“MIDNIGHT FROLICS”

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 542, 20 December 1928, Page 21

“MIDNIGHT FROLICS”

THIRD SERIES BEGINS POPULAR DAWE AND EDGLEY Again “The Midnight Frolics” have dipped into their repertoire and found a third series of brand new songs, dances and stories. His Majesty’s w%.s full again for the beginning of the third week of the season last evening. The revue, welded together by the active and excellent Clem Dawe, who breaks all records in lightning changing, goes with a most desirable click, and gives the audience three hours of entertainment unrivalled in its class. Snappy sketches are produced in plenty in this week’s series of 23 irolics —one extra for Christmas week. A novelty on which the company makes a first-rate showing is the “Breach of Promise Case,” an affair of clever burlesque and parody of popular songs. Mr. Justice Dawe in wig and scarlet sits high to consider the case of Dorothy White versus William Perryman, an action for breach of promise, Perryman having been a villain of deepest dye. A jury of four women, counsel and a languorous policeman (Les White) fill the body of the court, and chant their parts in popular tunes. Ancient airs acquire new meanings as the cogs of justice turn in fits and starts. “All Nerves” is another bright playlet arranged round an incident of startling domestic intensity. Clem Dawe is the harassed husband and Ray Raymond the doctor, who is a regular visitor to the household. A misunderstanding builds up and the audience having been roused to a peak of expectation is let down suddenly with a severe thud. Some of the other amusing sketches are “Music Hath Charms,” an attempt at delusion, which goes wrong. “The Marriage Bureau,” “The Last Shot,” a burlesque with plenty of gunpowder of one of the picturesque campaigns against the Arabs, and a short but effective play entitled “Ah!”—the only word the players find it necessary to say. “The Doll Dance,” by Phyllis Amery, the neat danseuse of the show, is one of the most enjoyable things on the programme. Miss Amery also heads the company in an effective new dance scena, billed as “direct from New York” and entitled “Crazy Elbows.” Perfectly-drilled, the people give a personification of syncopation. The Frolics Jazz Band provides a pleasant half-hour. “I Wonder How I Look When I’m Asleep,” “Breeze,” “Grand and Glorious Feeling” are some of the numbers. Lillian Crisp, Oscar Beck and William Perryman, the voices of the show, sing the trio from “II Trovatore,” to the band accompaniment, and make several other appearances. The popular “Esquimo Pie” ballad is the last number from the band.

Gregor Ivanoff plays some good music on hi:i violin, and Dorothy White sings in comedy.