“THE MAHONEY SHOW”

Manawatu Standard, Volume LX, Issue 131, 3 May 1940, Page 3

“THE MAHONEY SHOW”

BRIGHT ENTERTAINMENT. . VAUDEVILLE AT ITS BEST. The never-failing appeal of gjpod vaudeville was amply demonstrated at the Opera (House, last evening, when Will Mahoney, the well-known comedian, and his company presented a. variety entertainment of high quality. Charming ballets, amazing specialty acts, amusing sketches and popular melodies, capped by the quaint drolleries and hilarious tomfoolery ol; Will Mahoney himself—these'were the ingredients of a show which went with a swing from start to finish. , Whether Mr Mahoney was babbling inanities in a perambulator, making love as a modern Robinson Crusoe, impersonating as Hitler or—his masterpiece—playing a xylophone with his feet, lie kept the audience in a simmer of mirth and clamouring for more. His versatility was never more convincingly displayed than in the xylophone act; which was a triumph of skill as well as being intensely funny. Too little was seen, and heard, of Miss Evic Hayes, who pleased greatly with her musical voice and radiating personality. She sang some of the late est “hits” with delightful charm, con-, eluding with “It’s Up to You,” a rousing war song composed by Will Mahoney and Boh Geraghtv,, who proved himself most talented at the piano. A revelation in animal' sagacity and patient training was Cpsko’s Jungle Circus, featuring a parrot and a dog of almost human understanding. This was a novelty rarely seen in Palmerston North and certainly one of the highlights of the show. The same can he said of the Four FI or ays, girl tumblers, who perform breathless feats with and without a springboard. Dancing or singing, Les and Mavis Ritchie lend life and colour in several appearances, the latter and Miss Margaret Kelly combining in some striking numbers with the ballet. Portly John Dobbie was an indispensable factor in the fun-making, while Johnny Hyman added some topical touches with the aid of a blackboard that earned generous applause. Saxophone, piano-accordion, pianoforte and ’cello were the instruments chosen by the Melodians, two young ladies who provided a feast of music. Some amusing burlesque “magic” coupled with Houdini-like. features were presented by the Lampinis. Throughout, a hard-working and attractive ballet embellish the show with charming ensembles, a patriotic theme being well carried out in “There’ll Always be an England.” There was a scena “Fluttering Wings,” providing some entrancing effectsrNorman Wright and his orchestra added lively and sympathetic music to a first-rate entertainment. An entirely new programme will be. presented by the company this evening.