THE MONTAGUE SHOW

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23330, 23 October 1937, Page 11

THE MONTAGUE SHOW

SEASON OPENS TO-NIGHT Arresting vaudeville and sparking revue are the features of the Montague Show, which will open its Dunedin season under the direction of Messrs John Fuller and Son at His Majesty's Theatre to-night. Entertainment of the most modern and attractive variety, exploited on a scale that is to say the least of it unusual in this country, will be presented by a combination of star performers, which is claimed to be the equal if not the superior of anything yet seen on the local stage. The programmes that will be presented by this celebrated company cover the entire range of vaudeville revue, and the exponents of its various branches are all proved artists whose names rank high on the vaudeville stage of Great Britain and America. Comedians and dancers, singers and acrobats, radio and screen favourites, choruses and ballets all vie with each other for the goodwill of the audience, and the result is a fast moving show full of colour and action, which has. not the time to be dull or uninteresting. When these talented and versatile performers get into their stride Dunedin audiences will find that never before have they embarked upon so joyous an errand in the company of so hilarious a band of companions. For a space the magic carpet of legend becomes a modern reality, through which the audience is transported this way and that on never-ending waves of melody and mirth. The experience promises to be a new and fascinating one which should set an entirely new standard in this description of entertainment. For genuine, allround merit, the Montague Show has earned an exceptionally high reputation, and many who have enjoyed its sportive gaiety and amazing variety have had to admit that iU is impossible to find a weak link ire what is a very long chain of diversion. The chief burden of the comedy work falls on the shoulders of George Doonan, and he carries it with the ease and polish of the naturally skilful comedian. In Catherine Stewart he has a vivacious and charmingly droll partner. Jewell and Warriss also provide an irresistible type of humour all their own, and others who may be expected to make a special impression are the Blenders, stars of stage, screen and radio, whose melodious singing of popular numbers has been a great hit with all audiences; the Dawn Sisters, hilarious burelesque dancers from America; the Two Rogues, celebrated screen comedians who appeared with Jack Buchanan in "Brewster's Millions" and with Jessie Matthews in "Evergreen" Margaret Kelly, whose beautiful soprano voice materially enhances the musical side of the company; and Alma Mackie, a clever dancer. There is also a ballet of 30 specially-chosen girls. An outstanding feature, and one which has aroused considerable enthusiasm wherever the company has appeared, is the Darmora Ballet, consisting of 12 beautiful Hungarian girls under the capable direction of Madame Darmora. The costumes worr by the ballet are lavish and colourful, and a number of particularly gay ensembles are presented. The girls range in age from 16 to 19, one of them being the daughter of a Russian princess who married a captured Hungarian officer during the war. Another of the ballet, Rosita Rona, was a competitor in the swimming section at the Olympic Games at Berlin last year. _^_____