TALENT QUEST CONCERT

Press, Volume XCVIII, Issue 28916, 9 June 1959, Page 15

TALENT QUEST CONCERT

Finalists Open City Visit

After 150 concerts throughout the Dominion, during which some 2000 entertainers have had auditions in Joe Brown’s “Search Mr .Star” talent quest, the finalists, comprising 13 acts, opened their Christchurch visit before an enthusiastic audience in the Civic Theatre last evening.

The four Denniston brothers, of Green Island, opened the show’ with what must have been the loudest, noisiest version of “Lawdy Miss Clawdy” yet heard in Christchurch. By comparison they later sang something quieter. The Te Wiata sisters (nieces of Inia Te Wiata) under .a solitary spotlight, and with a guitar; sang three modern songs. ' To the solemn funeral march of Chopin a deadpan character In a tartan jacket produced from fatrunk a "lifeless" body which; with gymnastic ability, performed’ a series of clever acrobatics, fin a board atop a cylindrical container. Joe Nathan, with a guitar, "sang in the manner of BelafOnte,. Nat King Cole, Perry Como and others and ended with a fine rendering of "Old Man River.” which was received with prolonged applause. The Wakefield brothers, of Christchurch, sang in their own style “Smoke gets in your eyes," and a humorous version 6t “Side by Side.”

The Wellington tenor, Ben Cole, sang “I Believe,” with Romberg’s “Deep in My Heart” and ‘The Lord’s Prayer,” with great power. The whole show was ably strung together by the talented and versatile compere. D. Linden, aged 21, of Auckland, whose miming of some of the world’s great artists had the house in fits of laughter. When the show ends its tour at Whangarei it will return to Dunedin on July 21. where after a concert the team to go to Australia to appear on television will' be chosen.