“HOT NEWS” IS A GREAT SUCCESS

Grey River Argus, 28 September 1949, Page 8

“HOT NEWS” IS A GREAT SUCCESS

The Westport Savage Club, for the second time since their formation, have presented Westport with a nonstop revue, rated better than those of any visiting professional group to appear locally. ■ On the first occasion when they presented "Flunky”, the Victoria Theatre was booked to capacity for three nights. The local band of entertainers have produced an even more successful show this time. On Monday night the curtain first went up on their latest revue, “Hot News”, which was acclaimed a great show by ail .who saw it.

The story was written and produced by members of the Club. The ballet brought the house down. The able female impersonators were B. Tebay, M. Levy, J. Phibbs and J. Elley. The scene is that of a small ranch in the West, where a character, “old Yank Doodlebug”, has disappeared. His daughter, Ophelia, is sole heiress to the ranch, provided she remained in occupation of it until her 21st birthday. Joseph Scrooge has the property heavily mortgaged, and when he discovers the presence of oil on the land, he gets up to all kinds of tricks to be rid of Ophelia. Some amusing scenes result. Even a rascally ranch foreman placed there by Scrooge to assist his skullduggery fails to ruin the gallant Ophelia. Some very amusing scenes are enacted when two newspaper men, “Skeet McSplash”, and “Useless Eustace” arrive at the ranch to get the inside story on Doodlebug's disappearance, when they become involved with Petunia, the cook who has been four times widowed. The musical items are: “But My Dreams Just Won’t Come True”— Keith Goodman (.own composition); “If You’re Irish”—Henri Hay-Mac-kenzie and ballet); "Oh How I Miss You To-night”, and “Sunshine of Your Smile”—Keith Goodman, lan Elder; “Cruising Down the River”— Les Boyer and ballet; “I Cain’t get offa My Horse”—Fred Avery, Leo Wright. Scotty Blair, Les Boyer; “Spring Song”, and “Go-pak”—Dance duo; “When the Sun says Goodnight to the Mountain”- —Fred Avery and Leo Wright; “Powder Your Face with Sunshine”—Keith Goodman and ballet; “Sing a Song of Happiness” — Henri Hay-Mackenzie (composed by Chas. Douthett); “Lonely Little Petunia” —Chas. Robertson; “When Your Hair lias Turned to Silver”— Chas. Robertson, Ted Douthett; “Me Name it is McCarty”—Tim Douthett; “Rambling Rose”—Les Boyer and ballet; overture: Middy March; entr’acte: If You’re Irish; Interval: Distant Greeting; entr’acte: Fowder Your Face with Sunshine; exit music: College Memories.

Following is the cast of the revue: Elmer McCarty, Tim Douthett; Petunia, Chas. Robertson; Hortenese McCarty, Frank Luff; Ophelia, lan Elder; Sydney Bridge, Keith Goodman; Sheet McSplash, Henri HayMackenzie; Useless Eustace, Ted Douthett; Buck Harder, Chas. Douthett: Jasper Scrooge, Arthur Grimwood; Taffy, Scotty Elair; Joe, Les Boyer; Ed, Ron Watson; Zeb. Perce Struthers; Nobby, Nobby Clarke; Hank, Taxi Phibbs; Bull, Bill Burrow; Si, Fred Avery; Gus, Leo Wright; ladies of the ballet: Jacqueline Phibbs, Jemima Elley, Millicent Levy, Beatrice Tebay; emergency, Bunter Connelly; orchestra conductor, B. Taylor: piano, W. Pearce; violins, C. Callaghan, W. Samuel. J. Ridler; trombone, J. Herdman; trumpet, B. Wealleans; bass, H. Martin; banjo, W. Farr; saxophone, M. Duncan; drums and effects, .A. Shaw; ballet mistress, Mrs D. Neill; wardrobe mistress, Mrs H. Casey; house manager, D. Francis; stage manager, D. Phibbs; assistant stage managers, S. Simpson and J. Coutts; lighting. A. Patterson and N. O’Neil; make-up, Mrs D. Neill; scenic artists J. Phibbs and B. Tebay; script writers. Chas. Robertson, Ted Douthett, Chas. Douthett, Ted Phibbs, lan Elder; director, E. 11. Phibbs.