FULLERS' OPERA HOUSE.

Press, Volume LX, Issue 18233, 18 November 1924, Page 14

FULLERS' OPERA HOUSE.

JIM GERALD REVUE COMPANY.

Jim Gerald's Revue Company give a devligitful entertainment at Fullers' Opera House this -week. This clever little oompany c£ comedians, singers and dancers began the second week of its local season last ni<*ht presenting a nonsensical playlet entitled "Barebacks." Contrary to what might have been expected in some quarters the Dk>t—for there vte.3 a semblance of plot—was not based on the trials and tribulations' of a chorus girl. The "heroine" was a 1 03 (; heiress, believed to have become a bareback circus rider, but the principal interest centred m the efforts of Tom'Pigh m Gerald), a private detective anxious to win a big lewaro. by discovering the whereabouts of tiie young lady. The .detective was a scream from the moment he first appeared until the final curtain.. His familiarity with the village squire, the servants ,and the proprietor of the travelling circus produced waves of laughter, whilo his detective work, with the aid of a small note-book and big pencil, was good burlesque. There were three. 6cene3, the fiecond being outside the circus tent and the third the interior. The last scene gave an opportunity for some "introduced" scenes, and these were responsible for some excellent fooling, much superior to anything of the kind seen in previous vaudeville revues. The "strong man" 'struggled with heavy weights,, bent a rod of iron (or it may have been lead) and gave vent to tie foreign temperament by blowing kisses to his enraptured .audience. The "equilibrists" did some wonderful handbalincing without the slightest sign of strain or effort. As stated, ■ Jim Gerald was a host in himself. Hi 9 make-up and "business" was excellent throughout, and though he was on the stage practically the whole time, his work did not suffer, as is sometimes the case with the comedian who is essential to ■ the success of the show. He is a eccentric dancer, and fiad an inimitable style in singing a comic song. His song "Our Garden Sub-üb" was a great success. The company is particularly fortunate in all ■ the principals, for there is not a passenger amongst them. KmcCrawford, who plays the "juvenile lead," is a particularly valuable member, having a good -stage presence and really acting his part, besides being possessed of a good voipe, which he uses to nice effect. Reg Hawthorne, who in the first production played the engineer, showed further versatility by playing an ancient yokel in the first scene and thereafter appearing, as a lion-tamer, resplendent in orange and eold, and a hero in the eyes of the cWhb .ladies. His song with' Jim Gerald, ■ "Gallagher and Sheen 7 ' (with new verses) -brcneht the ■ house,. and the pair concluded with a dance. Mona. Thomas, besides- being the leading; lady of the company, is also the star singer. She haa, a voice of good qualitv, looks charmine, acts with confidence,- and is generally all'that a leading lady should be, with the extra advantage .of being' much better than the average. Essie Jennings lends brishtness to the piece and does a lot of good work as an ex-circus rider turned adventuress, and Sophie Vivian leads the chorus in a song and dance and acts more than one part. J-ionco Yane and Howard Hall fill several places most acceptablv, and Polly McLaren, the danseuse' of the company, appeared in several daintv ballets and so'o numbers, and the chorus, flitted across the stage pt appropriate intervals. The two productions presented to date _bv the Jim Gerald Company and the appreciation shown l>y patrons ausrur well for a- happy season in Christ church for the people on cither side of the footl'Vhts. -. In the first half of the programme the Megan Brothers presented a new version of their musical clown tun?-, and thoroughly deserved tho hearty applause they received. Knight and Brady appeared in several good song numbers, the ladv being, heard to advantage i*n some delightful soprano Jock Mills added further to his popularity with his Scotch songs and stones while Armitage and Hine cava more excerpts from their repertoire of "Lancashire Lass song and patter. •• • ~4 Mr A. Bidgood's orchestra did yeoman service in'. support of the , artists.