BANZAI FAMILY.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1856, 16 September 1913, Page 4

BANZAI FAMILY.

VAUDEVILLE AT HIS MAJESTY'S. "Sensational" is tho word which really describes' last night's opening vaudeville performance at His Majesty's Iheatre, and there wore times duriua: tho evening when tho house individual ly collectively held its breath,, whilst at others the applause echoed " round tho building. Every 'seat was. occupied in anticipation of an unusual entertainment, and this anticipation was more than realised. The star turn waa ' furnished by the Royal Banzai Family of Japanese entertainers, who deserve their title of tho world's greatest troupe of equilibrists. They are easily the most wonderful equilibrists, pole-walkors, and contortionists ever seen in Australasia.' ' ihey come direct from tho London ' Coliseum, and they created • a sensation. The gorgeous stage setting of ' pure silk and velvet, hand-embroidered ' in gold, is said to be valued at'£sooo, and when revealed, by the rising curtain tho effect was such as to evoke ' a spontaneous outburst of applause. Tho troupe consists of five marvellous athletes, whoso feats hold tlio house breathless. One of the troupe, holding two straight bamboo polos in his bands, climbs up tliein with the aid of his toes only, and using them as stilts dances merrily up' and down tho stago whilst iiis confrere plays an accompaniment on tho dulcimer with his feet, standing tho while in an inverted position. Again, whilst a lady member reclines on the ground she supports on lior feet a series of three ladders, the first being upright, the second suspended from the top end of it in a horizontal direction, and the third branching out at right angles from tho end of that. Up the first ladder climbs another of the troupe, and turning a somersault along the horizontal ladder ho mounts (ho third and stands with his feet lost to view in the flies, tlio lady meanwhile balancing him and thu three ladders on her feet. Last evening 1 ■ tho house sat so breathless that a pin could have been heard if dropped on the stage, and when a round of applauso { was started the cry of " 'Sli" caused it to cease until the man descended and .tlio lady rcgaii(6dteTcet". v Ancthfcr. member of tho troupe," standing on his head, shoots an arrow from a bow with ; his toes, and piorcing tho bull's-eybi' leases tho Onion Jack and JapaiießO" ' ' flag. Tlio mannikin of tho. party, who 1 by his grimaces and' antics - keeps tho liouso in roars of laughter ovon during the most exciting turns, thon mounts on : to ono-,of tho troupe's upturned feet, and is revolved round and round in various directions at lightning-liko and- bewildering speed, for all tho world liko • a teetotum,_ doing double somersaults and alighting on his sup- . porter's ono foot 'as accurately as though it were impossible to do otherwiso. Tho encore turn is rather too marvellous to bo described, and must really bo. seen to bo appreciated. Though suffering by comparison tho other artists are alono well worth tho tin lo and expense of tho visit. Miss Olga Pennington, an Australian eoubretto, who is making her lirst appearance m tho city, at onco finds favour with, the audionco with Iter clover male impelsonation; Klimo and . Klifton, Amencan eccentric comedy gymnasts, are both funnvand clever; Ernest 1 itclier, tho "big mug" comedian, is exceedingly ludicrous; 'tlio Lyrical i our, draw-in«*-room entertainers) arc both novel and original; St. George and Dayne, musical sketch artists, direct from England, aro distinctly amusing, the. - lady's singing and recherche stories being greatly onjoyed, whilst her companion draws most w;eird and wonderful sounds from tho violin; Miss Madgo Bcresford, who in England is known as "The darling of tho gods," and who has. been principal-boy at many pantomimes, sings "Everybody's Doing; It Bv tho Sen," and appears with great success in her favourito boy costume; Neil' Cant, "a .raw lad fiao the Hielands," sings A )\cp Bit o . Scotch" and "Sandy M Nab s bedding" in real Harry Lauder style and Tlio Romas, in herculean featsi of strength, conclude a i^n programme. As an extia, Mi. J Fuller, tho managing dircctei, who mot with a cordial reception, sang "'Sally-in Our Alley," and m response to an unmistakablo encore gave Good Xi'dit, Beloved." Being again iceilTed, Mr. Fuller made a neat speech, in which he thanked all present for their attendance at tho introduction of vaudeville in "tho.. most beautifat theatre in Australasia. Vook b > week thev would have there the. bent artists tho world could produco through agents in London and San Irancisco. Next Saturday would bo a scries of matinees, specially- arranged for ladies and children, at prices to Isuit' all pockets.