BRENNAN’S VAUDEVILLE COMPANY

Gisborne Times, Volume XXX, Issue 3441, 5 February 1912, Page 2

BRENNAN’S VAUDEVILLE COMPANY

A CROWDED HOUSE. -AT MLS MAJESTY’S THEATRE. That great interest had been shown in the visit to Poverty Bay of Brennan’s Vaudeville Company was evidenced by the fact that, the initial performance on Saturday evening was witnessed by a "full house’’ at His Majesty’s Theatre, where a programme of more than usual excellence was provided. Miss Nellie Kolle, in a vocal item introducing "Our Old Songs,” firmly ingratiated lierself into the good graces of the audience, and later by a delightful rendering- of “A Romany Lad.” Unstinted applause was accorded "The Military Maid” (Miss Eva Mudge), who astonished Hie audience by the wonderful rapidity of her character change act, her sketch "The King’s Highway’ being much appreciated. The principal comedy turn was provided by Archie (boy) Glen, who kept the house in roars of laughter as The Curate (“\Ve really had a most delightful evening”) and*especially as the Boy Scout, the patter of his song "Scouting" earning him repeated calls. The colored comedians (Johnson and Wells) made a good hit with their harmonising and dancing act, their duet entitled “Put your arms around me” being well received. Mr. Charles Howard showed splendid talent as a baritone in "Hymns of the Old Church Choir,” and disappointed the audience by failing to respond to the calls for an encore. The star item of- the programme was provided by the almost-human orang-outang, whose wonderful intelligence has created such interest in his world-wide travels. This remarkable animal dines, dresses and undresses himself, skates, and performs feats on a bicycle which are undoubtedly unequalled by anything of its kind ever seen in this district before. Jordan and Harvey, the Hebrew patter comedians, provide further merriment, while "Les Petits Totos” show exceptional cleverness in their role as boy acrobats, and form one of the most interesting and bestapplauded turns of a weil-vaned programme. The performance on the whole eaters for almost every class of variety entertainment, and if the verdict of the audience can be accepted as a fair and candid criticism, the management should have no fears for the continued success of the company through the colony, although perhaps a slight portion might be omitted winch does not tend to advance its popularity. There will be a complete change of programme for this evening.