“THEIR BEST SHOW”

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 726, 27 July 1929, Page 16

“THEIR BEST SHOW”

NOVELTY AT ST. JAMES FRANK O BRIAN’S REVELLERS “There was a sound of revelry,” and it issued from the portals of St. James Theatre. Last evening Frank ©’Brian’s Revellers presented their programme for the ensuing week for tiie first time, and a full house greeted the performers. This is Frank O’Brian’s best offering so far. The show is vaudeville par excellence, and the company has eclipsed its former efforts to present novelty from the footlights. The programme is brimful of turns in which the brightest ideas and the most novel and appealing presentations are exploited with the utmost success. The colour schemes throughout the show are a revelation in artistic blending, and not even the most critical eye could cavil at the frocks, the scenes and settings, or the general colour effects.

As previously, the chorus is the backbone of the show. Too much cannot be said for the clever girls in it. 1 heir dancing in both imaginative and song and dance” turns is beyond reproach. As a chorus, it is doubtful other here has ever surpassed it. Ihe “Versatile Eight” are as one. 1° Fr .^ nk O’Brian himself, little need be said. He has made his reputatmn m Auckiand and is living up Suffice to say, his inimitable foolery, snappy jokes and top-notch totep-dancmg are better than ever. Janice Hart is an artist who fills her a vl8 ‘ our of Personality and a punch that goes. When she comes out on the stages and gives her talent, it never misses. Without fail she puts it across.”

Dong Bell” is the title of the most novel turn of the evening. J?, y Janice Hart, the "Versatile Light appear on the boards one by one, each dressed as a jester and wearing a hoop of bells. But each sets of beils is attuned to 3- afferent note of the octave, and so the eight hoops make the complete octave. Facing the auditorium in a ™ e „ ranging in correct order from HoHo-J; 0 th i s livi ngr tonic sol-fa delights the audience with several numbers, both solo and concerted, each girl jingling her bells to supply the required note. Despite the fact that last night was their first public performance of this new turn, the girls gave an exhibition which won the heartiest applause of the evening, and encores had to be given. “Tiny’s Varsity Boys,” the jazz band or the show, are better than ever, and put over splendid numbers. Other features of the programme were the brilliant and unusual frockmg styles, and the piano work of Albert Batchelder. In solo numbers, orchestral work and accompanying, his playing is conspicuous throughout. He is one of the most brilliant pianoforte artists that has appeared on Fullers’ circuit.