainers, arm “So Long, Folks ” should provide a fitting farewell offering of all the best and most amusing hits and sketches which make up Mr Clem Dawe’s repertoire. In addition there are many fine dancing numbers, colourful song scenas, and more serious vocal and musical interludes of a kind that have proved very much to the taste of local audiences in the past weeks. Mr Dawe, Mr Eric Edgley and Mr Les White, generally with the assistance of Miss Dorothy White, are responsible for a delightful series of farces and sketches, the quality of which shows very definitely that the company has kept many of its best efforts for the final week of the season. Without mentioning in detail all the 30 frolics which make up the farewell programme, it may be said that the company this week gives

as good measure as It has given at any time during its highly successful season on the boards of His Majesty’s Theatre. The comedy quartet is a strong one and is always popular, while Miss Muriel O’Malley demonstrates once again her fine vocal quality in several particularly good numbers. The difficulty is that there is .not a male voice in ■ the show that can be effectively coupled with hers. Her excerpt from “ Tales of Hoffman ” (“The- Barcarolle”) is without exception one of her best offerings to date, and as a matter of fact in everything she does she seems to be in better voice than ever this week. Mies Ann Lucianno contributes notably to the programme, and Misses Edna Moncrieft and Edna Luscombe at the head of the Sun-Tanned Ballet do a lot of good work. Clift O’Keefe, especially in his singing of “Will o’ the Wisp,” Ralhp Daly (tenor), Joe Shriner, Mr Gregory Ivanoff, with his unusually fine technique on the violin, the adagio dancers, Halliday and Watson, particularly in the macabre number “ Dream On,” all display that talent and enthusiasm which for the whole of the season have kept, the standard of performance in the company very high indeed. Mr Dawc himself makes many appearances in the funniest of clothes and in the most amusing situations. He seems to thrive on complications and misadventures, and, despite the excellent efforts of the rest of the company, he generally contrives to keep himself the life and soiil of the party. His numbers are excellently arranged and. well staged, and he is fortunate in the helpers he has in Miss White, Des White and Eric Edgley. One of the secrets of this company’s success has undoubtedly been the despatch with which it moves from one attraction to another. Rapid changes of scene eliminate anything in the nature of vexatious delays and lengthy black-outs, and as a result audiences are always kept in the very best of tempers. Generally the whole show is bright and cheery, presenting a variety which makes it possible to appeal to all tastes, but never at any time getting out of its depth in spheres which are foreign to it. Those who have enjoyed the past performances of the company will not wish to miss this last opportunity of making merry with so merry a company of players. The season will definitely close at the end of the coming week, the final performance being given to-night week. There will be the usual matinee performances during the week.