ARTISTS PRESENT VARIED BILL AT FULLER’S.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17915, 3 August 1926, Page 7

ARTISTS PRESENT VARIED BILL AT FULLER’S.

BRIGHT VAUDEVILLE AND SPARKLING REVUE.

The continuity of the programme at the Opera House, the home of Fuller’s vaudeville, was broken on several occar sions last night. There was no unseemly behaviour on the part of the audience, the fire brigade was not called to the premises, but Nat Hanley and Phil Smith in the revue section, and Nick Morton and Reg Thornton

* in the vaudeville half were so exceedingly funny that the programme had to be extended to satisfy those in front of the footlights. Taken all round, the entertainment was one of the best for a very long time, being well varied and bright. In Reg Thornton and Doris O’Shea, Opera House patrons found newcomers and they took to the bright like old friends. Thornton has the major part of the act and he must have been greatly gratified I when only half way through he reJ ceived an ovation quite uncommon J even at the Opera House. Thornton made a play on the nanv . of Christchurch hotels, and capped it off with a delightfully humorous song. The vaudeville section was opened by Martin Ingo, a contortionist of exceptional powers. He works with the white face make-up of the circus clow’n and soon gets into his stride to perform some amazing feats. Ingo has the ability to , twist himself up until a granny’s knot looks simple as a comparison. Tom Rees’s appearance brought a round of applause, indication of the popularity which he has earned during his Christ-church-season. Naturally, he opened with an Irish song, but showed his musical versatility by playing a pipe, the trombone and the xylophone. With each instrument he gives a highly creditable performance, but his Irish airs on the xylophone last night were the feature of the act, which fully roused the audience. He concluded with a vivid extract from “ William Tell.” Rees interspersed the music with amusing anecdotes. Miss Rebe Hessjpva, the violinist, who created such a good impression last week when she made her first appearance in Christchurch, was even more pleasing last night, and the prolonged applause after each of her items was thoroughly deserved. As was the case last week, she played two standard numbers, in each of which she showed brilliance in execution. Nick Morton, the likeable raconteur and singer, who made his first bow last week, again tells some humorous stories this-week and sings a pleasant and bright song. Phil Smith and his colleagues, who occupied the second part, gave a fine • entertainment, their revue, “Just a Girl,” being full of humour, pretty songs and dainty and clever dances, with a well-dressed ballet in support. Phil Smith himself, as a person suffering from sea-sickness, is excellent, while Nat Hanley shows his versatility in a banjo-playing interlude, following an amusing pantomimic interlude. The orchestra, under Mr A. Bidgood, : as usual, plays pleasingly.