AMUSEMENTS.

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 251, 23 October 1928, Page 3

AMUSEMENTS.

SHURA CHERKASSKY.

FINAL CONCERT TO-NIGHT

The young Russian pianist, Shura Cherkaesky, will give hie third and final recital at the Town Hall to-night. His final programme includes "Toccata and Fugue" (Bach-Taueig), (Schumann's "Carnaval," the famous Chopin "Sonata in B Flat Minor," which incorporates the \velknown funeral march, "Tango" (Godowsky), "Moment Musical" (SchubertGodowsky), "Minuet" (Padereweki), "Zouave's Drill" (Mana-Zucca), "Naila Waltz" (Dohnanyi), "Blue Danube Waltz," etc. The box plans are at Lewis Eady, Ltd., and the day sales at Colemans. STIFFY AND MO AT ST. JAMES'. While Stiffy and "Mo held the 6tage at St. James' Theatre last evening, there was a continuous ripple of laughter throughout the building. The favourite pair staged a revuette entitled "The Wharfies," based on the topical subject, a shipping strike. This wae easily their most farcical presentation, well staged, cleverly conceived, and delightfully acted. The famous pair, as usual, strike a heap 'of trouble, most of it being caused,by the captain, Don Dunbar. Their presistent attempts to hoodwink the captain, schemed as only Stiffy and Mo can scheme, are the most laughable pieces of work on the programme. Whenever the garrulous Stiffy and the absurd Mo made an appearance, the laughter started and did not end until they had left the stage agaiu. There was a crossfire of clever banter between the pair on the respective merits of the Jewish and Irish nationalities, which almost 'ended in a set-to. Some of the cleverest work of the evening was produced in this item. They are a really farcical pair, Stiffy and Mo, and there was always great applause, a tribute to their popularity, when they ambled on and off the stage. The stupid 'Erb, a comediau of considerable merit, loped in and out at intervals, always with some new gag, which would start the audience off again with laughter that started quietly and ended in tumult.

As for. the rest of the Show, well it is a bright and snappy entertainment, which, of course revolves in double-quick time round the comedy turns. There was pleasing singing and dancing, and the staging and lighting effects were excellent. That graceful sextet of maidens known as the Radio Six, danced and sang their way through the show, now performing astounding acrobatic feats, now dancing like marionettes, now swaying to the pulsating strains of jazz, now moving with perfect rhythm while the orchestra played some sweet Old melody. Delightful vocal numbers were given by Sadie Gale, whose most appreciated piece was "The Berth of the Blues," "Haunting Melody," quite a novel item, was sung with nice treatment by .Peter Brooks, who was supported by the dancing ballet." "In the Navy" was another of his numbers which earned him applause, but that one for which be was most popular was "Laugh, Clown, Laugh." . Sadie Gale, looking very cute and appealing, came again with "Kentucky's Way of Saying Good Morning," and Amy Rochelle, the little lady with the powerful voice, in her scena, "Memory of a Song," was given a liue reception. A variety of clever musical numbers was presented by the Charleston Symphonic Six, led by Frank Wilson. They played old and new pieces, introducing weird effects, which made all the difference between a good and an average rendering. They arc all clever performers, each excellent with his own particular instrument. Some of the solo work was exceptionally fine. It was a long time before the curtain was allowed to drop finally riii this clever baud. Every evening during the week, this bright aud suappy little show will be presented.