"THE COURT CARDS"

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2403, 8 March 1915, Page 6

"THE COURT CARDS"

COMPANY OP CLEVER ENTERTAINERS. The impression made oil the largfl audience present at the Grand Opera House by Mr. Edgar Warwick's "Court Cards" was entirely favourable. Thiß clever company of. eight performers, three of whom were members of the original Scarlet Troubadours, are experienced people in the art of making merry in a musical comedy sense, through the medium of a style of entertainment originated in England by the late Mr. Pelissier's "Follies," and imitated here with more or less success 'J?' Pierrots," "Merrymakers," "Dandies, "Butterflies," "Smart Sets." and Magpies. The "Court Cards" were fortunate in their opening. From the unusually pretentious opening chorus the audience took them to its heart, declared them to be all trumps, and voted the entertainment a "grand slam." All round, the talent is well above the average, and the facility with which they co-operate in the bright, snappy, up-to-date business provided stamps the snow with a hall-mark of general approval. It was with particular pleasure the audience welcomed back to Wellington the "joker," Mr. Edgar Warwick, that gifted ana fascinating soubrette. Miss Maud Fano, and Mr. Sydney Mannering, who "troubadoured" so successfully through this country yearß ago. Mr. Warwick is as dapper, crisp, and cryptic as ever. His humour crumbles not, and those who failed to guffaw at his "expressions" and his diatribe on Janguages must have been hard of hearing. Miss Maud Fane is dainty and winsome, and has, besides, a roguish humour, to which she gives plenty of point and a serviceable mezzo-soprano voice. In other days, Miss Fane used to specialise in tear-dimmed ballads; now she is the gay debonnair soubrette. Thechange is delightful. She established her claim in "The Naughty Little Twinkle in Her Eye," and in "My Blueeyed Boy," and "Algernon, Go Hon!" she sparkled like a first-water diamond. Miss Fane is always good in sketch work. She was extremely amusing in "The' Boy who' Stuttered and the Girl who Lisped" and "When the Weaker Sex are Stronger," with Mr. George, Tichener. Mr. Sydney Mannering is as good a tenor as ecer he was. There is some constraint in his tone production that makes for thinness when he affects the serious ballad. His tone was a trifle disappointing in his first song, but he was artistic to the last word in the. imitation he gave o of Mr. Maurice Farkoa singing a love song. His "Dream Boat" song of the second part was a. pearl of v'ocalism, and earned a hearty, recall. . Another gifted performer new to Wellington is Mr. George Tichener* a smart, grippy comedian, with enough natural vitality and humour to dissipate the densest vapourß. He showed a fine facility in facial expression ill "Proposals," was gonuinely comical in "Far, Far Away," and recited "The Kiss on the Stairs" delightfully. Mr. Tichener was outrageously funny as a stuttering schoolboy, and as the crushed slave of an emancipated woman was ludicrously amusing.

The Cards have a solid vocal foundation in the basso, Mr. George Graystone, and a very valuable asset it is. The! tone is inclined to be a trifle coarse in fibre, but it is.always in tune and always there. Mr. Graystone sang "Keep the Home .Fires Burning/' a .rousing Somerset yokel's lilt, and "Drinking." In the part singing. Mr. Graystone's diapason was very effective. Miss Renee Maude has a pretty soprano voice, which is exercised-in charming little songs, and Miss Winifred Mitchell plays. tlie violin sympathetically-.enough to gaiu her emphatic recalls. Mr. Albert Keats is a clever accompanist, and not half a bad performer vocally. The first part concluded with a bright sketch entitled "Ragtime Shopping," a cleier skit on the oraze for ragtime songs. ; The greater part of the second half.was embraced in: "A Drop of Holland's," with the Cards transformed into quaint Dutch folk. The entertainment concluded with the vocal absurdity, "The Village Choir in Oratorio," which sent the audience home giggling: During the two weeks' season of the "Court Cards" in 'Wellington the programme will be changed twice weekly. The first complete change will be made' on Wednesday evening. '