STAGE ARTIST NOW

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 648, 27 April 1929, Page 19

STAGE ARTIST NOW

VERSATILE GEORGE WALLACE GOOD FUN AT ST. JAMES To make another mark in the 19tli week of his revue programme in Auckland, George Wallace has become a stage artist. In the change of programme at St. James Theatre last evening, George caught a big audience’s fancy with deft strokes of the artist’s brush. No drab work, either, and George seems to be well on the way to forging another link in his reputation for good entertainment. “Sparklers” is the title of the revue now running. The Wallace Company has been diving deeply into its stocks of wit for this entertainment. and George, as usual, makes a big success of his part. Clad in brightly-hued trousers, he gambolled about the stage. New songs, original gags, eccentric dancing, fast work in the Flaming Youths stage band—all the Wallace ability was brought into play. Snappy sketches and clever ballet work occupied the first half of the entertainment. The second half told the story of George’s association with two unscrupulous diamond thieves, none other than Si Meredith, as English Jim, and Marie Nyman, as Lady Lou. Marshall Crosby, a millionaire American artist, who collected diamonds as a hobby, was the victim in view, and Bert Tucker was the man, caught in the clutches of the thieves, who was to carry out the robbery. Everything would have gone well from the thieves’ point of view had George not been stricken with remorse. He remembered how' the millionaire had assisted him so there was nothing else to do but upset the plans of Marie and Si. A well-arranged sketch, this, with a new’ - wealth of humour from happenings on shipboard during an Atlantic voyage. George appointed himself as general adviser in cases of seasickness. Then, when America was reached, he engaged himself, without invitation, in customs work. The stage band does particularly well in “Sparklers.” “Lassus,” with Miff Myers and his trombone featuring, is a good number, and George

McGrath also scores with his banjo playing. Maida Jones and the Six Rascals ballet have their opportunity in “Maori Eyes,” and Olive Partridge and Thelma Buxton do well in a novelty dance; in conjunction with a breezy version of “Who?” Bert Tucker and Wally Cannon are at llieir best with the saxophones and clarinets. With Jack Scott and the ballet, excellently turned out in new frocking, Maida Jones was seen in a popular “Heebie Jeebies” number. Humour and harmony saw the Two Dudleys in another bright turn. George Wallace and Red Beacham, the pianist, had a few minutes’ crosstalk before Marie Nyman was heard in several popular songs. And, of course, Marshall Crosby played an important part as a singer, too. “Be a Man” was his best number. Other entertaining songs and turns, individual and company, are not lacking in frequency. Next week, George and his company will play their 150th performance in Auckland, and, on Thursday, at a souvenir production, photographs of George will be handed to the audience.