THE ROBERT ROBERTS CO.

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 110, 30 July 1927, Page 15

THE ROBERT ROBERTS CO.

COMING TO STRAND The Robert Roberts Bon Bon Revue Company, which has just completed highly-popular seasons at Dunedin, Christchurch and Wellington, is coming to the Strand Theatre on August 5. The opening production is entitled “Screams and Scenes,” and is described as “a mystery packet of music, mirth

and melody,” which very aptly fills the bill. Gaily costumed it is a bright entertainment of refreshing originality which this talented band of artists presents. A feature of the performance i s the many complete surprises sprung upon the audience, who are kept in quite a thrill as to what is going to happen

next. After Mr. Fred Stockers introduces the company. May Webster, Arline Paterson and Robert Roberts appear with the Bon Bon Ballet in “Take You to Dixie,” and are followed by Maurice ' Jaffey and William Innes in “Southern Harmony.” The company is rich in vocalists and many fine numbers figure on the programme. Maurice Jaffey and William Innes, tenor and baritone, collaborate most successfully in the duet. “Lay Me Down to Sleep in Carolina.” Robert Roberts is a most versatile comedian, and appears in many and widely different roles during the performance. With Maurice Jaffey and George Edwards he causes great merriment in a Jewish extravaganza. A number of beautiful scenes are presented during the programme, in which the scenery, lighting and costuming are on a most lavish scale. The scenes include “ Impossibilities,” “Gipsyland,” “Love,” “The Chauffeur,” “Redskin Revels,” “The Street Singer,” and “The Movie Ball.” The members of the company in “The Movie Ball” impersonate wellknown film stars in famous roles. Arline Paterson and Robert Roberts do some merry fooling, in which bright dialogue figures, and Molly Hughes is responsible for much sprightly dancing. June Mills is a dainty little artist who sings and dances divinely, and she makes a great hit, whenever heard, in company with William Innes, who is the possessor of a sonorous baritone voice. Nick Morion, the “Talkative

Songster,” keeps audiences in gay good humour with his humorous comicalities, and Will Gilbert is another comedian who keeps the fun going right merrily. One of the surprise packets of the programme is provided by the juvenile troup of acrobats, who do some wonderful balancing and electrify everyone with their amazing somersaulting. Among the many tuneful numbers given are “Little Red Riding Hood,” “When Autumn Leaves Are Falling,” “It’s a Man,” “I Love You,” “Seminola,” “Pale Moon,” and “Walking Round in Circles.”

Ralph Ince, director of “The Lone Wolf Returns," Louis Joseph Vance's story, starring Bert Lytell and Billy Dove is a Master picture for early release, is almost too well known to movie fans to need an introduction. He has played in and directed a long list of successful photo-plays, handling the directorship of “The Lone Wolt Returns” in a creditable; and masterly manner. Though he has many successes to his credit he considers this one of the most interesting pictures he has ever made for he can imagine no more versatile movie team than Bert Lytell and the beauteous Billie Dove.