"VERY GOOD EDDIE"

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3158, 9 August 1917, Page 7

"VERY GOOD EDDIE"

A GREAT LAUGHING SHOW "Very C4ood Eddie," a musical farce. Book by P. Bartholoniae and Guy Holton. Music by Jeromo Kern, oast: Purser on the Catskill ... Fred. Monument Victoria Lake •• D* l^*^"^ Dick Rivers Andrew H Sfs*°" Steward on Catskill ... Mine. Matroppo ...,..: •• ?*" ™ El*ie T,jUv . Lillian Tucker Monsieur L'Rougemont ... Alfred Bnstowe Georgina Kettle Emily F■ «oy Eddie Kettle Barry Lupino Percy DarlUiK Frank Greene Elsie 7 Darting ZZZ.I Fayette Perry Al Cleveland J° hn Beck "Very Good Eddie," the musical farce presented by J. and N. Tait's Musical Comedy Company at the Grand Opcia House'last evening to. a large audience, u> the most genuinely funny show that has been witnessed in Wellington for a considcrable term of years. The most blab© playgoers were startled into explosions of hilarious laughter by the kaleidoscopic series of ludicrous situations and pe extraordinarily clever mumming wMcn characterised their performance- l« ° was a. time when English musical cqmec. \ became so "groovy" that given ceitam players one could fairly anticipate tie precise calibre of the entertainment, aiitt could gauge to a nicety the amount ot fun one was. likely to collect, but once more the Americans have broken ava} u,\ annexing an extremely comical farce ana trimming it up with bright music that goes ting-a-ling in the ears long after the curtain 'has dropped. What is. 60 veiy fresh and attractive about "Very Good Eddie" is that there is no r? lte , r ,'*° I V7 the fun bubbles are always in; the air, and fresh ones arise as one lot taae. away, which effect is achieved Tw, * clever aggregation of artists who .adhere to their characters, and say or sing- nothing hut what tends to establish'the Km- illusion. /It is all a frivol from start to'finish, but it is clean, wholesome possible frivol, which keeps everyone in a delightful state of giggle the evening through. , i The big audience tendered a lieartv welcome back to Mr. Barry Lupino. who, as the' modest, unsophisticated Eddie, \\ ho has lost his "manly" Wide, and nncls himself on the Hudson Eiver on a sen ot trouble, gave a creation in comic cliaincter Hint-is not likely to be soon forgotten. Hitherto, Mr. Lupino has been known as a quaint uantominio comedian ami nn extraordinarily clever dancer, nis "EdoMp" reveals the complete comedian ot a briTuant laueh-stirriii" order. It H a tiorforinnnco without effort: never was there an occasion where, he strove to •make a tioint, vet the oiitreachmg humour of the arhi=t tickled continuously. TV enwfacle of Mdif under the niHuen<i of his first two Martini cocktails with a "kielc" in them, trving to asparagus, and afterwards attempting to b<. by using a stick of that succulent vegetable as a eiewtto, m* screamingb funny. Tt was in the. same scene that lie described his emotions as win to laugh without knowing what to augh at." Mr. Lupino's quietly pathetic lendering of the song A\«n J a 11 Collar" was an artistic deligiu, ™ amusing acrobatic dance m ho last act induced a furore of npplau.o • Apart from Mr. Lupino the lait Lorn pan? is rich in clever and - ;acharmare li./gnetic She ».t capital actress, and dances with daintj and abandon. ' Her pyjan » d.uice ami "he "Babes in the Wood" duet. with Jr. Lupino (overburdened last evenmif by the orchestra) were b"ght features Elilinn Tucker is divinely tall, and fan, is a gooa dresser, a,tolerable singer aid an efficient actress. Her scenes with Mr Andrew Uigginson supplied a touch ;ot musical comedy romance, and were nignly acceptable. Mr. Higginson returns to Wellington full of vigour and with that power to please which made him so popular here years ago. Ho sings as well as ever, and makes love adorably. Mr. I'rank Greene 'has the important role ot Percy' Uavling (tho groom 1 w] }° is left), and fills the bill to a nicety. His tuneful baritone voice was heard to advantage in

"Turn Back the Universe," sung on a stairway in a will-o'-the-wisp spot light.; A capiiblo comedian of the dry-stick order is Mr. John Beck, who [jets every ounco of fun out of Ins job as clerk at the Kip Van Winkle Hotel, where much of the mirth is located. The bold,- domineering masculine wife of Eddie is most admirably portrayed by 'Miss Emily If'ilzroy who missed no points, and/gave strength to the very efficient cnst.wyUiss Nan Taylor as Madame ilatroppo/- (the comic teacher of vocnlism, with u system for memorising peoplo'ii names) was also an important adjunct to the merriment of tho farce, and Charles Popo (formerly of minstrel fame) squeezes a world of chuckles • out of I'ho rolo of tho • Catskiil'fl steward. Miss Daisy Jievcttc is a dancer of particular merit, and graced "Tho Fashion Show" .number in her 'ciit'o jockey costume. 11. de .Kougemont, tho amorous l'Vonchmiui, i who meanders through the farce, was humorously buiv lesqual by Mr. Alfred Bristowe. The "book" ofi' "Very Good Kddie" bristles with good things, 'and .Dip "gags" are all refreshingly new and tfree from any taint of nashness. Tho score includes some .cheering numbers; Among those entitled lo mention are: "Isnt it Great lo be Married," "The Wedding Bells are Calling," "On the Shores of Li Lei W.i," "Mickey FToy," "Some fcort of Somebody," "Nodding Hoses;' and "Walking the Dog." Wr. Lmpino s work as producer and-Mr. Robert Keers, as conductor deserve commendation. .1 lie two scenes by Clint form attractive and very complete stage settings.