“BUBBLY” MAKES GREAT HIT AT THEATRE ROYAL.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18149, 7 May 1927, Page 2

“BUBBLY” MAKES GREAT HIT AT THEATRE ROYAL.

STUDENTS STAGE LAUGHABLE REVUE. V hile uproarious laughter resounded in the theatre, and riotously bedecked students in the gallery fired shafts of wit at targets, sometimes in the staid and dignified seclusion of the stalls, sometimes on the stage, “Bubbly.” the Canterbury College revue, was presented at the Theatre Royal last night. “Bubbly.” the programme says, “is a y>erfectly priceless piece of phoolery in three phlutters.” Jt is certainly one of the funniest revues the students have ever staged. It is brimful of subtle humour and quaint drollery. “Bubbly” lias been produced with an eye to the provocation of laughter, and its producer has succeeded in achieving that end. 'There are a number of clever people in the cast. It is a show that does not depend on the efforts of any single individual for its success. To the wealth of good work on the of the principals, is added the excellwt manner in which the choruses and ballets acquit themselves. They are we!’ trained. They made a few slips la:.t night, but these were excusable. There are numerous ballets and the frocking is excellent throughout. There is about the production an air of completeness, which in an amateur revue is surprising. “Bubbly” is successful in every way. It abounds with good scenes and proclaims unmistakal>ly its good material. Its music is excellent, and there is an unusual wealth of offerings. Its dancing is delightful. Its humour is fresh and buoyant. “Bubbly” is a revue in three acts—pop, sip and swallow. It begins with a laugh, and there is one long laugh until the end. Miss Colleen Costelloe scores an emphatic success ns Phyllis Smith, “the starry-eyed thriller” She has an attractive personal ity, and a pleasing voice. “Fat” Burns, as the pompous pill specialist, successfully resists the temptation to overdo the part. Hi 3 is a meritorious portrayal. Then there is “Hoots” Mackay as his Serene. Transparency the Mayor. He does most of the work, and he does it well, lie shows a capacity to provoke laugtiter with every gesture, every expres-

sion. He makes them eloquent and and he never fails to get his laugh. “Grase” E. Meadows gets the most out of his characterisation of Magnesia. Countess Dinneford. He hasn t the female voice, but he has the female manner to perfection. He can wear a skirt anil still look comfortable. Misses Myra Pollard, Becky Taylor and Kathleen Sharp, the soloists, sing pleasingly. Though the delightful humour that pervades the show from first to last is its most dominant note, and though in a_ retrospect of “Bubbly” the sparkling personality of “Hoots” Mackay and “Flour” Miller may take first place, there are other features just as pleasing as the fun and frivolity with which the revue abounds. There is the dancing, for instance. Rhona Vaughan's grace and charm are captivating. But sho is not alone; there are Miss Erica Lynskey and Miss Joan Sorenson. “Bubbly” prods gently with stilettos of wit men prominent in political life. There is no sequence about it, but it loses little because of that. It is a story of a Labour Council and a Labour Mayor. It tells how the mayor, r. staunch Red, had to sacrifice his principles and allow his ward to marry the Duke of York's equerry. lie did not like doing it. lie did it in a storm of protest, and thus ensured the usual happy ending. “Bubbly” will be presented again tonight and on Monday night.