THE THEATRE
"THE whole production," the programme announces in large type on its front page, "under the direction of Jack Hylton." If one did not guess that theatrical managers, like actors, tend to live in a world of their own, shut off from all other life, one would be completely at a loss to understand how Mr. Hylton came to resuscitate such a moribund piece of stale sentimentality as The Lilac Domino. The music is of the day before yesterday, and even on that day was a bore ; the action is incredibly long-winded, and the effect on the cast of this so-called "world-famous operetta" is even worse than that on the audience, so that I cannot bring myself to mention their names. In fairness to Mr. Hylton, I ought to add that Mr. James Agate prophesies a very long run for this jeu sans esprit, but then Mr. Agate was always a pessimist.
Six Pairs of Shoes is at least an attempt at something new. It is not altogether successful, and is marred by a lack of taste, as, for instance, in Mr. Harry Roy's superfluous antics. Mr. Roy has a good band, they play well music that, in its own sphere, is by no means without merit ; but when will jazz and dance-band con- ductors learn to attend to their business, which is conducting the band? Or is it that they are so utterly unnecessary in the sense that the band could play as well, or perhaps better, without them that they deem it essential to cut these flat and silly capers in front of it? Surely a few laughs from some nincompoops is not what they are aiming at. The six cabaret girls do their job well and put in some quite creditable acting, although they do not all speak dearly. It is, however, Miss Paddy Browne who is the life of the show. She has a real and sometimes surprisingly delicate talent, and a striking versatility in such songs as "Home Guard Vivandiere," " Mandolina and "Private Jones and Me." Mr. Roy conducts sympathetically and appreciatively for her, which makes it all the more surprising that be is not more self-critical.
JAMES REDFERN.
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