OPERA HOUSE.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, 19 September 1912, Page 20

OPERA HOUSE.

Vaudeville continues to run along smoothly at the Opera House and the large audiences wnich attend nightly amply testify to the popularity of this form of amusement. A pair of artistes making their initial bow to Aucklanders this week are Mabel and Malfe and judging by the reception given them for their comedy sketch they have scored a big “hit.” Malfe is the better of the pair and as an acrobat is good, but his “long suit” is' undoubtedly his dancing and in this department few better have been seen in Auckland. The great favourite, [Leonard Nelson, who composes all his own songs, always receives an ovation for his contributions. As a plain comedian he fills the bill to a nicety, while he possesses a voice rarely found in a comedian. In a sketch entitled “Vvhat Happened in Chinatown,” Wilson and Pritchard sing several songs and give a clever exhibition of tumbling and hand balancing. Stella Reid, a dainty serio, was again well received, her best item being “Meet me in Auckland Town,”' while those clever young ladies the Cliffe quartette sang and danced wellTheir item “I’m Going to Tell on You” is one of the best on the programme. In the first part Roy Rene made a hit with his song, “All that she lets me do,” while his tanglefoot walk creates hearty laughter. This comedian has a good voice and. “makes up” well. The popular endman Frank Yorke sang “Keep on Knocking” and, by request, “The Talkative Man,” the latter being a particularly good comic song, which, by the way, appear to be getting scarce. “I Rang my Little Bell” was Ted Tutty’s best and “The Songs you hear from the Rag-tag Boys” elicited an encore for Bert Corrie, who then gave a clever exhibition of dancing. Elsie Knowles is a welcome addition to the company and her rendering of the ballad, “Dreams, just Dreams,” was particularly good and well merited the encore demanded. Muriel Esbank, also a balladist, scored with “I’d Love to Live in Love Land,” and was genuinely applauded. Bella Perman and Doris Baker sang “The Race-track Girl’ and “Come for a Drive” respec-

tively but their dancing was most appreciated. A noticeable feature of the programme is that the old-time “farce” has made its appearance at the end of the entertainment and a very humorous sketch entitled “The jealous Husband” in which the characters are taken by Frank Yorke, Roy Rene and Bella Perman is responsible for much hearty laughter.