CHRISTMAS REVUE

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22201, 11 December 1946, Page 6

CHRISTMAS REVUE

PACKED AUDIENCE CRECHE FUNDS GAIN MISS KEANY’S PRODUCTION The annual presentation of a revue by Miss Maureen Keany is now an established institution, and its popularity was well evidenced last evening by a packed audience at the Opera House for the “Christmas Frolics” revue, in which Miss Keany’s pupils and a number of guest artists maintained the high standard set by previous efforts of the kind. Many talented young dancers were seen, and ballets and choruses brought upon the stage a range of children of all ages, whose training represented a great deal of work and patience. The success of the programme was a tribute to the producer’s work, and the inclusion of a ballet in which a number of very young children gambolled as lambs was one of the most popular of a long series. Costuming was a strong feature of the production, and some of the stage pictures presented were unique in their class. Settings were original and tasteful, and on the two or three occasions when all the young performers were on the stage at once the audience gained a keen impression of the production problems faced and overcome. The proceeds of the entertainment were contributed to the funds of the Heni Materoa Children's Home, and Miss Keany had the assistance of many willing hands behind the stage and in front of the house. Items and Performers

The programme opened with the chorus, “Back Again to Happy-go-Lucky Days,” followed by a folk dance with Dawn, Wendy, Pam and Fay Shelton, June Richards, Renee Griggs, Valmai Forbes, Valerie Phelps, Eve Carmichael, Janie Beale, Margaret Buckingham, Vivian McGonigal, June Allen, Gail Dow, Pat Dodge, Robin Allen, Billy Burson, Suzanne Fenwick, Carolyn Nolan and Leslie Allen. A lively skipping dance was well performed by, Marie McLaughlan, Paddy Lannigan, Billy McCafferty, Pat Main and Gwen Simmons. “Little Bo-Peep” was a dainty number with April Ann Akers as Bo-Peep. Elizabeth Jones as Boy Blue, and Raywin Walton, Jill Paige, Judith Main, Lynn Paige, Jocelyn Winter, Kitty Main, Hilary Swindell, Margaret Ann Barrett, Tim deLautour and Grahame Carmichael as the lambs. This was equalled by the song and dance, “Sleep, Little Bear,” with solos by April Ann Akers and Margaret Allen, and a chorus by Suzanne Fenwick, Valerie Phelps, Renee Griggs, Elizabeth Jones, Eve Carmichael, Gail Dow, Pat Dodge, Ann Haisman, Shona O’Brien, Robin Allen, Leslie Allen, Billy Burson, Carolyn Nolan, Pam Shelton, Valmai Forbes and Hilary Swindell.

A tone poem with Mrs. Akers as soloist gave an opportunity to an excellent ballet comprising Margaret Middleweek, Susanne Briffault, Elaine Franks, Unice Fielder, Cynthia Kane, Dora Shotton, Margaret Brennan, Natalie Hale, Jacquetta Nolan, Janice Beale, Shirley Hennah and Judith Fenwick. In subsequent items several of the above were seen again to advantage, with the addition of Gracie Smith, Diana Trafford, Vivian McGonigal, Audrey Griggs, Jocelyn Clements, June Richards, Andre deLautour, Pat Main, Tom Naden, Natalie Sawyer, Nell Lannigan, and others. Specialty Numbers The ballets and choruses, enjoyable as they were, gathered interest from interpolation of some excellent solo, duet and specialty numbers. The Coleman Trio, accompanied by Mrs. I. Walton, contributed harmonised singing, and Mr. Tom Lyle made a fine impression with his violin: Mrs. B. Akers sang delightfully in a solo number, and “Pharos,” a master magician, was full of surprises for the audience.

Among the guest artists, too, were a group of acrobats and equilibrists who made a keen impression. Under the title of “The Floritas,” these young performers included Yvonne Bush, a contortionist extraordinary, who made light of walking on her hands up a flight of steps; Misses Mavis Simmonds and Ngaire Bruns, who gave a photopresentation of an adagio number; and “Bonelis,” the acrobatic skeleton dancer whose act was highly effective and mystifying.

Not least among the successes achieved during the programme was that of Mr. Will B. Keany, whose popular dame act is a regular feature of the annual “Christmas Frolics." His patter is always up-to-date and humorous, and the situations he describes are piquant and laughable. He excelled himself on this occasion, and was among those most warmly recalled.