"SAVAGES" AT PLAY

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 17, 15 October 1917, Page 8

"SAVAGES" AT PLAY

A PATRIOTIC "KORERO." In a epivit of light and airy raillery llio Wolfington Savage Club, noted as expert devisers of means to spend a couplo of hours pleasantly in tho domain of music, song, and story, entertained a Town Hall lull of jieoplo on Saturday cvoning, when was given tho i'ourlh of their war-timo "koreroa." lictorc the war it was customary to honour tho fair sex with a "ladies' night" at an entertainment arranged for moiubcrs and their lady friends exclusively, but since tho war the club has cut out espouse, and now invites the public to join in tho fun for tho sako of those sacred canscs wo all have so much at heart. Tho fact that this club lios about 12(1 members at tho front, and of thoso who have gono no lower' than nine havo been itilled in action, is some indication of the loyal spirit thai; pervades tho atmospkero of the fortnightly "korerofl" and spurs members on to ofl'orla to do all within their power to win the war. Ho ou Saturday evening tho club whooped up on audience fliat filled nearly every seat in tho big hall, and gave an entertainment ol a novel character, which sparkled hero and there with some smart quips on local episodes and people, one factor which helped to savo the show from mediocrity. For their part the Savages elecl«d to present an old-timo minstrel show with black-faced end-men, suavo interlocutor, and circle of evening-dressed artists complete. The only things ono missed were the "swinging beauties," which used in days of old to represent the female element in such shows. But the Savages wero extremely happy in tlieir own way, and laughed just as merrily at the wheezes sprung or jokes cracked as did anyono in the audienco, sometimes moro so, because of tboir inner knowledge. Tho tain bos were Savages Kiely and T. Curnmings, the bones Savages Norman Aitken and Albert Russell, and tho interlocutor Savage M'Cabe. After a swinging opening chorus, the usual "How are you s? wero exchanged between the "cen):re" and the "ends/ after which Mr. Hugh AVright sang the serenade "Cottago Wee" to a nicely-modulated humming accompaniment. Following some ripe 'chestnuts from new and old joke trees, Savago Aitken disported himself in light and airy song. Tho best of amusing allusions were thoso incorporated in Savago Kiely's depressing dirge "Tho Bovino Barcarolle," or "The ftigki '.tho. Old Cow Died." The singer was deliriously out of tunc nearly tho whole, time, which added to tho doleful huiuour of tho dreadful ditty. Savago Charles Mooro_ managed to get the oldtimo tremolo into iiis voice in singing "My Old Kentucky Home" (with vocal accompaniment), and Savago Albert I(u6sell, who was tho best of tno corner mon, sang the rag-tiino ballad, "Chicken. Feathers." Re had to respond to vigorous applause, and gave that wild burlesquo on tho untamed Spaniard who seeks revenge on tho "blijfhtcr" who stole his wifo in the arena whilst ho was purchasing nuts and a programme. After that he lapsed into Chinese to illustrate an incident in which a Magistrate, interpreter, and Chinese prisonor wero comically concerned. The second part of tho ontertainment represented a scene "Somewhore in Switzerland," being, supposedly, an internment camp for soldiers of all nationalities who had wandered over tlio border by accident or otherwise. Anyhow, there they were behind barbed-wire, with two fierce comic-opera Swiss soldiers guarding tho motley throng. The liveliest of tho mob is an "Anzac," in shorts, represented gaily by Savage Kiely, who proposes that they should, to pass the time awav, omu'late a Maoriland custom and have a "Savage" night. The motloy agree, evidently boing all acquainted with' English and tho nature of the intention; so the Swiss Commandant is roped in as Chief, and ia told that in New Zealand there is a custom of honouring tho waliine annually, and that custom they wished to perpetuate in Switzerland. Tho Commandant agrees to everything—as Commandants always do —though professipg complete ignorance as to what a wahine is. Savago T. Queree, as a gallant momber of the Bersaglieri, carolled in Italian; Savage Len Barnes, in tho flowing white burnoose of the Arabian, sang "A Bedouin Love Song," and "I'll Sing Theo Songs of Araby" in good style. Savago. Russell "blew in" as a starved "Amurrikan citizen," just out of Ucrniany, but was too intensely American to be quite comprehensible to those at any distance from the stago, butas.a 6inger of amusing ditties lie again found favour. Savages Newton, Kiely, and Twjss gave selections on sweettoiied bells; "Ulossop," a clever dog, was put through his paces by Savage Mackenzie, and Savage Twiss as a British "tar" sang "There's a Big Lot of Sunshine Coming Soon," which brought tho show to a rather abrupt and unexpected close. Savage F. J. Courtnay was responsible for the clever dialogue in. "Somewhere in Switzerland," and Savage A. W. Newton acted as stage manager. Tbo Savage Club orchestra, under Savage H. M'Comish, played the "Pique Dame" overture of von Suppe, and an attractive morceau de concert, Longing," by Haydn Wood. i During the. interval the Chief Savage (Mr. A. W. Newton) announced that as the result of tho evening's performance there would be ail amount of some w£2oo to hand over to patriotic funds to ho selected 'by the cl'nb, an announcement that was received with applause. He also, thanked the Town Hall staff for giving their services free; the members of the Spinsters' Club for disposing of tha programmes (which form an interesting souvenir of the entertainment), and all others who had assisted in enabling the 6avages to help the patriotic funds.