“The Butter and Egg Man”

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 194, 5 November 1927, Page 22 (Supplement)

“The Butter and Egg Man”

St. John Ervine on Puerile Song Show If anyone wishes to see an amusing explanation of the way in which some plays are put on, let him see “The Butter and Egg Man,” writes. St. John Ervine of a recent London production. Singular episodes in the recent history of the English theatre will immediately become clear to him. Two very able players, Robert Middielas and Jane Oaker, ke£>t the house in very good fettle while they were on the stage, but the play drooped when they left it. Tom Douglas, the Peter Jones, has great personal charm, but he has not enough acting ability to enable him to carry the weight of a play on his shoulders. The part of the nice typist was acted by Carol Goodner, a very attractive-looking girl, but she had almost nothing to do. The rest of the company were pretty good, especially Phyllis Blake as a high-toned actress with a “refaned” accent. The first-night audience was supplied with a free copy of a song entitled “The Butter and Egg Man,” which was described as “featured by Tom Douglas arici Carol Goodner.” Any featuring of it that was done by them was not noticed by me. The first verse and chorus are as follows: Back in New York City, Just fifty years ago. Came a guy one morning, His pockets full of dough. Sweeties soon were asking why, He’d dollars by the score, One said, “Dearie, don’t be shj'. He’s a millionaire and more: He’s a butter and egg man, With dollars to burn. He’s a wow, And he’s just at the age women adore.

He’s all the rage, never a bore, No vice—don’t even smoke, Just nice—never gets broke. ITe’s a butter and egg man. A hundred per cent, good boy. . . . Two immortal souls v/ere responsible for that.

After the Christchurch season, the Gilbert and Sullivan Company will visit the principal cities of the South Island before the continuation of the North Island tour. Dunedin and Invercargill will be played, after which the company will “jump” to Auckland. Here a season will be commenced on November 26, concluding on December 8, ■ i and then the company will begin a ! short tour of the North Island pro- ; vincial districts. Palmerston North, Wanganui. Hastings, Napier and Masterton will be the districts to see this talented organisation, after which the [ company will sail for Sydney.