"THE DANDIES."

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1450, 27 May 1912, Page 6

"THE DANDIES."

A BRIGHT LITTLE SHOW, Judging by the applause, the audience which filled the Town Hall Concert Chamber 011 Saturday evening were evidently satisfied with "The Dandies," individually and collectively, and were not at all satiated, though rather surprised when the entertainment closed at a few minutes after 10 p.lll. "The Dandies" consist of three ladies and five gentlemen iu smart black and red evening attire. In Jliss Hilda Lane and Miss Evelyn Ward, '"The Da.ndies" possess a soprano and contralto who sing very prettily together. On Saturday they sang the duet, "Farewell Summer" attractively, and for an encore, "Springtime" (to Shakespeare's words). Miss Lane has a light lyric soprano, flexible and sweet. She was inclined to attempt to brighten her songs by forcing the tempo, which was the case in. "The Swallows." She also sang quite nicely "Rendezvous" and "The River nnd the Sea." Miss Fvelyn Ward has a mnsical-ly-tiiubred voice which, with training, would be much .finer than it is. 111 her production she takes the line of least resistance, which is not always_ the best way out in .vocaliSni. Miss Ward sang "My Ain Folk" aiul''"l Wonder If Ever," an exceedingly pretty song, set to good lyrics. Miss Irene Vere, a talented artist, scored in "Little Girl from Nowhere," "Little Soldier," "Rufus Hasfas," and "You'll Como Back." , Miss Vere also dances neatly, and with Mr. Morgan showed a very nimble and capable pair of feet. The comedian of the compuny is Mr. Claude Dampier. Sotnetliing gives his comic patter, ancient and modern, a piquancy which was highly appreciated by the audience. He was distinctly at his best in "Stay at Home," as an eccentric old humbug of a Colonel in the Army. Mr. Dampier showed a gift for character work in the old burlesque sermon on "Jlary Had a Little Lamb," and other parsonical absurdities. Mr. George Morgan, a graceful dancer and comedian, quickly glided into favour in "May I Have the Pl&snrc" nnd "Don't Take Me to the Seaside." He is a cleancut deft dantcr of great agility, as was shown in > his "Scarecrow" interlude and in association with Miss Vere. Mr. Gavin Wood, basso, scored in the mock ballad, "The Firato Bold," gave a highly dramatic reading of "Scots Wlui Hue," and revived the old German song, "Drinking" successfully. Mr. Oliver Peacock, a fresh, vigorous baritone, sang "The Gipsy Love Song" from Victor Herbert's opera, "The Fortune Teller,' and for an encore, "Look Down, Dear jives." The ensembles were "Tho Musical AcademV at Baugor" and "The Blacksmith's "Wedding." Mr, Leonard Griffiths, a3 accompanist, is a strength to the company. "The Dandies are ,dne for a long spell at the Concert Chamber. Frequent changes of programme are to bo mode, and, by keeping a high staudard of pro-, gramme, tho management hopes to prove that there is a need for this class of show during the winter months in Wellington.