THE "GAIETIES" CONTINUE

Press, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22306, 21 January 1938, Page 16

THE "GAIETIES" CONTINUE

St. James'

The Stanley McKay "Gaieties" Vaudeville and Revue Company, at present playing to excellent houses at St. Jamesf Theatre, has been visiting NewZealand regularly for many years, playing about five months annually in the Dominion and the balance of the year in Australia. The travelling often necessitates big jumps between the centres, the distance between the last New Zealand tour played in 1937 and the opening in Queensland being about 2300 miles. The climate in parts of Australia has to be studied in arranging tours, so. the "Gaieties" always make for Northern Queensland during the winter months, where the weather at that i period resembles a New Zealand summer. The carnivals, shows, and races of this Northern Australian ' state are all arranged lor the. winter time, com-. rnehcing a little north of Brisbane and I finishing at Cairns. Many theatrical companies, some under canvas, and circuses, follow the

Stanley McKay Company at

show dates, and it is not unusual to have about six big vaudeville and revue snows and two circuses in a town at the same time. "The Navy's in Town," is the latest "Gaieties" show. From a spectacular and artistic point of view the brilliant band scene at the conclusion ot the iirst part of the programme has been a revelation to vaudeville patrons. It depicts a British man-o'-war lying at anchor in harbour, with the town in the distance. Night comes on and lights are seen both on the shore and the boat, while destroyers are cruising along the coast; the whole scene being full of action. Joe Lawman is the conductor of the band, and practically the whole company- participates in the scena. The large company includes Les Diamondcs, Freda Freres, James, Heather Wright, the Big Four (Les Trenette, George Corelli, Elton Black, Cliff O'Keefe). with George Greig at the piano; Elvy Ferguson, Wyn Edgerton. Alice Bennetto, and the popular Hilo Duo.