“THE WANDERERS.”

Waikato Independent, Volume XII, Issue 1020, 3 June 1911, Page 5

“THE WANDERERS.”

Says the N.Z. Times:—“The Wanderers,” a musical costume comedy company organised by Mr George Stephenson, opened their initial season in New Zealand at the Town Hall concert chamber on Saturday night, and made such an excellent impression that tney may look forward to a very warm welcome from Dominion audience'. Mirth is the outstanding element in the programme, and as chief merry maker, Mr Leslie Holmes deserves first mention. It is seldom the good fortune of a Wellington audience to hear a comedian of such high all-round ability. He is a master of “patter,” but does not let his songs degenerate into tuneless mono! igue. A new A.B.C. Duet,” in which Miss Ruby Guest, a charming comedienne, played the Juliet to Mr Holmes’ Romeo, and a “touching” tale of married lif U( told by the same clever pair, were other Excellent items which added many figures to the sum total of laughter. A lady monologuist is so unfamiliar a sight on the stage that the audience was particularly curious to see how Miss Phyllis llopwoocl-Foldi would sustain so unusual a role, ■ She opened her turn with a pianoforte item which she turned to account for purposes of jocularity and ran off a senes of • weii-told stories to a rattling pianoforte accompaniment. which had more “color” in it than the subdued harmonies affected for the purpose ty most performers of that type. Miss Foldi could have given her laughable ekit on an English lady in a tramcar with more acceptance before an American audience, but it served the good purpose of demonstrating that|the performer is exceedingly clever as a monologuist, and will be worth hearing again. Others in the company are Miss Madeline Feme, a soprano, Mr Geo. Winstanley, with an exceptional range in the falsetto, his ordinary voice being a pleasing baritone, Mr Leith Harvey, tenor, Miss Heggie, a graceful dancer, and Miss Ruby Guest, who gives selections on the banjo and mandoline. Mr Stephenson has provided all the elements of a good variety entertainment in the right proportions. The company appears at Cambridge on Wednesday next*