RETURNED SOLDIERS' APPEAL

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 165, 7 April 1919, Page 5

RETURNED SOLDIERS' APPEAL

HIGHLY SUCCESSFUL CONCERT IN TOWN HALL

A £250 HOUSE

Saturday evening's entertainment in aid of the roturned soldiers' appeal fund attracted such a ciwd of would-bo patrons that not even the big Town Hull was large enough to accommodate them nil. Busin.-ss was so good that the promoters added something iiko a clear .£250 to the fund. The first part of the entertainment was provided by the Gay Gambols, Costume Comedy Company, under the direction of Mrs. Maud Jilet-soe-Buckeridge. Tho personnel of the brilliant little company was as follows :- Mrs. Bletsoe-Buckeridge, Mrs. W. BirchJohnston, Misses Queenic M'lneniy., Eva Sapsford, Mae Clap«haw, Doris Guiae, Marjorio Buckeride, \Vyn_ Faulkner, Mae Archer, Vera Rooney, Kathleen Lucas, Phyllis Massic, Ruby Scott, and Messrs. Albert Russell, Percy Everett, and Erro\ Fuller. From the opening chorus to finale the Gambols kept the house thoroughly interested and anmseii. They had been'exceedingly fortunate in their choico of items, and by some little touch of skilful management they succeeded in elevating every one well above the level of the commonplace. Tho waltz song, "In a Wonderful World All Our Own," was romantically sung by Miss Kathleen Lucas. Misses Doris. Guise and Marjorie Buckorid'c contributed to the effectiveness of the number by tho performance of dainty dance movements, and the house unanimously voted the ensemble extremely charming. Mrs. Blet-sop-Buckeriugo was assisted iby Mrs. Winnie Birch-Johnston (sift'leu-ic) in the delivery of "Song of .liopc" and "In the Land of Love with the Songbirds." Both performers received an ovation. Mr. Errol Fuller was vastly entertaining in his "Ghost of the Ukelele" rag. The little interlude by two other members of the company on the subject of ghost; and the comical fihost dance that accompanied tho final rendering of the refrain were also much enjoyed. Mrs. BirchJohnston made a hit in "Follow the Lady with the Sunshade." "Ten Days' Leave" by seven Gambols wa,s an amusing pod;; of soldier doings. Miss Mac Clnpshaw and others had something to sing about an automobile and its owner, while a male member of the- company riskn! lifo and limb to break the speed laws on a email bov's "scooter."* Mr. Percy Everett strolled on in beady garment-: to open the Hawaiian duet, "Yacki Waeki Hicki Doolah." His partner (Mrs. Birch-Johnston) appeared from noivhere in a., more pretentious creation, and the pair mangled the Hawaiian tra dition to the accompaniment of laughtc" from tho house. Mr. Albert Russell ww irresistibly comical in "Ipesacitnnha/'aidyll of the druggist's store. He was ak: a tower of strength to the company whoiit came to the rendering of "larnic ,, Browii i He had Some Cows." The sour 'began innocently enough, but soon rattlei! into n high-speed imitation of every noise the farmyard couW produce. A "Dream Sons" was a very pretty number, very sweetly rendered by Miss Eva Sapsford. In "Never Minn Singing, Just Danco, My Dear," Miss Oneenie M'lnorny related the tragedy of an ambitious front-row chorus girl. A 5 a finale the company sang the catchy "Tickle Too."' Miss Rpjina Foster was at. (ho piano throughout. Popular contributors to the second part of tho bill were Mr 11. F. Wood and Mr. Norman Aitken. Both evoked thunderous applause, Mr. Wood by his rendering of "Take a Pair of Sparkling Kyes" and Mr. Aitken by his recital of "The Dinky Di Soldier." Several little artists trained by Miss Estello T*B?re performed a beautiful "Golden Ballot," while some elder pupils of the same lady took pa-rt in a Russian folk dance. Very oelightful indeed was tho poem dance, "The Death of the Rose," given by little Joan fleere. So markedly popular did the item prove- that it hail to be repeated, and when the tiny performer fiually left the pctal-strewii etngo it was to the accompaniment of tho heartiest applause. Mr. Borneo Gardner, billed as "Wellington's own (Mfilour," melodiously displayed his skill in the art of whistling. He was follower by Mr. Leu Barnes, who snng the ever-popular "Floral Dance." To round oft an excellent concert, Misses L. Chapman and I. Shorrar and Messrs. N. Aitfcon and P. Lathan played "A Cockney. Camouflage." This cjmiedietta, which is of local origin, first made its debut at (ho competitions. It was splendidly presented on Saturday night, and met with a very flattering reception.