“OFF HONOLULU”

Southland Times, Issue 20447, 27 March 1928, Page 6

“OFF HONOLULU”

DELIGHTFUL REVUE GEORGE WALLACE AS GLOOM CHASER PACKED HOUSE AT OPENING PERFORMANCE It is claimed in northern towns that there is no greater favourite on the Fuller vaudeville circuit than George Wallace, the brilliant young Australian comedian, who appeared, with his revue company, at the Municipal Theatre last evening. And after hearing this popular purveyor of mirth, Invercargill theatre-goers were convinced that he was. worthy of the honour. A packed house greeted the company, and in a very short time the audience was absolutely captivated. Wallace is a diminutive comedian, but puts over “big stuff”—■ that is, big in the comedy line. Whenever he stepped in front of the footlights, either as the cheerful little “vagabond” in baggy trousers or (as in last evening’s revue) as Nelson, the pride of the navy, he raised the most hearty laughs. He is nothing if not original. This is where he scored. It was obvious that a wealth of his “business” was put over last night for the first time, yet it worked in as smoothly as if rehearsed for weeks. His company is well trained, but even members were hard put to it to keep from “exploding” at some of his sayings. George Wallace received a splendid hearing on his first visit here and he is certain to be a big drawing card wherever he appears. The first part of last evening’s programme took the form of vaudeville, individual contributions, sketches, and ballets following each other in smart order. George Wallace takes a prominent part throughout, and whether it is his “turn” or pot, he happens along and does or says something ridiculous. The Six Rascals are a sextette of lovely girls who dance in and out as the occasion warrants, and provide picturesque settings for some of the numbers. A feature of the first part was the dual work of the Daley’s. Kathleen Daley left her seat at the piano in the orchestra and joined her brother, Les, in some breezy singing of topicalities from the stage. The Daley’s sang harmoniously together and proved to be happy entertainers. Marshall Crosby, the possessor of a fine baritone voice, sang “Rosie O’Ryan” and also took part in sketches with George Wallace. The Six Rascals charmingly tripped across the stage in a dancing novelty and then George Wallace had the house “roaring” with hie singing of “The Rich Man Drives By,” with comedy interpolations about nothing in particular. Tom Lincoln and Frank Raining in “Archie and Bertie” and later as the Cascara Duo in “Classical Terpsichore,” had the house screaming. “The Labour Bureau,” a sketch in which George Wallace endeavours to solve the unemployment problem, proved to be a good concluding burlesque to an extremely funny first half. The revue “Off Honolulu” occupied the whole of the second half of the programme and here again, George Wallace, as the cheeky seaman, kept the house in an almost continuous state of laughter. The revue is staged on the deck of the s.s. Dublin Bay bound for Honolulu. There is a little plot dealing with the disappearance of a number of valuable airship plans, but the plot does not matter much. All that is required are the necessary foils for the comedian’s quips, gags and merriment. These were forthcoming in the personnel of the cast, Les Daley as a half-witted deck hand being the main butt for George’s “ideas” and fun. George was convinced that the “back” had fallen off the ship, but he failed to convince the captain. Marshall Crosby, a man of many parts, made a genial captain, his chief officer being Frank Haining, while Tom Lincoln took the part of cook. Marie Nyman, the captain’s daughter, sang several numbers pleasingly. George Wallace delivered “Pride of the Navy” and explained why he had left his father’s farm. The Six Rascals rounded off the revue in attractive style and supplied a correct nautical flavour through the medium of the Sailor’s Hornpipe. A quartet on comedy lines and “Shipmates o’ Mine,” bj’ Marshall Crosby, completed the programme. The same programme will be presented this evening and can be recommended strongly to anyone suffering from the blues.