ENGLISH PIERROTS

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 281, 22 August 1921, Page 7

ENGLISH PIERROTS

CLEVER, STIMULATING ENTERTAINMENT.

A glad welcome by a large audience was given the English. Pierrots at the Grand Opera House. Past seasons in Wellington pf this organisation have created a good will that should bo of ’ distinct value to tho reorganised and strengthened company, whoso clean, clover, and stimulating performance gave such distinct satisfaction on Saturday evening. The Pierrots havo abandoned tho old white Pierrot dresses and the crescent first-part in' favour of something more modern. With the. aid of curtains, and brains, each item is given its own particular dressing and effects, with the result that there is something new occurring the whole time to freshen up the. interest. The company has been strengthened as far as the men are concerned, but there are no Elsa Langleys or Biilee Wilsons among the ladies, though the ensemble is quite good. After a scarlet-dressed "Piorrotland" opening, Miss Joy Bolls and Mr. Leslie Austin bounded into the prospect with an electrio dance that showed at once how much both had Improved as skilful high-. steppers. Their theatrical balhoom dance later on banishes the memory of all. others seen lately in this line of business. Both dancers are extraordinarily light and airily < graceful. Mr. Harry Scholefield sang "Highland . Mary." A vpry valuable member of the company is Mr. David Lyle, whoso tenor voice in solo or concerted music is very sweet and true. Mr. Lyle sang charmingly in "Homing" and “Mattinata" (Leoncallb). Miss Iza noubrette, sang "In Your Liule Poke Bonnet," with a pretty background of crinolines and periwigs in a measured dance of other Georgian days. As an encore she sang "The Piccaninny's Lullaby," a catchy berceuse, with an invisible quartet behind the refrain. Edmund Warrington, a newcomer from England, caught the fancy of tho audience at once in his vivid impersonation of George Robey in. "I Stopped, I Looked, I Listened." His make-up, dress, eyerolls and "business" were'Robey to the life. When the clamour died away Mr. Warrington gave a series of impressions of character types, singing “Give Me the Moonlight," which wero equally popular. Mr. Roy Cooke, basso, scored in the character song "Jogging Along the Highway," and as lan encore gave the monologue "Jest Plain Dog." Lawrence received a leception, which filled him with pained surprise. At the piano he frollicked and vocal-joked with all his well-known ability. Tho company specialises in sketches. They ai'o farces, .. frank or in disguise, and are are most admirably done. "Tho Choice" is too good to tell about; "Ferdie’s Ma-in-Law" was a perfectly played farce, with Mr. Austin capital as the gorgon <na-ln-law, and Mr. Lawrence extremely comic as tho crushed No. 2. "Camoullage," a skit with a topical air, has an unusual finish. Miss Lillian Colenzo, comedienne, made a hit in "Poor Old Rather" (with a St. Vitus dance embroidery), and convulsed the house in “Why Am I Always the Bridesmaid?” A feature of tho second part was the male quartet, whoso artistic singing was a treat to listen to. Numbers sang included “Dear Old Swannee," “The Lost Chord," and "By Jingo, By Gosh." Miss Ena Gordon, a light soprano of some sweetness, sang "Ono Fino Day," from "Madame Butterfly, and Miss Moya Crossley, violinist, played Godard’s "Berceuse." Tho programme Concluded with a laughable farce entitled "A Dud Dream," which kept the house in roars of laughter for twenty minutes, the ohief laughter-makers being Edmund Warrington and Charles Lawrence as two harassed diggers at a base camp. This sketch was writton by Mr. Warrington, and was produced by him at Homo. Incidentally, it has been seen in Wellington before. Miss Betty M r Leod played aooomp-animonts, ft small orchestra assisting intermittently.