FRANK NEIL REVUE

Dominion, Volume 31, Issue 142, 12 March 1938, Page 16

FRANK NEIL REVUE

Wellington Season To Open On March 26 Great interest is being taken in the appearance at the New Opera House, Wellington, on Saturday, March 26, of Frank Neil’s revue, “The Wonder Show of World’s Stars,” which is at present attracting record audiences to J. C. Williamson’s theatre in Auckland. Even at the matinee performances the Auckland theatre has been taxed to capacity. The Auckland season will terminate on Saturday next, and on Monday the company, which numbers more than 50 artists, will appear at Hamilton. The revue will be presented nt New Plymouth on Tuesday, March 22; Hawera on Wednesday, March 23; at Wanganui on Thursday, March 24, and at Palmerston North oa Friday, March 25. Speed is the keynote of “The Wonder Show of World's Stars,” as featurettes which have proved outstanding triumphs in London, Paris. Berlin. and New York are presented to the audience one after another in rapid succession. Playgoers are looking forward eagerly to the reappearance here of Jim Gerald, one of the. cleverest and most genuinely humorous comedians who have visited the Dominion. He was for several years principal comedian for J. C. Williamson’s musical comedy and pantomime~companies, and more recently accepted engagements in London.and Neiy York, where he became very popular. Mr. Gerald has brought back with him a large number of new sketches and song successes. For sheer artistry, the work of Miss Ella Shields compares more than favourably with any other present-day vaudeville star. She is the outstanding exponent of male impersonation and is one of London’s most popular actresses. Miss Shields, too, has brought with her from England a number of the latest song hits. More than average interest is being taken in the appearance of Gautier’s comedy dog performers, whose work fs astounding. One of the finest turns is presented by Don Galvin, who has an excellent singing voice and is brilliant with the guitnr and banjo. Arne Hartman electrified audiences in Auckland by his dazzling display on the piano-accordion. Petillo and Tesco are astounding as acrobatic clowns, and Munro and the Adams sisters are brilliant in a dancing musical juggling act. There are 30 scenes in Frank Neil’s latest revue, and all of them are set to a tempo of song and dance. A feature of the show is the work of the famous Tivoli ballet.