RICKARDS VAUDEVILLE CO.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 512, 20 May 1909, Page 6

RICKARDS VAUDEVILLE CO.

RETURN 03? CINQUEVALLI. Vaudeville par excellonco was revived in Wellington lftst night by Harry Rickards's Company, which includes in its constitution all the essentials that go to make up a capital show. The name of Mr. Harry Eiokards has

for twenty years past been associated, with highgrade vaudeville, and the artists of talent who nave crossed the line at his behest arc legion. He has limited his attentions to .New Zealand to casual visits of touring companies, the personnel of . which is always such, as to claim liberal patronage. .. This was evidenced last evening at the Opera Houso, when there was a heavy demand even for standing space. The show was, worth it.- Chief among the performers Cinquevalli, the renowned'juggler and equilibrist, who. visited the Dominion seven years ago. His magnificent performance last qvening was a series of amazing feats,, executed with a brilliant deftness' and "delightful, bon» homie that comanded roars -of applause from a wonder-stricken audience. Among these, his jugglery with billiard balls, was perhaps as dean and clever as anything he does. Eor instance, he balances one ball on top of another on the butt end of a'cuo, which ho' raises in the air and poises on another ball placed in a wineglass held in his mouth. He manipulates two balls abreast between' a couple of cues, and plays with three of the latter amusingly. Donning a jacket with pockets at the shoulders, hips, and on the back he, by suppleness of body and lightning action, transfers a ball from pocket to pocket cleverly,, concluding by throwing four balls into'the air, and catching the lot in different pockets. The glass of water swirl is-a clever adaption of an | old equilibristic trick. Sensationally, CinqucI valli scores heaviest with his agile strength- | demanding cannon-ball feats. After juggling with this heavy metal globe, as if it were an orange, 'he balances it on tho end of a billiard cue, the tip of which rests on his chin. Then, allowing the cue to .slide away, the ball, is caught in the crook of the arm at first, and subsequently between the shoulder-blades. The ladies shudder involuntarily at this feat. Cinquevalli has been performing this act nighty for 15 years. . Evidence of the juggler's equallydistributed strength is shown by tho feat in which he seats his assistant at a table, lifts chair, man, and table into the air, balances them all in his jaws, juggling in tho meantime with a couplo of balls with, his hands. Cin-' quevalli's jugglery has its humorous side. Hi? assistant is'a joke without words, adding just that touch of comedy, without which tho act lack something. Needless to say the star received an ovation. The LatonasJrank and Jen—submit a delightful turn of the , American ' order that combines music, varied, but always interesting, with quaint comedy. Jen is a' siaart American girl, who sfarkha considerably. S!io the act with a Dreadnought song (containing a satirical allusion to Mr. T. E. Taylor's, cable to Mr. Asquith), plays the piano skilfully, and sings any old (or now) song with the aid of a bird-like soprano voice that is distinctly appealing. Her \t ! » ri ffas i the song "Because I'm Married Isow. Frank is a sententious humourist of the tramp order, with a one-stringed 'cello of excellent tone, and a trombone. With Jen at the piano and Frank on his old 'cello the pair make high holiday with the ''Miserere" duet from II Trovatore." It is not profoundly respectful treatment, but it goes. Then Jen is tacue with the concertina, and sings soulfully to its accompaniment/when Frank is liot growling quaint Americanisms through . his false whiskers. Miss Fanny Powers lias developed into a charming soubrette. She imitates stage favourites Wellington has never seen, so that her mimicry must bo taken for granted, but she dances neatly in a variety or styles. A clever turn of a rathor original order was supplied by La wson and Nanton. Tho lady is an artist at ball-punching, -and contents herself with a few minutes under the punch-ball pavilion, but her partner is a quaint comedian, who demonstrates m tramp disguise that trick cycling is au art. Nothing bettor of tho kind has been seen here. Guest , and Newlyn are patter, comedians • and speciality dancers' of ability, and the Scotch Meisters appear in a sketch entitled Ancestral Spirits" (founded on a well-known whisky advertisement)- are a quartet of alleged Scotchmen, who sing in har-' mony with curious vocal restraint, plav neatlv i on ocarinas, and fool rouud more or less humorously, Every playgoor has a soft spot for lorn Dawson, whose humorous,"domestinues" always command hearty laughter. Miss Neliio Maunsell, who has a rather good mezzo voice sang Oil tho Bonny Banks of Loch' Lomond" Ben Bolt," and Mr. Arthur Harris a serviceable baritone, contributed a depressing ballad dealing with disaster at sea. Together these • vocalists sang a duet quite nicely. Tho perforinanco was assisted by an orchestra under the direction of Mr. H. Diedrichson. Tho performance will be repeated throughout tho & inatineo.on Saturday afternoon.