“UNCLE PETER”

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XXIV, Issue 93, 3 April 1934, Page 8

“UNCLE PETER”

Delightful Sunday Concert

RADIO PARTY FROM 2ZP With all available seats reserved several days before, the “house full” signs were hung up long before the curtain rose at the Municipal Theatre on Sunday evening, when one of the most entertaining and highly successful Sunday concerts ever held in Hastings was presented to a thoroughly delighted capacity audience, and when it was mentioned that the collection taken at. the doors and the booking office created the record takings of £36 6 6, it will be realised that the public knew what they weie to receive and responded liberally.

With the exception of several dance numbers by the ever-popular Les Henry's orchestra, who were in excellent trim, the entire programme was presented by the 2ZP party from Wairoa, headed by the most popular and well-known pianist in Hawke's Bay, “Uncle Peter” himself. The entertainment provided by this party on a previous visit to Hastings was apparently still fresh in the minds of the audience, and this, no doubt, accounted for the absence of a single empty seat. From the start to the finish there was not a single item that did not receive unbounded acclamation from the delighted audience.

The star perfoimer of a hand of stars was, of course, “Uncle Peter” himself, and even if he had not been a pianist he still would have carried the day, for as a humourist he would take a lot of beating. The manner in which ho “acted the goat” on the double bass during instrumental string trio numbers played in all seriousness, without detracting in the slightest from the value of the music, was indeed a revelation to a highly amused audience. “Uncle Peter” was on the stage in almost every item and besides numerous solo items he accompanied several others.

Two popular performers were Jackie and Audrey and one would have liked to have heard more of these sweet voiced little ladies. Although their good-night chorus from their home station is very well known, it was appreciated much more by seeing and hearing it sung in person and Jackie and Audrey were warmly applauded. Little Cousin Doug., perhaps, came in for greater individual applause than did any other of the performers, tor tho manner in which this little chap stood in front of over 1300 people with his large song sheet in his hands and sang two of the latest song hits was undoubtedly the tit-bit of the evening and the applause was thunderous and well deserved.

The whole programme was excellent, and the 2ZP radio party can always be assured of a warm welcome by a Hastings audience on any future occasions, the detailed programme was as follows: —Orchestral numbers, Les Henry’s orchestra, “Little Locket of Long Ago,” “The Last Round-up”; introductory chorus, Unde Peter and 2ZP radio party, “Here Wo Are Again”; duo, Jackie and Audrey, "Why Shouldn’t I,” “Ukelele Lady”; xylophone solos, Uncle Peter; piano solos, Uncle Peter. “Dainty Miss,” “Blue Danube Waltz”; musical ciuo, Aunt Billy and her piano pal, “Roll Along, Kentucky Moon,” “Hiawatha’s Lullaby” ; violin solos, Cousin Reg Herbert, “Allegro Appassionata,” “Mazur”; dance, Miss Jean Lowrv, “Sean Trubieahs,” “Highland Fling”; vocal solos, Cousin Doug., “Have You Ever Been Lonely,” “Bachelor Gay”; orchestral numbers, Les Henry’s orchestra, “Maria My Own,” “Wanderer”; vocal duo. Uncle Peter and Cousin Reg, “Back In Your Own Back Yard’’; piano duet, Uncle Peter and Mr. Musi cal Director; bedtime story, Uncle Peter, Aunt Billy, Jackie and Audrey, “Who’s Afraid of the Big Bad Wolf”; instrumental trio. Uncle Peter, Cousin Reg and Mr. Musical Director, “March Militaire”; vocal solo. Aunt Billy, “Dream Lover,” “Moonstruck”; tap dance. Miss Jean Lowry; closing chorus, 2ZP radio party; orchestral numbers. Les Henry's orchestra. “Rigoletto.” “Somebody Stole Mv Gal”; “Auld Lang Syne” and “The King.”