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Merry and Bright Comedy
Company
SCORE. AGAIN.
This popular local Comedy Com
pany drew a:packed house at the
Lyric Theatre on Friday night, the
crowd overflowing on to the pavement
long before 8 p.m. Kyery item on
the programme was thoroughly en
joyed, judgiug by the rapturous
applause and continued demand for
?ncores. ' Messrs. ,VV.' A. Power,
mncirai rliror* f/-*r* T-T ? TV/T.ocrm cfacrf*
manager,. and C. Anderson, business
manager, are to be congratulated on
the success- of the entertainment,
and- the smooth way in which the
long programme' \\as run through.
The pleasure of the audience Was
greatly enhanced by the stirring
music of Partington's orchestra,
which opened with 'High Jinks*'
and, after the interval, played the
'Harem Rag.' The opening chorus
by the Company was entitled : —
'Why shouldn't we Sing.' this,
judging from the quality of the
voices, was a very unnecessary
question. Mr. Fred Sheppherd was
encored for ' If it Takes a Thousand
Years,' and sang for his recall ' God
Bring You Back.' An effective
tableau was arranged for Miss Mabel
Wilkin's song, 'Bubbles.' Mr.
Mason's little son, arrayed in the
suit made famous by the historic
picture, was swinging at the back of
the stage. Mr. E. S. Robertson made
a distinct hit with ' Swim, Sam,
Swim.' His comical imitations of a
swimmer were heightened by his
struggles with a pair of roller skates.
Little Jessie Bradley sang ''Grand
ma 'very sweetly, and Mr. Will
McCullock was in splendid vaiee
with ' Affcon Wa(ter.' The 'Indian
Ballad ' and dance by Misses Wilk
in, Hastie and . Buswell, and ' A
Credit to Iceland ' by the last two
young ladies, was a credit both to
voice and feet. Young Jack Power
duly arrayed in the old scarlet uni
form ot last century, and accompanied,
by a troupe of boy scouts, rendered'
' Over There ' splendidly. Mr
Fred Boyd gave a good baritone solo
' A Friend of Mine,' and Miss Lily
Wilkin with ' I want to Settle
Down,' captured the house. Mr.
Mason, disguised as a parson, fairly
broke the audience up with' his ,' Eat
Less Bread.' The first part con
cluded with the patriotic song
' Australia,' ably led by Miss Mabel
Wilkin and supported by the Com
pany. Each member bore the flag of
one of the Allies and these,1 when
unfurled in the final tableau, were
lettered ANZAC.
The mam feature of the second
part was a farce 'The Haunted
House,' in which Messrs. Fred
Sheppherd, E. S. Robertson and a
ghost played the characters and kept
their audience roaring wilh laughter.
Mfeses Hastie and Buswell, and
Master Power sang a pretty lullaby,
' Good-bye-e.' Messrs. McCulloch
and Shepherd were encored for their '
duet 'Albion,' ana Mr Mason again
had the audience in shrieks with 1
'The Military Tribunal.' The
District Nursing Association will
substanially benefit by the proceeds
of this effort of which it , will receive
60 percent: The Company wish to
thank Messrs Don Swanson and P.
Buswell for kindly and valuable
assistance.
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