FRANK NEIL REVUE

Evening Post, Volume CXXIV, Issue 61, 9 September 1937, Page 15

FRANK NEIL REVUE

$ "LUCKY STARS"

The final programme of the Frank Neil Pkevue Company' was presented to a crowded audience at the New Opera House last night and proved even more diverting and entertaining, if possible, than the two previous offerings. Aptly titled "Lucky Stars," it provided delectable entertainment, many good things having been kept to the last. It was a most enthusiastic audience, and there was a noticeable camaraderie between players and listeners. . "Lucky Stars" exceeds in entertainment value anything previously done by this or any other non-stop revue company. Con Colleano not only intrigued with his daring tightwire feats, but pleased the eye with his Mexican setting and .the harmony of colours used. His agile dance steps, his sensational backward somersaults, and the world-famous forward somersault, of which., he- is.the 'originator, kept the audience with . bated breath until, the feats; were accomplished.Then came well-deserved salvoes cf] applause/ Irene' Vermilion, 'with her1 1 attractive girl trumpeters and brilliant ..pianist, repeated . her acrobatic tumbling act and demonstrated what, can be dohe.with/the lissome human Lframe. -Miss ■Vermilion* who' is an American star, has been featured in Broadway shows. Bob Parrish,' the favourite coloured radio star, sang last night with brilliant eclat, "The Good Green Acres of Home," "Would You?" and "Ole Man River"; his style is, inimitable and Bob is ,a first favourite. He also took part in a very spectacular Cotton Scena, singing "That's Why Darkies Were Born" against a background of cotton bales and, luscious fruit. In this interlude, too, the shapely Tivoli Ballet danced a "Louisiana Hayride" number to Natalie Raine's soubrette solo, and the Broadway Tappers did a snappy, dance duo. Sisson and Neale, in their harp and whistling act, contributed to. the highlights of the programme; they are indeed a, popular pair. The Harris Sisters repeated their wonderful frog turn.

Thpy-are wonderfully clever juvenile contortionists'. The Ar tistos, .a - graceful: girl and a; stalwart, male-partner,, presented a remarkable perfonrianca of acrobatic grace and odagio dancing that made a great hit; the Broadway Tappers used their rhythmic ■: feet in staccato; rfashioin-; and/,tbe -■> gentleman tumbled artistically; while■■; his slim Eartner did a tap on her dainty toes:< ornard McCaffrey and Margaret Grimshaw, two talented Australian singers, contributed several popular: numbers-with the assistance of the Tivoli ballet. "Beautiful Lady in Blue" was a delightful, offering, • with the ballet Jirls dancing in bine draperies of gossamer airiness,- .Miss ."Grimshaw taking the singing solo. Mr. McCaffrey sang "The New World," and the Tivoli I girls- and Broadway Tappers helped the/ illusion along. Miss Sylvia" Kelleway figured in several dance scenas, and proved herself as. clever an acroi batic dancer as she is a sketch artist. Her Rhumba number was graceful, arid the ballet girls danced with vim, using outsize cßstanete that turned, on a darkened stage, into brightly-colpured electric globes that they used effect tively as torches,., "This'll Makei You Whistle," by Natalie ..Raihe . and- the;, ballet, (for the success, of whose work Miss Peggy Waddington/ must.be congratulated) was: a popular: -nUmber, The sketches, in wlvcft.i.GlratfeS1 Norman,: Chic Arnold, Jack .anc}..Sylvia Kelleway figured, had the: audience ; "jn continuous nilarity; the programme is rich in sketches .and absurd situations. The simultaneous '.'go.b'V dance/fof Mr. Norman and Mr. Arnold is a neat bit of soft-shoe work- "The Stage Door" sketch developed into a really masterly bit of stagecraft; the stage door keeper's reminiscences turned the stage into an auditorium (by the judicious use of a backcloth), and here memories of "The Merry Widow," "Chocolate Soldier," and other musical comedies were revived by the singing of excerpts by Margaret Grimshaw* -the fl^ricin? of the wait?! by Jack and Sylvia Kelieway. and the can-can ballet of the Tivoli girls. Orchestral * acce-mnani-ments were ably handled ny Wally Reynolds and his men, The Wellington season closes on Wednesday next. :