MUSICAL COMEDY AGAIN

Auckland Star, Volume LXXVI, Issue 214, 10 September 1945, Page 3

MUSICAL COMEDY AGAIN

"KATINKA" AT HIS MAJESTY'S Possessing only one hit of a catchy and popular type ("Rackety Coo") the musical comedy "Katinka" has no buoyancy of itself and makes large demands on principals and chorus, if an enjoyable presentation is to be staged. Members of the Auckland Operatic Society rose to this demand on Saturday when their "Katinka" opened to fully booked houses. The critic, determined to judge the show wholly on its merits, realises at once that the thing is not as well done In any respect as some of the society's best offerings in recent years, yet, the wonder of it is, not that there are shortcomings, but that so much could be accomplished in an undertaking begun in the sixth year of a hard war. Miss Eva Moore, of "Merry widow" fame, who toured Australia last year with Gladys Moncrieff* in "Katinka," produced the show, which has some 80 voices. The male singing is not all it might be and something better can be expected next year when all the boys are home again. It is the ballet work, directed by Miss Jean Home, of Wellington, that lifts the show to a high plane. Twelve ballerinas and seven tap dancers, with Wellington's brilliant nineteen-year-old Royal Academy scholarship winner, Alexander Grant, arc featured. There is a generous allowance of dancing, much appreciated by the audience. The most arresting number is the famous "Can Can," complete with Naughty 'Nineties' frilled skirts and gleaming black stockings. This earned an ovation. Leading the Russian dance number, Alexander Grant was overwhelmed long before the finish by a storm of applause. Again in his Apache specialty dance with the Auckland ballerina Da Katipa. uncommon difficulties of execution were overcome with masterly ability. This couple would be a hit anywhere, but the boy is off to London. Petite Mary Negus plays the name part acceptably and her trilling voice is heard with pleasing effect in "Rackety Coo and other numbers, her duet with Fred Walker, "I want all the world to know, delighting everyone. Mr. Walker plays Ivan Dimitri, lover of Katinka. Vivacious Toni Martinengo has a big comedy part as Mrs. Helen Hopper, and she gives full rein to her acknowledged abilities in the fun department, where She keens a pretty kettle of fish boiling with Rex layers. That tried and tested mirth maker is cast as Thaddeus T. Hopper an American in the Orient, who fnadverlently sells his. wife into a Turk, ish harem. The remainder of the story, based on this blunder and the efforts of Katinka to escape from her loveless marriage with bearded Boris, is unfolded bl James Hoskins (Boris) Phil Holland, who is most convincing as Knopf, ■ Parisian cabaret proprietor, Murray McNair a's keener of the harem, Lindsay Broblrg asTsenile Abdul, Fred Fullbrook as a Russian butler and young Gordon Clark =c a rhppkv bell hop. Decima Corringham Margaret Trimmer and Cushla; de Lange each has a small part which, like The principals, they interpret realistically. Ton! Martinengo is featuredi in several attractive vocal numbers. Rex Sayers. fn hte important comedy part, carries the heaviest burden throughout three Vets and is deserving „of the. society s latitude for an ahle presentation in an exacting role With ' Phil Holland he score oneo the successes of the comedy m the humorous duet "Sk-dikiscatch.' Mr Hoskins, who has a good bass voce. is not privileged to sing a solo, which Is a pity The show is well mounted, some of the scenery having been painted in Sydney There is a full orchestra under the hard wnricing Colin Muston. musical director, who, as usual, gives his best to ensure a SU Sfn U L^ e wrbe n -continued nightly throughout the week.