BABIES IN REVUE.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume III, Issue 801, 4 September 1916, Page 5

BABIES IN REVUE.

THE LURE OF THE FOOTLIGHTS. STARS OF THE FUTURE.

The inside of a theatre during a morning rehearsal always presents rather a strange appearance to the uninitiated, hut this morning the stranger who strolled into the Opera House was inclined to think that he had entered one of the newfangled nurseries where they raise j babies methodically and set them out I in labelled rows. Tn the gloom could Ibe seen rows of mothers nursing j their infants, with the proud expee- ! tant look always worn by enthusiastic exhibitors at baby shows. All classes of infants were "well represented." There were the little pale infants, overloaded with gay ribbons, which intensified their pallor, and the sturdy toddler who took j two women to prevent him from i climbing into the orchestra well.' Fond mothers tried to assume an | I easy, tolerant smile when their offspring insisted on contradicting their 'statements that "WilJie (*»r Johnny) J is really such a sweet-tempered child. As lon&as he is healthy, sir, you I never li\<ir a cry from him while [he is awake, and the rest of the time he is asleep." "Naturally," commented someone, but the remark was almost lost, for little Willie suddenly threw himself backwards as though he wished to qualify for the position of contortionist and burst into tears —or, rather, it was generally supposed that there were tears, as all that could be seen was a wide space, behind which his face bad vanished, and from which came the most terrific | noise. And there were many such, j But still the mystery of the presence of babies at the Opera House has not been elucidated. The fact j was that Mr Bert Le Blanc, of the j new revue company which opens at the Opera House to-night, was in j need of a few babies to be carried I on to the stage during the singing of a feature song, "Lonesome Baby." J He advertised for 20 infants—rather more tlran he required—and the result was that the theatre doors were ! besieged by a crowd of infants, ac- j companied by their mothers, at quite an early hour of the day. More than thrice the number required were submitted for Mr Le Blanc's inspection and approval. The mothers eyed the judge searchingly as he carefully moved about among the children. Many of them had been in baby shows before, and rather enjoyed their experience, but their doubts were somewhat aroused on this occasion, as the judge was a theatrical man, not a doctor. It would not interest him what Myrtle weighed when she was born, what

food she had been brought up on, or anything. Why, he might expect an 18-month-old toddler to do a song-and-danee specialty. Nevertheless, the "judge" did hear some rather strange remarks about teething troubles and the like, but he was a brave man who quailed before nothing, not even Tommy's symptoms when he was contracting some dread ailment. But the work was tactfully and carefully carried out, the few babies required were found, and the others gently rejected. The mothers and their hopefuls retired, well pleased with their morning at the theatre, and the parents of the successful candidates were obviously well satisfied with their children and a stage as a career for them. Mr Le Blanc remains strangely reticent as to the principle he in- 1 vokes when selecting these juvenile j "supers"—for he has gone through j similar experiences in other centres ; —but, so far, it has proved a suecess. To-night's performance, which will be awaited with nervous apprehension by some mothers, and with professional unconcern by some babies, will tell the final tale. It is rumoured that in some quarters there is a wicked hope prevailing that the little would-be contortionist will oblige with a vocal item.