“HOITY TOITY”

Greymouth Evening Star, 18 April 1938, Page 9

“HOITY TOITY”

, A BRILLIANT REVUE Rich in humour, music and specialty acts, the Connors and Paul production ■ The Anglo-American Revue Company. , which presented the revue “HoityToity” to a capacity house in the Town Hall on Saturday evening, undoubtedly combines the cleverest company of artists to visit Greymouth for many years, and considering the standard of the revue, it was not surprising that the various artists were received with unparalleled enthusiasm, even for a Greymouth audience, which have the reputation of being warmly appreciative of clever “flesh and blood” artists. The whole show was presented in a lavish, spectacular manner, upon which the inadequacy of the stage space available appeared to be the only restricting factor. For instance, the scenas were inclined to be cramped, while the ballet, acrobats and acrobatic dancers found it difficult to keep within the space allowed them. For a vaudeville show to succeed in these days of “super” entertainment, it is necessary for the comedian to be above the slapstick variety and a real comedian, but. there is no question that Syd. Beck, the chief fun-maker of the production fills the bill. From his first appearance to his “au revoir” he kept the audience in a fi/ippy mood, in fact, his fun-making was so spontaneous that at times it affected even members of the company. His “naughty boy” manner was as original as his jokes and even if some of them were a little risque, no exception could be taken to them as they were put over well. His foils in numerous clever little sketches, Cyril Scott and Mike Conners, both are possessed of a similar happy manner and there was an appealing naturalness about their work.

It is in the dancing section, however. that the show is exceptionally strong. Mike McCormack’s tapping was a revelation, indeed he set a standard that would be difficult to approach even on he Similarly. June and Ginger were flawless in their tapping. which was full of novelty and rhythm and Edna Hardy proved herself a master of the art. The Apache dancers, Davendo and Paulette danced with a lithesome grace, executing difficult movements and daring with perfect. ease. In a solo number, Davendo might well have been billed as the boneless man, for he wound himself into such shapes with absolute abandon, that it was a problem to decide where his head should be and where his feet should be. Undoubtedly, this turn was one of the highlights of the show. New to Greymouth was the fan dance, executed effectively and tastefully by Paulette, who used but two great plume fans to cover her body. This was but a phase of “Moonlight Phantasy” a tuneful and beautiful seena.

On the vocal side first must be mentioned Mike Connors and Queenie Paul. Both have exceptionally full and pleasing voices, which blended perfectly in two most popular numbers “A Shack in Old Shanty Town” and “Bridget O’Flynn.” Indeed, the audience would have willingly heard more of them. Miss Paul gave further evidence of the quality and range of her voice in a song scena in which she sang “I’m Falling in Love with Someone.” 'The other vocalist of the company, Miss Peggy Kerr, is also possessed of a delightful voice and a pleasing stage manner. The star turn, on the musical side, however, is the Four K’s, four young ladies who literally radiate rhythm. Playing the over popular piano accordions, drums, ’cello, piano and saxaphonc they vsoon proved themselves true instrumentalists and it was with regret that the audience let litem leave the stage, after three encores.

The acrobatic troupe, the seven Flying Elmars, is unusual in that it is comprised entirely of girls, the eldest of whom displayed amazing strength in the snappy tableaux, which served as an introduction to machine-like tumbling. The smallest member of the troupe, only a child, endeared herself to the audience, with the agility of her movements, and the nerve which she displayed. Equal in popularity was the unusual and entertaining turn of Moran and Weiser, from New York. Handling straw hats in the fashion of boomerangs, they displayed almost uncanny skill in directing the hats as they willed, out. into the body of the hall and back into their hands, or on to their heads. The same straw hats were sent flying as fast and as accurate as arrows into the hands of volunteer fielders in the audience, whose efforts to return .them in a similar manner caused much merriment. The two artists were equally as accurate in their handling of Indian Clubs, which they made turn and twist at such a speed as to deceive the eye. It was an exceptional act, and deserved the enthusiastic reception that it received.

Many of the scenas, in which the ballet was featured, were most spectacular and were presented with elaborate settings, the changes of scene and costume were rapid and colourful. The Sunkissed Beauty Ballet contributed much to the success of the show, their dancing and frocking being in keeping with the general standard, while it was a noticeable fact that 'hey were never utilised merely to fill a gap. Their appearance was always well designed, as the background or the focal point of a scene, a tribute to the ability of Miss Paul as dancing director. The sketches, in which the comedians, Syd. Beck, Cecil Scott and Alma Aldous shone, were new and clever and almost all had an unexpected ending, which never failed io convulse the audience. Throughout the programme interspersed the lively, modern music of Red Beachman and his orchestra and it contributed much to the enjoyment of the programme. The reception which the various members of the company received at the final curtain, when they were individually introduced, was indeed a great tribute to them, and it it safe to predict that that the company will have a record season in Greymouth, presenting as it does, a popular type of entertainment, in flawless style. The second and final performance of “Hoity Toity” will be given this evening, and there will be a change of programme to-morrow night, when the revue will be entitled “Hotsy Totsy.”