OPERA HOUSE.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Issue 1425, 16 August 1917, Page 30

OPERA HOUSE.

Liveliness characterises the present programme at the Opera House, Monday’s change ushering in Dot Devine’s Gadabout Girls, a merry quintette, who soon got across the footlights with their exuberant spirits. Catchy songs and ensembles and a happy-go-lucky attitude in dispensing them made them ready favourites, and they apparently infected everyone with their cheery aspect on life. Carlton and Sutton were immensely popular with their crisp anecdotes and lively patter. The neat and natty Billy and Doris sang and danced themselves into further favour and rounded up the first half of the entertainment. The second part was held up by Paul Stanhope’s Revue Company in a pot-pourri of mirth and melody offered under the title of “Topsy-Turvy.” Mr. Stanhope as the droll Irishman, Spike Murphy, had the audience convulsed with laughter at his ludicrous sallies and witticisms, and afforded a fund of merriment in himself. Mr. Vai Newman as a sea captain played up to Mr Stanhope’s jests, and in addition delighted everyone with his fine rendering of “Shipmates,” which was vociferously encored. Mr. Newman’s powers as a vocalist have been proved on previous visits, and his old friends were more than pleased to hear him in a straight out song once again. Mr. Will Rayner, the favourite tenor, sang “The Sea” and was enthusiastically recalled. The Grafters’ Quartette met with a similar reception for “I Want to go to Tokio,” and other harmonious numbers and are undoubtedly a big draw. Miss Helen Le Cain made a smart looking widow and later on revealed a shapely figure as the sea nymph, her song “Araby” being pleasingly delivered. The ballets by the Ginger Girls were exceedingly dainty and received admiring and appreciative applause. Credit for this feature of the revue is due to Miss Edna McCall, who also led the ensemble “By the Sea,” which was elaborated with stage effects. Mr. E. J. Burke’s orchestra lent no small part to the general enjoyment. Next week’s attraction offered by Paul Stanhope’s Company will be “Hokey-Pokey.”

Miss Helen Le Cain, the vivacious leading lady of Paul Stanhope’s Revue Company, hails from the land of the stars and stripes, and is making her second trip to New Zealand. Miss Le Cain will be remembered in conjunction with Miss Lillian Mason in a couple of amusing little sketches presented at the Fuller houses. Both artists originally came over from America last year with the original Follies of Pleasure, and opened at the Adelphi, Sydney. Miss Le Cain was educated for a concert p’anist, but the lure of the stage was too strong to resist, and beginning in the chorus she soon forged her way to principal parts in musical comedy. Joining a stock company for the smalls, Miss Le Cain played eighteen weeks at a stretch on one-night stands! “Some travel,” as she characteristically remarks. In fact, there is scarcely a town with a theatre that she has not been in from the north to the south during her theatrical career. Miss Le Cain has already fulfilled a year’s contract with the Fuller firm, and sounds a highly-approving note of the conditions prevailing under that proprietary.

Miss Mabel Morgan, the handsome pantomime boy of a few years ago, is back in Australia after a lengthy absence in America and England, and is at present appearing at the Tivoli, Melbourne.