"SOME SHOW."

Auckland Star, Volume LXVIII, Issue 68, 22 March 1937, Page 12

"SOME SHOW."

VAUDEVILLE SEASON.

GAIETIES OF 1937.

FUN, HELOBT ANB THRIIX.

Brisk, bright and breezy to a degree which made a distinct hit with a full ) house at His Majesty's Theatre on Saturday night, Stanley McKay's Gaie- ( ties of 1937 auspiciously opened a fortnight's season of , vaudeville. In the I rich and varied comedy, fine production, versatile trouping in snappy sketches and two or three knock-out specialties, ' a slight vocal weakness was compensated for by tuneful and catchy instrumental melody. Joe Lawman was the Big Boy on the comedy side, his physical and facial mannerisms contributing greatly to the success ' of the sketches, while his whistling, song and grotesque dance specialties bespoke the versatility of the real artist. But he was by no means the whole works in the night's fun, for hllon Black's character-acting and Lauderisms in Scottish dialect, and Stella Lamond's talent for character work in singing gained them a high place in the favour of patrons. Kathleen Howarde doubled in song scenes and effective soubrette work in the sketches, while Doreen Lowder and Joy Wright, both .of the ballet, also did vocal extras. Harry Hemming made an attractive baritone solo of "The Rose of Tralee," and Elvy Fergueson in sweet leo-ato measures on the violin made melodv of The Answer," one of the programme's features. Cy. Pier, playing his own ukulele accompaniment, serenaded the! house in eongs of Tennessee arid land, and George Covella was a crisp ariP breezy pilot in (he sketches and M;C. in general. . ■ . .' ■. s '-■* , . Definitely the highlights of the programme were supplied by the comedy of the Warren trio of tumblers, the melody of the Hawaiian saxophoneaccordian duo, and the skill and merit of the Martinetti acrobatic troupe. The artistic skill with which the Warrens made the stage a crazy-house by their rushing ludicrous stunts put patrons immediately in the best of humours, and set a pace for high-speed fentejrtainment that the rest of the company lived u.p to.- . Equally enthusiastic was the reception}o the Hilo duo—George and Wehi Grei£ (the latter referred to by her partner ar Lizxie) as with pianoaccordion and saxophone they -set the house swaying ecstatically t& the strains of "Easter' Parade;" and later used smiling Hawaiian personality plus the undeniable appeal of crooning instruments, to coax patrons to lift their voices lustily in popular chorus songs. . Thrill was the essence of the great turn of head, hand and foot balancing, tumbling and whirling put on by the Martinetti troupe of seven as a fitting finale to the entertainment. Graduated in sizes down to a mannikin, the Martinettis are daring acrobats from the soles of their feet upward, and it was from ■ the upturned foot-soles of two of the stoutest (on their backs) that a _ hair-raising series of balancing, somersaulting and whirling stunts were performed, with a highly spectacular climax. Billed as "Some Show," it was true to label.