FRANK NEIL’S REVUE

Dominion, Volume 31, Issue 151, 23 March 1938, Page 5

FRANK NEIL’S REVUE

Gautier’s Comedy Dogs Featured Frank Neil’s revue, “Wonder Show of World’s Stars,” has enjoyed a very successful season in Auckland, where it was acclaimed to be one of the best vaudeville entertainments ever sent to New Zealand under the direction of J. C. Williamson, Ltd. Speed is the keynote of the success of the latest revue, as one after another in rapid succession are presented to the audience, featurettes which have proved triumphs in London, Paris, Berlin and New York. Playgoers are looking forward eagerly to the reappearance here of Jim Gerald, as they remember him as being one of the cleverest and most genuinely humorous comedians we have enjoyed in the Dominion. He was for several years principal comedian for J. C. Williamson's musical comedy and pantomime companies, and more recently he accepted engagements in London and New York, where he became very popular. Mr. Gerald has brought baek with him a large number of new sketches and song successes, and these he will present to local playgoers. For sheer artistry the work of Miss Ella Shields compares more than favourably with any vaudeville star the stage has ever known. She is the outstanding exponent of male impersonations, and she is still 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 wonderful comedy dog performers, whose work as comedians and dramatic artists is astounding. It is said that they enter into the spirit of the parts they enact like experienced actors, and they have the audience laughing loudly at fheir antics the whole time they are on the stage. One of the finest turns presented in revues on this side of the ■world is Don Galvan, who has an excellent singing voice and is brilliant with guitar and banjo. Arne Hertman, it is said, electrified playgoers of Auckland by his dazzling display on a piano-accordion. Petillo and Pesca are acrobatic clowns, and Munro and the Adams sisters are brilliant in a dancing musical juggling act.