A BRILLIANT ARTIST

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 6, 2 October 1917, Page 9

A BRILLIANT ARTIST

ADA REEVE CAPTURES AIL HEARTS Not during the present generation at least have ive been visited by an artist of the capacity in her class of Miss Ada Reeve, who raiute her debut upon the stage of tho Grand Opeva House last evening. For over a quarter of a century those who take any sort of interest in plays and players have known of her as Que of England's great creative artists in the realm of popular song and rou-i' cal comedy,, but it, is another altogether to bask in the radiance of hei consummate art. The songs _ she • sing* may not.he epics, even in their own domain, but, illuminated by the vibrating magnetism, intuitive intelligence, and humanity that is-Mies Reeve s, they become little maf/terpieces of mingled comedy iand pathos. Miss Reeve has a personality tnat is resistless in the charm it weaves. She, in a way, commands intimacy. One feels that she is a kindred soul one has communed with in some previous incarnation, and before five'minutes .of the half-hour. sh<j is on the stage has gone sho makes everyone feel "good pals" with herself au< V. a ! the world. It is a precious whicn Miss Roeve makea the most of—all witnout the remotest symptom of-fitram or effort. Tho audience could not get enough of her last evening, and though she, very generously 6ang ton songs it still left the big audience; hungry for more. Her first number was > the old favourite> "Knickerbockers," in which a fond mother; becomes humorously pathetic over'-the relentless agoing' _ of hor baby boy—a domestic MyU which found a great heart response. She neit sang the gay : little ditty, '.'Experience, with infinite gaiety and finely-pointed inflection, and tho frivolous Fotfliett Questions."' Then came the languorous, dreamy subtlety, aromatic and romantic "Oriental Girl," in which Miss lieevo showed her talent as a dancer anu poseur char-icteristique. It was aU very alluring and redolent of the Indian bazaar at feast time. A nice touch ot the drama was conveyed in Noway Knows, 'Nobody Cares," and in the *-Orkney eoream, "Like a Lady," the artist showed her powers 'in broad- enmouy. I" I "Ain't He, Jim?" she wa£ the tender mother crooning sweetly over her cradled baby, and "Tennessee" came'as a samplo of the modern American lilt, in wnic" ll tho audience were induced to-join.ill the refrain by the seductive persuasiveness of .the-singer. ■ Finally Miss ■ Keeve gave a delicious reading- of "The Long, Long Trail" as a compliment to the boys in khaki, to whom slie is devoted. It was a treat. The supporting, company, of vaudeville, artists is a sound one. Louis Nikola is a magician of a new order, who wa'ks new marvels in a quiet, unostentatious manner. His croquet mallet and balls trick was extremely clever and His shndowgrnphy seance, in ivhkii Nikola shapes, .his . prehensile fingers into the likeness or caricature .of the.world's notabilities, was most entertaining. Alvan and Williams are a gifted duo of sii ging and laughing comedians, who make a good impression .in ."Bits from Soiigland." One of .their best "bffs" is "Huckleberry Finn." Their laughing stunt was full of tickle. The staccato Lucie' Linda, in her dances of the Allies, was an immediate siiccess, and Harry Jacobs, the "singing conduotor," sang very pleasingly _ such songs as "Doing Her Little Bit," "You've Got to Put XJp with It," and "The Villain Still Pursued Her." The IY.glish Comedy Company presented a twenty minutes' comedy, entitled "A- flatter ( of Business," in which > stern, peremptory head of,a mangle-making'firm insists on his asinina secretary marrying the typist in order~to save'tittle-in'the office. His advice to "go for what you want" is taken literally by' the typist,, who goes for the head "of the firm (and-not the noodle) and gets him. Mr. Ashton Jurry wns very nmusing in tlie role of the silly secretary. The other parts were played by Mr. A. H. Jenner,-, 'Misses Georgie de Lara, and Zoe Angus. Mr. Frank Markley is a . remarkably able banjoist, with a very fine sweet-toned banjo. His/'Carmen"'fantasia indicated great artistic possibilities of tho instrument. -Mr.. Hartley's nerformance was a masterley one, Mr. Kennedy Allen, an unctuous humourist, made good in excellent patter and song. A capable orchestra, under Sfr. Harry Jacobs, adds ecln't to tlie performance. The audience , included His Excellency tho GovemorGenoral and the Countess 6f Liverpool, Mrs. Massey, and Sir Joseph and Lady Ward. The company will appear each evening this week.