OPERA HOUSE.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Issue 1364, 15 June 1916, Page 32

OPERA HOUSE.

A very large audience greeted the performance at Fuller’s on Monday night, and the programme submitted was one of great variety and interest. Dan Thomas, the irresistible comedian, provoked roars of laughter. In his first turn, the “Pantomime Dame,” he sang and pattered away till the audience were quite at his mercy. A rollicking ragtime was given with great vim, while he showed himself to be a dancer of no mean order. Mr. Thomas concluded his turn by singing “When We Come Marching Home Again.” By the singing of this song he has already collected hundreds of pounds for patriotic purposes, and on Monday evening the sum of £ 3 17s. 2d. was thrown on the stage. The Raleighs, who made their first appearance in Auckland, are a very clever duo. Miss Raleigh has a pleasing voice, and she sings while Mr. Raleigh performs marvellous balancing feats on a thread of wire across the stage and succeeds in thrilling the audience with his juggling while he treads the wire. The Four Kings are clever child acrobats and singers, who look very charming and show great dexterity and nimbleness as they twist and turn. They very cleverly mount on each other, forming pyramids of

humanity in the twinkling of an eye. Vai and Lottie Newman’s restaurant scene was very amusing, the walls being placarded with comic advertisements of the edibles to be served. Armitage and Hine, more popular than ever, gave another of their clever sketches. Miss Armitage, as “the girl who delivers the laundry,” was screamingly funny and the house was in shrieks of laughter at her song “Father.” Mr. Hine, vho has a very fine voice, delighted the audience with his singing of “The Trumpeter.” Brown and Sorlie again gave a very droll and amusing turn, and Nine Alix’s clever sketch from nurse to actress was much appreciated. The dancers May and June, in the dances

of the Allies, were very graceful and artistic exponents of the terpsichorean art, their eastern dance being particularly fascinating. Kitchie and Kliftie gave a clever acrobatic turn, and Gale and Sadie were again received with much applause.