FRANK NEIL'S REVUE COMPANY

Press, Volume LXXI, Issue 21400, 16 February 1935, Page 3

FRANK NEIL'S REVUE COMPANY

♦ CHANGE OF PROGRAMME AT THEATRE ROYAL Even in the more conventional vaudeville turns staged by Frank Neil's Revue Company there is an attractive orginality of treatment which would make familiar tricks and old stories a pleasant entertainment. But the tricks are almost all new, at least to Christchurch audiences, and if any member of the company cracks an old joke, it it done in a winning fashion—with the tongue in the cheek, as it were—which makes it as welcome as an old friend. That, of course, is only one side of the picture. Each effect of lighting or staging seems to be the expression of an idea. It is so easy for settings in this type of entertainment to degenerate into mere flamboyance that it is pleasing to find that Mr Frank Neil is aware that simple effects can be more striking than those which j are just a muddle of coloured lighting and drapery. I "On With the Show" is the name given to the new programme which opened at the Theatre Royal last evening. The opening chorus, "Not | For All the Rice in China," is a sample of the company's best singing and dancing. It is followed by a sketch, in which Joey Porter and Doreen Ray take part, "All About a Kiss." Then there is dancing, graceful and well planned, by McDonald and Graham. "The Estate Agency" is a longer sketch, featuring Joey Porter and "the boys"; here there is all that any audience could desire of anti-climax and amusing cross-talk. Whatever else in the programme might pass without special mention, the performance of Alec Halls deserves recognition as an almost perfect piece of fooling. Mr Halls is a spontaneous humorist. He gives the impression that he has no need to plan his performances very carefully—rather that Tie is a humorist by nature, which is the very best sort of humorist. In his hands a trombone can provide a wealth of humour; on this instrument he gives several delightful burlesques. His eccentric dancing is itself a joke against eccentric dancing, and his amazing manipulation of a complicated battery of drums and cymbals shows his versatility as a really clever entertainer. "Les Diamondes," adagio dancers, figure in a spectacular succession of tableaux followed by acrobatic dancing to slow music. These performers cover themselves from head to footi with a remarkable make-up of powdered glass, which sparkles in a fascinating way under lights of changing colour. The tableaux are most effectively staged, being displayed on the raising of a black curtain in the centre of a plain black drop. Another unusual performance is by Nice, Florio and Lubow, the "Crazy Trio." These three are contortionists, acrobatic dancers and tumblers at the same time. The two men of the trio throw themselves about without any apparent regard for the welfare of dress clothes; they and their fair-haired partner keep the audience in a state of wonder as to what will happen next. The ballet is given a good share of the programme—a reasonable share, which means that there is not too much ballet work. The costumes are bright and original and the dancing very good. Movements and voices are excellently co-ordinated. In the finale to the first part of the programme the whole company appears. First there is a duet sung by Grace Hartington and Ted Simpson, whose voices blend admirably, and then the company in ihe costume of the 'sixties appears behind a gauze in a tableau which gradually comes to life, joining in the chorus of the song, "The Easter I Parade." Comparatively few of the performances have been mentioned; but though some are outstanding, all are good entertainment, Joey Porter

is his irrepressible seli; and Hope and Ray, a capable pair of humourists, and the singers add further merit to one of the best variety shows seen in Christchurch for some time. A New Programme "On With the Show" will be presented finally on Tuesday night. There will be a special matinee today at 2.15 p.m.. to which one child will be admitted free with every adult. Although the company is due in Sydney at an early date, which necessitates the concluding of the Christchurch season on Wednesday night, the management has made arrangements to present a third revue, "Better Times." This exceedingly bright production has been described by critics as "a crazy night of fun and laughter," for in it the players exchange parts and cause endless amusement. "Better Times" will begin at the matinee on Wednesday (to which one child will be admitted free with every adult), and the company's final gala performance will be given that night. Booking has started for the final performances, and patrons are urged to reserve early at the D.I.C.