COLOUR AND DANCE.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVIII, Issue 99, 28 April 1937, Page 3

COLOUR AND DANCE.

FINAL MARCUS PROGRAMME. "REVUE CONTINENTAL." The dance, in almost every form the stage knows, provided the backbone of i the third and tinal revue ol the Auckland season of the Marcus Show, presented last evening at Hits Majesty's Theatre. Ihe season will conclude with a gala performance on Saturday afternoon and evening, and the company will continue its New Zealand tour with a one-night I performance of "La Vie Paris" at Hamilton next Monday. 11 is futile to compare the Marcus Show with other entertainments seen in New Zealand: it is infinitely more colourful than any of them, for it makes a specialty of spectacle. "Revue Continental, which is the title of the new revue, boasts no less than 10 major scenas, whose colour and action eet a new standard for revue in this country. The type of fare which the Marcus organisation offers may not conceivably meet with universal approval here, but even those who dielike its occasional broad comedy and seminude ballets and choruses cannot deny that, for magnificence of costuming, feminine pulchritude and efficient variety, it is superior to anything New Zealanders have experienced in the past. The sheer beauty of the under-sea seena. of the Toyland and Japanese and Chinese fantasies, of the Oriental slave market number will remain wonderful memories with Auckland theatre-goers. Through it all runs the spirit of the Dance. Outstanding among tersichorean exponents are The Clymas. featured in five presentations. Their costuming last night was no less notable than their dancing ability; in this respect a butterfly dance during the Japanese fantasy was unforgettable. The most abbreviated costume was worn by Ha Cha Shan in a glorious dance in the under-sea spectacle, in which a pair of diminutive flesh tights across the thighs and a large transparent balloon comprised her "attire." Her dancing was brilliant and was set off by a splendid background and chorus. Two other most appealing dances were impersonations of an acrobatic dell and a gold ruffled doll, by Sylvia Lee and Agnes McCaffrey respectively, in the colourful Toyland sequence. Spanish and Dutch dolls were impersonated with cood effect by The Clymas and by Leon Miller and Georcene Millar. JL,eon' Miiier. Uottie Coudv. Georgene Millar and Art Stanley provided some humorous dancing in a jigtime number on n four-eided staircase. A glimpse into night life in a New York restaurant was afforded bv the onenin? number, in which Lillian Warner, "blues' , einger. walked off with the honours. The eccentric dancing and bland comedy of Al Kicker nlso calls for mention. Vocal ability of no mean order was shown, albeit unwillingly, by Sharon de Vries in a sadly-misunderstood depiction of a Mexican bullfighter. A happier appreciation marked her singing of ' Romeo and Juliet" operatic selections, in spite of—perhaps because of—her travestying of the actions of Juliet in the immortal balcony scene. Lillian McCoy's strong voice was heard to best advantage in the Toyland and under-sea scenas —here the microphone, an innovation for Auckland theatre-goers, plays an important part. The ever-popular Mexican. Sofia Alvarez, gave a single pleasing demonstration of her ricli contralto voice. One other vocal-comic gem was provided by George Schreck in an operatic travesty. Principal comedy as such was provided by Sparkey Knye. George Schreck and Dottie Coiidy. who varied her appearances from comedy lead or foil to ballet leader, and even to an impersonation of Cleopatra. Hard work without much reward was done by Bobbie Dyer, a transformed "hill-billy." Fid Gordon did more amazing things with his violin. In detail the Marcus Show is excellent, but if it must be remembered in general threatre-goers will think of colourful draperies and beautiful curtainings. of magnificent costumes *adorning a wonderful display of youthful feminine beauty, of a succession of beautiful and varied dance presentations en ballet, por duo and solo, of demonstrations of "croonina" and "blues" singing, and of speedy American humour.