THE N.Z. DIGGERS

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 132, 28 February 1921, Page 7

THE N.Z. DIGGERS

AN EXCELLENT ENTERTAINMENT.

The return to Wellington of the New Zealand "Diggers," those clever entertainers who did so much to cheer up the New Zealand Division during the war. was marked by a “full house at the Grand Opera House on Saturday evening. The show they present is still of the best. They have lost none of the bright and spontaneous humour that made the entertainment a success when it was first seen here, and, indeed, on Saturday, here and there one noticed slight improvements. ;One attribute of the "Diggers’ ’’ combination could very well bo adopted by other organisations of entertainers —the crispness and shortness of every number. It has long been the rule of the "Diggers” to present a lot, in the shortest possible time, with the result that every item on an excellent programme is timed to the minute; and the show therefore keeps interesf sustained until the fall of the curtain. The present entertainment contains new, and pretty music, a wealth of humorous dialogue and nonsensically and that element of originality that should bo found in every like produc- | tion. “The misleading lady," gushing, | sweetly feminine as ever, created much I amusement, and there were some in rne audience who were genuinely . surprised when the glory of her red hair, at the end of the performance, gave way to tho conventional short-cropped locks of Stan Lawson. This clever female impersonator plays his part to perfection. and in his pretty gown in the "winter time’* scena, shows vivacity auo daintiness of a Julian Lltinge. His items were all marked witli success. In the opening chorus "Let’s All Go Baying Mad," a rollicking English ragtime, supported by tho company, ho displayed his remarkable voice, which is singularly free from traces of falsetto. As an “ ’Arriet,” in a feature chorus, "Let’s Go Hoppin’ in Kent,” he amused tho audience with his eccentric dancing reminiscent of Hounslow Heath on a Bank Holiday. An unconventional and laughable "episode” was "A Tooth for a Tooth.” in which appeared Stan' Lawson (the heroine), Len. Walker (her lover), Don Wallace (a policeman) and Gus Dawson (a mysterious something). 1 lie little tragedy was brought to its climax to the strains of slow music: A revolver shot struck the heroine in the breast, and. screaming, she awoke in a dentists chair—the offending molar was gone lor ever' Tho elongated and eccentric magician. Donald Stuart, with his tricks and ey-dgfeures, was mirth-provoking, and ho also gained much applause in a "jazz.” comedy duet with Don Wallace, entitled "We’re Two Johnnies of today.” The vocalists of the company were in good form. The Diggers Quartet showed artistry in "Farmyard Melodies” and the pretty d/ttle « n co r » number, "I Saw Her Do It. Geoige Proctor sang "A Farewell”; Frank Perkins. "I Passed By Your Window and "Come to the Fair,’’ and Colin Camel on, "Take a Pair of Sparkling Eyes, and "Banks of Loch Lomond.” Tano Fama, the comedian, was as funny as ever, and his dialect song. “I’m A Dadda” was popular The Dutch duet, with c.lc o dance, "Baggy Breeches,” sung and performed bv Gus Dawson and Len Walker, was loudly encored. The costumes in this interlude were made from Army blankets and signal flags close up to tho front line in France. The tramp impersonator. Don Wallace, was loudly encored for his two character songs. Jog„in ’ Mong the Highway’’ and "Devil-May-Care.” There is much that is amusing and clover in the show, which concludes with a "potted” revue, entitled "Slightly Mixed.”