FROM BROADWAY TO DUNEDIN

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23220, 18 June 1937, Page 11

FROM BROADWAY TO DUNEDIN

MARCUS SHOW TO-MORROW AFTERNOON

To-morrow afternoon the curtain? will be rung up on what promises'to be the most spectacular theatrical event in many years, when the imposing array of artists gathered under the Marcus banner will make their first bow to Dunedin audiences. No show in recent years has created more lively interest than this celebrated American combination—one that has gone from success to success wherever it has been staged. It is a long call from Broadway to Dunedin, but Mr A. B. Marcus has introduced a production that has been hailed in. northern centres as an outstanding example of the fare presented on the Great White Way. Three different revues will be staged during the local season—namely, "La Vie Paree," "Broadway Vanities." and "Varieties Continental." New Zealand has seen revues before, scores of them, but never anything so colourful, nothing so daring, so smoothly presented, or so satisfying to the eye as the Marcus Show. Quality in every phase of modern revue, exploited on a scale of magnificence in spectacle and specialty previously not attempted on local stages, is the keynote of the entertainment. A super-vaudeville show, its brilliance can be realised only by the fact that' numerous Hollywood representatives are included in the company, and the majority of the 30 ballet girls have been filmed as Samuel Goldwyn's famous beauties.

Dancing is its main component. Not only are there accomplished individual dancers, but the ballet possesses the most rhythmicallyefficient legs and feet that have been seen here for many yeaps. The dancing ranges from the intricacies of flying steps, through the comic postures of the eccentric, to the sweeping languor of the waltz. All of it is marked by precision and deftness. Adagio dancers, ballroom dancers, and the snappy, sparkling bevy of 30 beautiful girls who form the ballet, all contribute towards the success of one of the most brillia'-t features of the show.

Such " pep." colour, movement and vivid spectacle as has never before been seen in a revue in New Zealand is in "La Vie Paree," with which the season will be opened. It is a revue as they like it in America, with a host of clever tap-dancing girls in a dizzy array of gorgeous undress, forming an animated background to a dozen catchy numbers which range from Gershwin's "Rhapsody in Blue" to "My Midnight Madonna." One of the most striking ensembles in "La Vie Paree" is one entitled " Maids of Silver." in which beautiful girls symbolising the precious metals of tiie earth appear in thousands of yards of silver-encrusted draperies. Another spectacular scene from the same revue is "Under the Andalusian Moon." into, which is infused much of the fire and energy of the Spanish character. This scene introduces the distinguished sinfC Senorita Sofia Alvarez, and also the dancing Bern ays. who perform the dazzling "Danzer de Passion." Still another impressive scene from "La Vie Paree " is " Birdland." in which eight members of the company perform hazardous feats on trapezes hif?h above the stage. Of the individual members of _the company. Leon Miller, an exeentionally neat tan-dancer and soft-shoe dancer, alid light comedian to boot, has pone from success to success. Art Stanley, another clever dancer; Fid Gordon, who plays his violin in nil conceivable nositions: Les Sechrist, an accomplished piano-ac-cordion nlayer; Al Ricker. whose attenuated body spems to bo made of indiaruhber; Sharon de Vries. who revels in making herself ridiculous in complete paiHierio. lead the solo numbers, and Ben M'Atee. whose sophisticated fun se«ms snnntaneous in every word. Sofia Alvarez, a Mexican soubrette. stands out in the sho"- as a groat artist. The box plans for Hie s° a son are now open at th<* D.I.C. The tour is' bein" undertaken bv Sir Beniamin Vpller. in association with Messrs L. S. Snider and G. B. Dean.