The . Theatre
" Jolly Roger." A New Musical, Burlesque. Book by Scobie Mackenzie and V. C. Clinton-Baddeley. Music by Walter Leigh. At the Savoy Theatre.
IT would seem that colonial administration in the late seventeenth century was conducted on a racket basis. Sir
Roderick Venom, the Cruel Governor of Jamaica, took a ten per cent. rake-off on all spoils acquired by the Bloody Pirate. So it was only natural, when public opinion demanded the extermination of this pest, that Sir Roderick should cast about for a scape-goat. He found one in Jolly Roger, a young planter, and locked him up in the coal-cellar. (Where did Jamaica get her coal in 1690 ?) His rescue was effected by Bold Ben Blister, and subsequent developments were of that arbitrary nature proper to the second and third acts of a Musical Burlesque. A decent obscurity is the dis- tinguishing feature of the plot.
The special virtue of the piece is that it lives up to its title. It is not only musical (and, thanks to Mr. Walter Leigh, very agreeably musical) but it is loyal to the spirit of burlesque. The dialogue out-Henty's Henty in the luxuriance of its nautical expletives and wears its archaic graces with a pleasant sense of parody. The humour, except when Mr. Robey, as Bold Ben Blister, is on the stage, is not particularly robust ; but the lyrics have a Herbertian dexterity, and the whole performance is never less than mildly entertaining.
Mr. Robey's humours are well known, and prove as irre- sistible as ever. Mr. Gavin Gordon portrays the Cruel Gov- ernor with vigour and intelligence. Mr. Percy Heming is bluff, engaging, and melodious as an Admiral of the Fleet ; and Miss Muriel Angelus's heroine fulfils as successfully as anyone the requirements of burlesque. Miss Sara Allgood, a skilled tragedian, gives evidence of her versatility in the part of Miss Pott.
PETER FLEMING.
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