Chubby Checker Sets Theatre Jumping

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30038, 24 January 1963, Page 16

Chubby Checker Sets Theatre Jumping

The Theatre Royal will have to make a rule like that which makes troops break step when crossing bridges if its dress circle and gallery are to survive many more Chubby Checkers. He was on the stage not much more than 20 minutes last night—which left his ecstatic fans looking a little stunned—but the place was still jumping when he left. The thing about Chubby

Checker is that he can move any one bone independently of the others, or all at once in different directions, without becoming unhinged. He had only to take off his tie, throw it on the stage, and he was away—and the audience with him. Chubby Checker is very light on his high-heeled boots for- a hefty man of sft Ilin, and it seemed that every time he tapped a toe one more girl shreiked and fainted. It was unnecessary for him to urge the crowded theatre on to higher and higher noise levels, because that was just what they were achieving anyway. Checker’s songs were well enough known, but it was his strange movements that drew the loudest gasps of admiration. He has devised the strangest ways of getting along, and accompanies each demonstration with a beaming smile that seems to say: “Look, mum, no hands.” Even in mid-lyric he would break off to dance, shuffle or hop a few steps, waving his arms, ducking his head and generally moving like a runaway wind-up toy. The big moment was his demonstration of the Limbo, which, for the uninitiated, is the process of shuddering under a high-jump at its lowest possible level while bending backwards without actually falling or breaking something. ‘Tm not a boy.” Chubby Checker apologised, rubbing his stomach tenderly after negotiating the Limbo bar at a not-very-low level. But for quality and quantity, it was the New Zealanders’ night The Howard Morrison Quartet, showing more professional polish each time they appear, were given a tremendous welcome. They sang song after song to enthusiastic admirers, the best being a fine arrangement of the negro spiritual “Shadrach.” Backing everybody were tiie tireless Quin Tikis, another Maori group and one that- could easily prove a strong rival for the Morrisons—especially if they continue to team with a girl called Lisa. She has no other name on the programme, but the audience win remember her voice.