FULLERS' OPERA HOUSE.

Press, Volume LXI, Issue 18403, 9 June 1925, Page 33

FULLERS' OPERA HOUSE.

VAUDEVILLE AND REVUE. Even though it. was wet and cold, therj was a large attendance *ast right at tin opening session of the new vaudeville and revue programme at Fullers' Opera House. Keith Wilbur, a New Zealander, who made his initial bow to the public not so long ago, ha* mimic -[ower: of a high order, and he will, no doubt, t'.avcl a long way. Hi 3 jokes and anecdotes are original. His imitations of a dog serenading the night, of a cat affair on a rcof, and of a five-piece orchestra won him warm applause. An act tfiat can baffle an audience is almost invariably welcomed; therefore, it wa3 little vondcr the card heralding Arthur and Helena Buckley, a pair of "mystics," who appear 'this week for lh3 last tim? hi Christcliurch, was. greeted with applause. They thoroughly mystified the house net only with their clever card manipulation but also with their "mental telepathy." Tlr: man strolled up and down tho aisles accepting various articles from members of the audience, while his wife to'.d the owners what her husband was handling. This aroused the wonder of the house, but when ehe called out the birthdays of a number of patrons the crowd was amazed. Elsie Videau and Walter Kirby—recently from London.—proved to be laughter-makers to a certain portion of the house. They arc capable people and their Mage appearance is good, but they make a mistake in allowing their comedy and musical oddments to border slightly on the effonsive. They have a frrsh supply of pun; and musical ditties which are not too Ion": drawn out. Their principal act is "Tangled Tabloids." This is a combination of amusing and rather agrcrablc acts burlesquing certain modern popular plays, "enly," as the twain explained at the outset, "at a different way.'"' It miy bo-slated that tin "way" is decidedly different. The Kentucky four appeared for the tirU time last night in a selection of delightful plantation melodies. Theirs is a turn one revels in. The niUBJc they dispense is not. mournful, but mellow arid soothing. The party consists of two dusky men nml two women. In GeorgcSlorey's. new revue, "A Spanish Romance," whichj a» usual, took up tha second half'cf the programme, there is plenty to annuo and divert tho audience. The "opening scene is colourful, depicting as it docs the interior of a Spanish inn, complete with dancers., etc. The sto.rv. briefly, tells of the love of the daughter of the innkeeper fcr a toreador, and how a Spanish grnhdee endeavoured, to win har from the bull-fighter. The settings, ballets, and' costuming were tin to the u?ual standard, and several eld favourite, s-ongs were admirably giver.. Mark Erikson, r.s the Spanish grandee, was convincing, and his singing of "Poso of the Hio Grande" was good. Mabelle Morgan, as the innkcener's daughter, sang "Old Manila" with Fred Monument, who was cast, in the vole of the toreador. "The Quarrel," sung by Mabello and Frank Haining, who portrayed the innkeeper very effectively, won deserving applaud Several pretty ballet dances wcro executed in captivating style by the company's "Delcctablo Six": an even ballet, whose frocks were admired by the feminine section of the audience. DuWe Milner and Rich Butler spread cheerfu.nesj in their catchy number, "In September." Geo. Storey, who acted as a waiter, who later became a toreador, caused roars of laughter l>y his singing of "Don Pedro," a song descriptive of a fight with a quiet cow. Other numbers were "A Castle in Spain, Fred Monument; "Keep Smiling, Lich Butler and the ballet; "A Spanish Homance" and "The Toreador" by the company. , ■ . , Mr Albert Bidgood's orchestra again played a programme cf popular music. The entr'acte was the favourite "Havanna.