"THE GAIETIES."

Auckland Star, Volume LVX, Issue 268, 12 November 1934, Page 3

"THE GAIETIES."

BRIGHT VAUDEVILLE SHOW.

A BRILLIANT OPENING.

Colourful; clever comedy, dancing and melody have continuous action and the syncopated swing of a concerted performance, with flashes of sketch, scena, specialty, and solo that kept a full house at His Majesty's Theatre enthusiastic and stimulated to the point of demanding encores—so Stanley McKay's "Gaieties of \O3-F' started brilliantly on Saturday night in their Auckland season. The company is rich in all-round talent, which is used with, wise judgment to provide effective contrast and diversity.

The comedy is played on half a dozen strings, each pitched to a different key. Frank Perrin provides the general straight, eccentricities of quip, jest, and allusion — an English stage comedian with neither Yorkshire nor Lancashire accent, but "broad" as any in his allusiveness, which varies in subtlety to suit many tastes. His sketches, songs, and skits have an individual flavour. Ted Stanley, doublevoiced and a dame specialist, hits the funnybone from a different angle, and Nell Fleming, dainty and dashing soubrette, comes along in general support in sketch and scena-, and strikes some welcome new notes with her personality songs, of which "It's Hard to Be in Love" and "That's How I Like 'Em" made immediate hits with the audience.

Specialty comedy was represented at its best by the acrobatic clowning of the "Three Alecs," whose brilliant tumbling and head and hand-balancing fun was one of the features of the evening. Another brilliant turn of similar kind was supplied by "Trampo," a hobo who sleeps, dresses, exercises, and plays around generally on a clothe* line. This slack wire performance in its combination of dexterity and entertainment has rarely been equalled on the local stage. "'■" The Grecians" present a statuesque act in imitation of famous classic statuary groups, with added features of gymnastic brilliancy in pyramidal balancing feats. Another of the especially notable features of the programme is a song scena in which the Newton Brothers are heard in the famous and ever-popular Tyrolean yodel eongs. The yodelling provided by one of the partners is much ahead of anything we have yet had here, though at times too powerful for a mere music hall. In this, as in all the song scenas of the programme, the ballet and setting reach an exceptionally fine standard. Smart and snappy, the ballet are all the time a real, if unobtrusive, aid to the general effect, and contribute very materially to the evening's enjoyment. The "Waterfall" scena entry of nymphs might, however, be shortened with advantage.

Rae Foster (soprano) and Victor Burke (tenor) were the vocalists in chief, the former providing the solo "Song of Surrender," and the latter "I'll Take You Home, Kathleen," and "Bonnie Mary of Argyll." These two singers also collaborated effectively in duets, "The Blue Danube" and "Slumber, Gipsy Sweetheart," being the central figures in beautiful settings of song scenas, the former noteworthy for its colouring, and the latter providing a chorus and septet of musicianly quality worthy of light opera. Cecil Perry, a baritone, in addition to capable utility acting, contributed a fine feature to the melodic side of the entertainment by his dramatic singing of "01' Man River" in the finale. Lee and Barrie, specialists in national, acrobatic, and tap dancing, exhibited a quality in keeping with the general high standard, Ivy Ivel proved an unusually graceful contortionist, and Fred Argyle revived an oldtime favourite act with his lightning make-up and presentation in quick succession of famous Dickens characters.

May Brook's orchestra is a first-class one, and the first violinist, Esma Roach, contributed an instrumental solo distinguished for excellent tone production. This programme, entitled "Hello, Auckland," will be staged nightly throughout the week.