“KHAKI” IS XMAS WEEK ATTRACTION AT OPERA HOUSE.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18643, 24 December 1928, Page 7

“KHAKI” IS XMAS WEEK ATTRACTION AT OPERA HOUSE.

An exceptionally bright and entertaining programme for Christmas week will be staged by Frank O’Brian’s “ London Revue ” Company at the New Opera House this evening. The first half of the progi'amme will introduce an array * of delightful musical numbers,, clever dancing, vaudeville turns, and comedy sketches. Frank O’Brian (Mrs O’Brian’s boy Frank), Janice Hart, Bert Lee and Joe Hudson will be prominent in the comedy sketches, and are sure to keep the audience in a ripple of laughter with their quips and jokes. Marie Ward, Audrey Lewis and Gordon Norville will render several of the latest song hits, assisted by the Famous Flapper Ballet and “ Vasco’s ’Varsity Boys.” The big

attraction on the bill is the musical comedylet “ Khaki,” an original production by Frank O’Brian, which will take up the whole of the second half of the programme, and is reported to be one of the brightest sketches that army life has produced. This piece had a great run in Sydney and Adelaide, where hundreds of intending patrons were turned away from the doors at every performance. An Australian critic, in describing the first performance in Adelaide, writes: "‘Khaki’ amused the audience when Father Time set the clock back to 1914. There was pathos as well as humour in the ‘ Surprise Party,’ which developed into so much more of a surprise than the guests had dreamed. Marie Ward and Gordon Norville gained every body’s sympathy with their tuneful reasons for ‘ A Kiss Before Dawn.’ Joe Hudson was a stern sergeant, and Bert Lee and Frank O’Brian were a pair of recruits who would have wrecked the discipline of any camp. As a raw, very raw, recruit, Frank O’Brian made more mistakes than it seemed possible for anyone outside a lunatic asylum to think of, and the other recruits added to the general hilarity by getting in the way of themselves and everybody else. There was a poignant memory for many in the scene which showed the men at the trenches getting their mail, and the sorrow of Frank O’Brian when he found that there were no letters for him was particularly touching, and showed that this fine little artist has a knack of ’ characterisation that goes far beyond mere comedy. He soon turned from grave to gay, however, when on his return he found that his wife had ‘ gone with a handsomer i man.’ It is really a rollicking show from beginning to end and goes with a most commendable swing.” There will be a special matinee on Boxing Day at 2.30. Box plans are now open at The Bristol. <