ROMANCE OF VAUDEVILLE

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XVIII, Issue 297, 1 December 1928, Page 14

ROMANCE OF VAUDEVILLE

Three years ago in the lounge of the Hotel Astor, New York, a number of friends in the theatrical world met each other and decided they would join forces and tour the world as a vaudeville combination. After working some thirty of the best music halls in America they sailed from Vancouver to Yokohama, Japan, and were lucky enough to escape the disastrous earthquake, when thousands of lives were lost. A successful season in Tokio followed and China was the next country invaded. It was in Shanghai that “Colonel,” the wonderful parrot with Harmston’s Comedy Cockatoos, the bi r act with the World’s Entertainers created considerable attention. The higher class of Chinese are marvellous mathematicians and Colonel’s mathematical brain in subtracting, adding and multinlying figures made a big hit with the commercial men of Shanghai. Borneo, Sumatra, and Siam were the next countries played by “The World's Entertainers.” Another commanded performance, before the King of Siam —a charming potentate—put the hallmark on the company in the Far East. A season in the delightful Dutch East Indies, playing at Batavia and Sourabayn, the two principal centres of Jara, were followed by an extensive tour of India, when members of the company were presented with some beautiful gifts by the various Marajahs of that wonderful country. The F stern tour terminated in a season at Colombo. Landing in Australia the World's Entertainers were quickly snapped up by J. C. Williamson, and, after a phenomenal season the company arrived in Auckland and opened at J. C. Williamson’s Theatre to capacity business. At the conclusion of their present tour of the Dominions they play return dates in Australia, leave for South Africa in July, thence to south America and expect to land back in New Y’ork at the latter end of next year. Mr. Jack McDonald, the manager of the company, has been approached by an American syndicate of newspapers to write his experiences and should have no trouble in compiling an interesting book which is sure to find, a ready sale. The World’s Entertainers present to patrons a show of class, refinement, education, and clean comedy. Tire children will go into raptures over the cockatoos. The middle-aged will be assured of a novel evening’s entertainment while Grandma and Grandpa will have a much diversified programme to supply the want of their matured interest. All lovers of a high class show should not fail to see this wonderful combinations, “The World’s Entertainers” entertaining the universe. This unique vaudeville combination. comprising as it does all star acts—Harmston’s wonderful birds. Manelli and Mack, comedy iugglers Jean MacDonald and her living Marionettes, Evelyn May. international dancer the whole forming a delightful combination, will appear at the Municipal Theatre. Hastings, for a period of three nights and one matinee (Thursday 3.30 p.m.), and will he supported by a specially selected programme of feature pictures.