The SHOWS the THING

NZ Truth, Issue 1168, 19 April 1928, Page 2

The SHOWS the THING

Nat Again

DEVUES again— and "■ they're the thing. Here's Nat Hanley back with a glittering, kaleidoscopic, snappy and piquant combination. Of course, this footllght favorite has now joined up with Fullers 1 Follies. His Majesty's, Wellington, is therefore still the Mecca of entertainment lovers. None could better fill the void that might be felt after the London musical comedy season. Eric Masters, producer of the company, has rare ability, both as producer and character artist, and shows a fine distinction m his work. Things must sparkle and go with a whirl, with two such comedy generators as Stud Foley and Nat Hanley. Both are also well known for their marvellous expositions of eccentric step-danc-ing. * •

Dame Clara Butt

"CHENANDOAH"; "Little Fleur-de-lys." Sung by Dame Clara Butt, contralto. Columbia X 331.

Of all the well-known sea-shanties — "the folk songs of the sea" — none is more popular than the haunting and lovely "Shenandoah."

It is seldom that we hear it sung by so great an artist as Clara Butt. Her vibrant contralto seems richer than ever, her phrasing longer and her volume just as ample.

On the other side she sings with great charm a pleasant trifle by East-hope-Martln — an admirable contrast.

The Gisborne Kid

THE thrilling intelligence that our own Tom Heeney had put Delaney out of the way and will now meet Tunney for the world's greatest honor m stoush, gives' an added interest to the Heeney-Delaney fight picture to be released shortly.

This film is not only an interesting pictorial account of a fight that waa to make ring history, but a valuable medium to study — visually — just how the New Zealand boy is training up and meeting the world-beaters on the other side.

The Belle Returns

"The Belle of New York" is, to the world of gaiety and laughter, what o2d wine is to the connoisseur. And, like good wine, it needs no bush. The Wellington Amateur Theatrical Society are promised packed houses when they open this old-time favorite at the Grand Opera House on Saturday.

An exceptionally good caste has been selected and there is plenty of life, laughter and catchy music. The dancing is under the direction of Grace Mac Donald. Len Barnes has trained the chorus and orchestra and will conduct through the show while the whole production is under the supervision of Lester Brown.

Hot Stuff

X NEW angle has ** been placed on flaming youth. When the two -words "flaming" and "youth" are placed side by side the impression usually gained by the motion picture fan Is of rolled - stockinged flappers and balloonr trousered youths. But the "flame" has now jumped from the big city and the college campus to a onehorse town m the middle-west. The two "youths" are those two moustached comedians, "W. C. Fields and Chester Conklin.-who have at last been brought together after numerous individual screen and stage hits, to work as a team at laugh-production. Paramount does the trick m its latest picture, "Two Flaming Youths," which will be shown at the Regent Theatre, Wellington, commencing to-morrow.

Guitar Virtuoso

ANDRES SEGOVIA (H,M.V., D 1255) provides us with some truly astonishing playing on the guitar, an instrument which, by the way, appears to record excellently.

His rendering of a Bach "Gavotte" is pleasantly rhythmic, and the rubato, though meretricious, is effective.

But the result, interesting as it is, is hardly Bach, and the guitar seems more naturally suited to the pleasant, childish prattling of a "Theme Varie" by Sor, which is most successful. The playing is, of course, the main thing 1 , and this no one should miss.