Wind Up or The Further Lancashire Ramblers

‘The “Wind Up” … is the expressive title of a revue presented by the Lancashire Fusiliers at the Theatre Royal on Wednesday evening to a crowded and delighted audience each evening until Saturday, and judging by the unrestrained merriment and general enjoyment of the first performance cannot fail to attract overflowing audiences. It is only like the preceding revues in that it has sweet music, beautiful scenery and accoutrement, is rich in quip, crank and comedy, excellent singing, graceful dancing, and is full of vivacity and movement. Lance-corporal R. Howard is the comedian par excellence and in a gallant rescue scene, a dug-out incident, and as a hospital patient he is moved as much by impromptu as set jokes and fairly caused his auditors to rock. Lieut. G. Loseby as the c.o. – not capitals, please? – is really fine and as “Old Bill” one could not conceive a better than Capt. D. Robertson, M.C. The caste is enormous, and forbids mention in detail owing to the lack of space, but Mrs. A. N. Isaac in her solo “Little Miss Melody,” and Sergt. Hunt and L-cpl. Holden in the duet, “The Battle Eve”, were worth going a long way to hear, and the rousing “encore” reflected the good taste of the Barry audience. Other solos were good, and the dancing of Miss Phoebe Levi and Baby Blodwen were a treat. The whole of the music was good, with the added advantage of well-trained orchestral accompaniment’. Barry Herald, Friday 8 November 1918. ‘On Wednesday evening last, at the Theatre Royal, Barry, Capt. H. N. Fryer produced a new revue by the Lancashire Fusiliers, the story of the “Lancashire Rambler” being continued and elaborated. The curtain rises on Folkestone landing stage, where we are introduced to the members of the cast in tuneful song and humorous dialogue. Helen (Miss Lewis) and Miss Davine Sinclair, as a V.A.D., sang well; while the entrance of Horace (Lance-corporal Howard), from the auditorium was the signal for shrieks of laughter. There follows a boat scene, in which Horace was particularly amusing when he dashed overboard to the rescue of Percy the Conchy (Lieut. Loseby). The act closes in billets in France. Effective staging, good singing, and clever dancing combine to render this scene particularly attractive. We have seldom seen a more realistic representation of trench warfare than is given to open act two; whilst the stage effects bring home war conditions. The absurdly humorous plot relieves any gloomy tendency, and the discomfiture of Major-General Blastem (Capt. G. R. Fryer) and the Hum (Capt. H. N. Fryer) was loudly acclaimed by the large audience. In natural sequence we find our three warriors, the Sergeant (Capt. Howarth), Horace, and Percy in hospital. The songs are excellent, and the last number by Baby Blodwen and Miss Levi is capped by a clever dance. Again Horace, with “bed trouble,” as the Sergeant so aptly describes it, made the house rock with laughter. Naturally, when peace is so much in the air, we take leave of the caste in mufti. Horace, disguised as a butler, is unmasked by the Sergeant, aided by Percy, and the revue closes with a topical song excellently rendered by Captain Ravenscroft, who throughout shows immense talent. From such a large caste, where artistic excellence is so universal as to become commonplace, it is difficult to single out individuals for special mention, but we cannot but compliment Lance-corporal Howard, Capt. Ravenscroft, Capt. Howarth, and Lieut. Loseby on the splendid manner in which they acquitted themselves in their several rôles. The ladies, too, though they have no great scope, never fail to sing and dance well, and always they look charming in the dresses so skilfully designed by Mrs. Irving. Any appreciation of this most successful revue would be incomplete without reference to the orchestra, which, under the competent baton of Mr. Pitt, is a constant source of delight to all music lovers. The revue is a pronounced success, well worth attending on its own merits, and when one remembers the most deserving charity, the Lancashire Fusiliers’ Prisoners of War Compassionate Fund, in aid of which the proceeds are to be devoted, it becomes a most pleasant duty to attend each performance of “Wind Up!” The performance will be continued on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday of this week, commencing each evening at 7.30’. Barry Dock News, Friday 8 November 1918.