HIS MAJESTY'S THEATRE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 17692, 1 August 1919, Page 5

HIS MAJESTY'S THEATRE

DIGGERS' DIVISIONAL PIERROTS. The entertainment presented at His Majesty s 'lheatre last evening by "The Diggers'" New Zealand Divisional Pierrots proved most enjoyable, and time and again it drew the spontaneous applause of a packed house. There is nothing amateurish about the performers—in fact, they go through their respective turns with all tho confidence of prolessionals. This, however, can bo no cause for surprise, as the company has played in many parts of Europeeven in Germany,—and its members have become quite familiar with the glare of the spotlight. The company is particularly strong in solo singers, and in Messrs Frank irerkms, Laslett Lxton, George Proctor, and Simpson liavo a quartet of vocalists to whom it is a real pleasure to listen. Mr 1115 as a particularly fine voice, splendidly produced, and in each instance the quartet sang with such excellent enunciation that every word could bo distinctly heard. Neither is the comedy element lacking, Messrs Fama and Hanna proving a most versatile pair of comedians. Probably the greatest interest, however, centred i* Mr (or is it Miss?) Stan Lawson. Mr Lawson is one of the cleverest female impersonators ever seen on' a local stage. Ria' mako-up and general deportment are so good that his performance could perhaps hardly be called an impersonation. Slightly built, sprightly, coy, speaking- with a chio female voice, and looking the part to the very life on each of his manv differentlydressed appearances on the stage, Mr Lawson quickly sang and danced his way into the favour of everyone present. After seeing Mr Lawson last night one could easily believe the story told of him at one of the performances given in France. The story goes that two soldiers in the audience atv soluteiy refused to believe Mi Lawson waH not a lady performer, and waited patiently at tile improvised stage door in the hope of being permitted to see "her" horned The work of the orchestra (under Private Cottier) right through was of a high order of merit, and a great deal'of the music played was new to Diinedin audiences.

A tine opening by the orchestra, "Dawn of Victory," was followed by a chorus by the l'i< rrots, and Mr Lawson and a troupe sang "Hole in Her Stocking." Then came a comic interlude by Messrs Scobs 11, Fama, and Trench, and this was succeeded by one of the gems of the evening—a quartet by Messrs JSxton, Proctor, Perkins, and Simpson. Their voices blended beautifully, and the audience refused to be satisfied until they contributed two more items. Mr Perkins also gave an artistic rendering of "Tlio Bells of St. Mary's," again being encored; and Mr Exton was encored for his singing of "Love, Come from Your Hiding Place, his sweet tenor voice being then beard in that old-fashioned favourite "My Pretty Jane," given with fine light and shade. Mr G. P. Hanna, as "The Padre," proved highly diverting in a cleverly-written "sermon," and also proved that he was no mean artist, his charcoal sketches being quickly executed and most lifelike. On Mr Kama, fell most of the comedy work, and his impersonations of songs and their singers held the amused attention of the audience. In the second half a feature was the duet and dance by Mr Lawson and Frank Perkins, "Wild Thyme." In attenuated evening dress, bewigged, "her" dainty shoes high-heeled, Mr Lawson proved a shy maiden, who, however, was not unresponsive to the wooing of Mr Perkins. Every time "she" would look coyly up into his face in the dance the audience was simply convulsed with laughter. In this item Mr Perkins further demonstrated thai he :s the possessor of a beautiful quality voice. A double enoore was their reward. Mr Norman Trench gave a ragtime item, "Alexander's Back from Dixie," and Mr Cyril Scobell contributed a musical monologue, "The Shooting of Dan M*Crew." Mr Scobell was, however, more sucoessful in his encore item, "If You Like." Mr George Proctor was encored for his vocal number, "God Gave You to Me," and responded with a fine rendering of "Bonny Mary of Argyle." Two burlesques were given—"The Leave Train," —in which most of the fun was provided by Mr Fama as Ole Bill and Mr Manna as an inebriated "rough Aussie." The Aussie desires a seat in the train, but there is no room for him. In -ii excellent piece of acting the Aussie manages to obtain a pulls a pin out of a bomb, —and the climax is reached when the whine of a shell is heard, and the v.'hole of the soldiers make a break for cover as the shell explodes. "The Musio Hall" was another highly amusing burlesque, in which. Messrs Hanna, Lawson (a singing girl), Exton, and Fama were entrusted with the leading parts. The latter part of this entertainment was spoilt, however, by the lights on the stage going oat, the stare being thus in semi-darkness. The Pierrots will repeat their entertainment this evening. As already -stated, they are a really - clever, versatile combination, and are well worth seeing.