TOWN HALL.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Issue 1308, 20 May 1915, Page 34

TOWN HALL.

THE RED DANDIES.

The Red Dandies are a sure cure for the blues' One has only to see the cosy little stage with its glowing red trappings and its merry redrobed entertainers, to feel the atmosphere of warmth and jollity straight off and to know that the Dandies are there with one object—to amuse. And two and a half hours of solid fun and catchy music are worth something these depressing times.. The Dandies —and this particular hue especially—know exactly how to strike the intimate note, and. Aucklanders have lost no time in taking them to their confidence once again. Monday night saw a. change of programme and a crowded audience, which included Her Excellency, the Countess of Liverpool, and party. Not a dull moment intervened, the biggest portion of the fun being dispensed by Mr. Claude Dampier, from whom the audience demanded encore after encore. Mr. Dampier’s numbers included a clever skit on “A Member of the Stay-at-Home Brigade,” some admirable fooling in conjunction with Mr. Borradale, an amusing duet with Miss Irene Vere, and two Yiddisher impersonations which evoked hurricanes of applause and laughter. His spirit was ever present, too, in the concerted work, of which he was the ringleader. The ex-Aucklander, Mr. Harry Borradale; has realised all the expectations of his old admirers, and he can make merry or grave at will, as in the chorus song “You Must Come Round on Saturday” and the monologue “Moonrise,” recalls being insisted on. Mr. Oliver Peacock found scope for his fine voice in “The Call of the Wild.” delivered with dramatic effect, and in “Thora” and “Mother Macree,” which were uproariously encored. Mr. John Welby sang “The Old Belfry” most pleasingly, and had

to give a recall, while Mr.. Cyril Connolly added a delightful note with his violin solo, “Bouquet du Julie,” which called forth the penalty. Miss Irene Vere expounded ragtime at its best in “Waiting by the Mississippi,” and her vivacity was most catching, the audience exacting numerous encores. Miss Mona Thomas was prettfiy suited in “Buttercup Time,” and Miss Ida Newton exercised her fascinations in “Good Morning,” both achieving recalls. An early Victorian sketch by M sses Irene Vere Mona Thomas and Ida Newton, in which the hideousness of their costumes could not disguise their charms; an intricate alliterative jumble, “Have a Drop,” by the company, and the finale, “Seaside Sue,” which is marked with rare surprises, were amongst other good things served up. And no one works harder than Mr. Leonard Griffiths, the pianist.

A week was all too brief for the run of the “Babes in the Wood” in Auckland, and the two farewell performances on Saturday saw record crowds, with hundreds turned away. There were happy speeches (Miss Daisy Jerome, Dan Thomas and the musical director), and presentations galore, and the curtain was finally rung down to an unusually warm demonstration and ringing cheers for George Willoughby’s pantomime.

Cupid paid a visit to the ranks of the “Babes in the Wood” pantomime company and brought about an interesting marriage in Auckland. Those concerned were Mr. H. Hanlon (of the acrobatic trio, Hanlon, Dean and Hanlon) and Miss Ivy Mbore/ the clever little ballet dancer 'and sister to Carrie Moore. Mrs. Moore, the bride’s mother, came over to be present at the ceremony, which took place quietly on Saturday morning. Mr. and Mrs. Hanlon left by the Niagara on Tuesday for America.

During the Hanlon, Dean, Hanlon acrobatic turn at His Majesty’s matinee on Saturday, the orchestra aptly struck up the “Wedding March” to signify the latest contract undertaken by Mr. H. Hanlon. The bridegroom smilingly acknowledged the joke sprung on him.

A picturesque little incident marked the return visit of the Red Dandies to the Auckland Town Hall. At the close of the opening chorus, a party of seven occupying the front seats rose at a given signal and presented each member with a floral tribute spelling out the word “Welcome.”

Mr. Percy Macartney, the tall, smartly groomed treasurer with the Biascheck Company, is now assisting managerially in the destinies of the English humorist on his Dominion tour.