"SWITZERLAND."

Auckland Star, Volume LXX, Issue 304, 26 December 1939, Page 9

"SWITZERLAND."

A MERRY SHOW.

SUPERLATIVE SKATING.

FIRST-NIGHT OVATION

A welcome that might be described as ecstatic was extended by a crowded house at His Majesty's Theatre on Saturday night to the Williamson ice ballet and show, "Switzerland," as the artists showed their gifts. And an ovation at the final curtain emphasised this note of unanimous approval of an entertainment accenting glamour, thrill and fun, unique in the experience of most ■Aucklanders. The show's success was equally a triumph for the production side, which in high summer had transformed the old familiar stage into a fairy-like ice rink in Alpine setting, whereon visions of beauty and talent disported so charmingly in the spirit of Switzerland. In the ballet on ice Williamson's Theatres, Ltd., have scored again. Merry Tyrolean folk-dance music by a strong and spirited orchestra under Maestro Leo Packer, conjured up the spirit of gaiety, broke in sudden switch to a traditional skating waltz, and n» went the curtain on "Switzerland," and the night's revelation of ice-skating in all its infinite variety of grace, rhythm, thrill and colour. This opened on a picture of an ice rink beside a Swiss chalet with Alpine vistas in the background, and the rushia' ballet of skaters and skaterinas weaving and inter weaving in the glorious swing of the ballroom waltz, iiro the curtain fell this ballet in winged, steel-shod shoes had not only compelled admiration for the beauty of Tyrol folk dances, Can-Can, dainty minuet and "Floradora" flourish;*, enhanced by the swift mobility of dancing on' ice, but had aroused unre strained enthusiasm by flashing into a military -parade of kettledrum, flae and general drill with faultless swinjr steadiness and precision— spectacle after colourful spectacle of the grace, beautv and cxhiliration of skilful skating. " Yet the ballet was but the pale halo round the central stars. Megan Taylor was dazzling in the highlights of classic precision and purity of form which had gained her world champion honours in the recognised competitive tests of tho mistress. In lighter mood she displayed the expressive fire and colour of a Gipsy dance, and the dash of a champion unleashed in free skating. Phil Taylor champion in his own right both before and after his lovely daughter won her honours, lifted the pitch of the skate-song up to speedway i ecklessness in stilt stunts, daring jumps, and. with Elsie Heathcote as partner, the hazardous refinements of adagio dancing on skates. The MacKinnon sisters, of Canada, included also the thrilling adagio dance, whirling in their specialties, which ran to many beautiful variations possible only to skaterinas of superlative skill. Diana (Jrafton, IJoreon Parr, Rita Bramley and Ronald Priestley concentrated on the expression of humour on skates with comedy dancing, the "Boomps-a-Daiev" ]K)lka by Miss Parr and Priestley, and Diana's dashing acrobatic numbers being especially appreciated.

Scintillating personalities all these, yet none was more brilliant than that< merry jester of the rink, Eddie Marcel, to whom the house owed, and gladly paid in laughing tribute, a deep debt of gratitude for full enjoyment and understanding of the show. The artistic blend of character comedy and compering made him a lifelong friend of all patrons. In a ceibaret interlude featuring diversified comedy, Connie Graham, with Hal Scott in support, amusingly burlesqued prima donnas and client film actresses, and brought the house down with , her dramatic realism in the Tom-cat's Midnight Lovs Song." Tommy Russell fiddled to nonsensical piano-accordion accompaniments by Ernie Marconi in spasms of original musical oomedy. It was a memorable night of fun and glamorous skating highlights, enhanced by capable and inspiring orchestration. Trips to "Switzerland" will be available nightly at His Majesty's Theatre throughout the week, with matinee excursions on Wednesday and Saturday.