OPERA HOUSE.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Issue 1522, 26 June 1919, Page 32

OPERA HOUSE.

The usual crowded house greeted Monday’s change of programme, and the Fuller proprietary have reason to be satisfied with their choice of artists, the bills for the past few weeks reaching the highest vaudeville standard. Newcomers were the Campbell boys, who specialised in concertina playing, with airs ranging from ragtime melodies to the “Lost Chord,” their harmony being excellent. They were also heard on quaint trumpet-shaped string instruments, which gave out sweet tones. They were accorded a very hearty reception. Sa-Hera re-appeared in her thought-reading seance, and astounded everyone with her remarkable accuracy (while blindfolded) in stating names and figures written on three blackboards by a committee of men from the audience, this part of her entertainment being most baffling and undoubtedly clever. De Car was the only other new turn, and under the style of the acrobatic waiter he performed some amazing and unexpected feats that won rounds of applause. Mr. Fred Bluett scored the main success of the evening. He has an inimitable way .of handling a comic song and knows hows to extract humour out of every line without ever straining after a laugh. His “One Man Band” was most amusingly characterised, while his other laughraisers were “Bally Bottom Button,” with a humorous side-tracking on to “Golf” and “I’m a Flirt,” his evidence of the latter being irresistibly droll. Brull and Hemsley in the.r latest sketch, “A Chemist’s Shop in Ireland,” introduced appropriate dancing, while a recitation by Mr. Hemsley, “When the Minister Comes to Tea,” and a character study by Miss Brull of a cockney girl’s visit to her sister, represented the individual items, the turn closing with a clever description of a couple catching a tram at a busy time. Miss Nellie Kolle’s popularity was easily gauged, and her opening number, “Because I Long For You,” written by Mr. Lew James (the versatile Hebrew comedian) and composed by him and Mr. Al Bigwood, was acclaimed with ready favour. “Little Girl” and “Back Home” w.ere two chorus songs that were taken up with marks of approval. Miss Gwen Hasto and Mr. Walter Emerson, who are always received with special marks of favour, provided a diverting few moments —Mr. Emerson in catchy songs and his vivacious partner at the piano, while the “Lady Barber” sketch had everyone in shrieks of laughter. Victor, the Great, gave a number of interesting sleight-of-hand tricks, winding up with an effective patriotic illusion. Ward Lear, in his black-faced comicalities, also contributed to the evening’s entertainment.