CONTEMPORARY ARTS
THE THEATRE
"One, Two, Three ! " (Duke of York's.)
THE Nurse Cavell statue is within a stone's throw of the Duke of York's Theatre, and it is a pity that the management did not take to heart the tegcnd there inscribed; for in presenting a revue patrio- tism is emphatically not enough. With this admirable quality One, Two, Three! abounds to such an extent that the critic feels something of a renegade. The opening number hurls defiance at those all-conquering American successes, Oklahoma and Annie, Get Your Gun, and comes off very well. But as time goes on the chal- lenge, though we cannot but admire its pluck, is seen to be an empty one. Miss Bionic Hale and Mr. Sonnie Hale are born showmen, but all their vigour, personality and charm cannot redeem the weak- ness of much of their material. If London is to beat New York, London will have to do a great deal better than this.
There are some good moments. Miss Binnie Hale's evocation of that legendary, intrusive fowl, the B.B.C. sea-gull: Mr. Sonnie Hale's defence of our broadcasting system against an American critic- " At least we can perform the Messiah without dragging in Coca- Cola ": Mr. Charles Heslop playing imaginary tennis: and Miss Gail Kendal's sub-acid songs. But there is heavy going between these oases—old jokes, anaemic sentimentalities and one Oriental dance which, though it would have brought credit to a troop of Girl Guides at a village concert, seemed hardly up to West End standards. The lighting is bad, the costumes have little to recom- mend them and the critic can only regret that a show with such obviously good intentions fails to live up to them.
PETER FLEMING.
Previous page
