WHIRL OF MIRTH

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 532, 8 December 1928, Page 15

WHIRL OF MIRTH

GEORGE WARD AT ~. JAMES From the bright opening chorus to i the final fall of the curtain, George j Ward’s “Whirl of Mirth” revue company kept the large audience at St. James Theatre in a state of high good humour last evening. George W'ard is a prince of funmakers, and his burlesque of a plumber who had turned to medicine in “Keep Laughing” was too funny for words. He was ably seconded in his efforts by Frank Moran, who made the most of every opportunity for clever fooling. Charles Sherman showed that bright comedy can be mixed profitably with a touch of the dramatic. Following the opening chorus a jazz interlude given by Dell Barnes and Peggy Sharp put the audience in good humour and was followed by a" breezy sketch by the principal comedians of the company. A dance turn by Jean Keith drew great applause and was followed by a musical number, in which Patsy Hill and Vernon Sellars delighted the audience in an enjoyable duet which was one of the best items. Associated with these two artists was Mrs. Kathleen Ward, who played Liszt’s “Liebestraume” with rare technique. In addition she led th© orchestra in several fine numbers. The second half of the programme was devoted to a musical farce, “Don’t Lie to the Wife,” in * which George Ward as Herman Aloysius Schulz, "the man who fixes things,” convulsed the audience by his ability to drag his friend out of awkward situations. The dialogue was clean and bright, and the audience showed its ap pr eciatio n. Frank Moran, as Deacon Jones, burlesqued in an excruciatingly funny manner, his efforts to convert the two wrongdoers being productive of unsympathetic remarks from the black sheep. Charles Sherman added considerably to the fun of the farce. Jean Keith and Gus Dawson appeared with the ballet in *a series of attractive scenas. and vocal numbers were given by Patsy Hill, Vernon Sellars and Colleen Hope. The popular Charleston Symphonic Six played through a list of bright musical numbers.