“FOOTLIGHT FOLLIES”

Press, Volume LXXXVII, Issue 26523, 11 September 1951, Page 3

“FOOTLIGHT FOLLIES”

OPENING NIGHT

Noel' McKay’s “Footlight Follies” opened in the Theatre Royal last evening for a season of four nights. AU <he players in the revue are amateurs and a certain tension was evident in all but the more talented and experienced members of the company. However, there were many bright numbers and much of the amateurs’ enthusiasm. With a little more poUsh the revue win be a creditable one for New Zealand performers. Two of the members of the cast gave really good performances. Ohe was Phyllis Gobbe, whose pleasant voice and easy stage manner soon gained rounds of applause. The other was the producer, Noel McKay, who is well known to Christchurch audiences. His female impersonations never lack humour and he soon had the audience chuckling. One bright number was an Indian Song Scena, which included vocal solos, dances and a burlesque by Noel McKay. The ballet danced well and indeed the dancing by all members of the company was of a uniformly high standard.

Of the other members of the comnany Jeanne Warren danced many ballet numbers gracefully and Max Marshall. Pat Dugan, and Bill Gray were popu’ar vocalists. Will Kennedy and Cliff Storer pleased the audience with hill billy songs and Peggy Guy end Jill Ormandy gave rhythmical tan dances. Denice Little sang and danced two songs made popular by Carmen Miranda. Lester Gibson told some old jokes. ’ The band was competently led by Ken Boniface, the musical director of the company. The audience last evening was a quite good one. All proceeds from the revue will go to the Disabled Servicemen’s League welfare fund.