OPERA HOUSE.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Issue 1465, 23 May 1918, Page 34

OPERA HOUSE.

Vaudeville claims its own every week, as one can gauge by the large attendances nightly at the Fuller House. Those two American live wires, Miss Viola Denny and Mr. Eddie Dunigan, maintain the star place they established last week. They are refreshingly original in their methods of delivering song and jest, and the audience show warm approval. Miss Denny puts in good work at the piano as well, and her partner gets volumes out of a comedy song, a ditty about Emancipation Day bringing down the house. The Five Lewins are back after some weeks’ absence and meet with an enthusiastic reception for their daintily-pre-sented act, which combines harmony and dancing. They make a special point of picturesque, costuming and it all adds to the effect. The Balancinos make an excellent impression with their feats of strength performed so differently to the usual demonstrators. Vesto and Julian divert agreeably with attractive song and dance, the man juggling skilfully to the accompaniment of “gags” by his fair partner. The Walter Johnson Revue Company take charge of the second half of the entertainment with one of their merriest frivols, entitled “The Railway Tangle.” The principals bear the burden of the fun whole-heartedly, and ballets and specialty numbers are generously interpolated. Messrs. Les Wharton, Gus Franks, Harry Burgess and Ernest Lashbrooke have become great favourites in their own special line of comedy, and there is no gainsaying the fact that Miss Lola Hunt and her bright face are a special attraction. Next week will see the conclusion of a long and successful season in Auckland, and Mr. Walter Johnson intends to mark the occasion with an up-to-date novelty.

New star acts recently imported for the Fuller vaudeville circuit and shortly arriving here are Murray Livingstone, a protean classic turn; Aubrey and Riche, up-to-date Venetian dancers; Truly Shattuck and Emma O’Neil, in merry musical moments; and Mason and Gwynne, nonsense specialists.

The Haverly Revue Company, after a long and successful stay in the south, are due at the Auckland Opera House on June 3.