THE DANDIES

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1547, 17 September 1912, Page 6

THE DANDIES

• .The reappearance of .the Dandies : (Red) was made ;at..the- .Town 'Hall Concert Chamber.last evening." Thls.'cbmpahy of clever • people ■ receivcuVa rousing'.welcome from-ja packed- audience, and' 1 ghvt> a'-'per-foriiiaiice'.w.hich'left'iio robin for •cavil-in any ono-dcpart'inent.: -The-Dandies, led by . that quaint.arid irresistible-comedian,' Mi'. Claude Danipier, have-'a-rich-store of the brightest and iclcancs'thuhiour; the-pureiy vocal'-.items: w«e much above ,the 'average in .this- class- of-.entertainment,;.and the I business with which the concerted comedy uuriiberswere embellished indicated brains and'.-conscientious rehearsals:-; Mr.- -Dampier, whose ,'cpmpollbng powers as -a laugh-ter-makei', earned him a very solid reputation when' in .Wellington last, was. in great form, and convulsed* Hie audience in'-the 'sketch- "Funny 'Phrases,"■ in -the clover "fake'.' duet on' the first few I ..birrs of "Tho. Moon- Hath;. Raised Her-.Lamp Abovc'"6rith Air. George Morgan), in his comical ravings as a hpring -poet run to seed, /and other jhchrsions ■ into :■' -the ludicrous: -He was : also invaluable in the sporadic merrymaking -..which -illuminated .tho programme. 'Miss Evelyn. Ward, who possesses a contralto voic« uncommon"-in its' appealing 'musical quality, showed distinct improvement in 'finish - and treatment.'" She sang Hullah's "Three Fisher's" "Home, Love," "The Rosary," - and-: a -'very- fine song entitled 'TJess "than the : Dust." Miss' Hilda ' Lane's' bright and " flexible soprano voice was heard to advantage in "The Waking of Spring" and "Shadows." Tliat vigorous spubrette, Miss Irene Vere, captured the public fancy in tho' catchy coon song "In the Eight Church,-- and "June Moon," and gavo a tasle of her sprightly gift for character work in the coster Song "Hello, Martha," in which--Mr. - Dampier joined with-his noted aptitude. '. .'.They were also' associated in the vocal absurdity "Wouldn't -It Bo Lovely." As clastic-footed as ever, Mr. George Morgan proved a decided success in "I'm Twnty-One To-day," and made the'same old hit in his agile Scarecrow song and dance. The verses of Kipling 'are, as a rule, rather rugged and ultra-realistic in song, and the best of them is probably "Mandalay," which Mr.. Gavin Wood sang with forceful conviction. As an encore he sang that excellent ringing song "The Yeomen of England" in fine style. Mr. Oliver Peacock, the baritone of the Dandies, was also in hearty voice, and quite succeeded in Amy Woodforde-Finden's ballad "A Request," for which he was doubly encored. An especially enjoyable item was the "Conn's Lullaby" quartet, sung with the nicest balance and intonation by Missjs Ward and Lane and Messrs. Peacock and Wood. The concerted comedy numbers were "The Village Pump," an old favourite, and the lively coon jubilee entitled "Darktown." Mr. Leonard Griffiths accompanied with ability. The Dandies deserve really well of the public, and their season in Wellington 6hould be highly successful throughout.