OPERA HOUSE.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Issue 1379, 28 September 1916, Page 32

OPERA HOUSE.

Vaudeville audiences should be well satisfied with this week’s bill of fare at the Opera House. There are several new attractive features while old favourites claim fresh attention with different offerings. Prominent amona the newcomers on Monday was Miss Jeanette Spellman, an American comedienne, who captured the fancy of the public with her engaging personality and unique line of work. She is well versed in the art of entertaining, making a specialty of character songs and she readily established confidential relations with the audience. Ross, Wyse and the Big Surprise, a versatile trio who sang, danced and acrobatted, made a big hit on their first appearance. Ross and Wyse were an entertainment in th’emselves, and the Big Surprise turned up in a very small boy who perm tted himself to be tossed and balanced at will by his agile adult companions, while his unexpected comedy touches aroused shouts of laughter and a real furore of applause. The Four Kings proved an attractive bevy of girls who' have 1 made acrobatics their study and scored an emphatic success with their grace and easy movements. Vai and Lottie. Newman are back again, and made good in a medley of mirth and melody. Mr. Newman’s resonant voice was heard to excellent effect in ‘ My Queen,” and in addition to being a vocalist of superior merit, he helped his partner build up an interlude of merry moments. Mr. Clement May lent an artistic touch to the programme in his Charles Dickens impersonations, which included Uriah Heep (from “David Copperfield"), Sydney Carlton (“The Tale of Two Cities”) and Scrooge (“Christmas Carols”) and so faithful was each interpretation that the characters seemed to live again. Mr May was deservedly applauded for his fine work, which is another proof of the heights vaudeville has reached. Mr. Les Warton, coon singer, had a great reception on his re appearance, and his songs and sallies brought down the house. - Bollinger and Reynolds again bounded in favour in more ways than one in their manipulation of the slack wire, the male member dividing his time between startling and amusing the audience. Shipp and Gaffney provided a diverting turn in the way of comedy and dance. Miss Elsie Morris gave several male impersonations which met with general favour, and Harry Howe and Ethel respectively painted and sang to manifest appreciation. A notable attraction is offered next Monday, when Miss Wish Wynne, the brilliant English comedienne will make her first appearance in New Zealand.