THE MONTAGUE SHOW

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23331, 25 October 1937, Page 8

THE MONTAGUE SHOW

BRIGHT RACY VAUDEVILLE AN OUTSTANDING COMPANY Revue entertainment of a ■ kind which, although a commonplace in the Old World, where the music hall and vaudeville stage flourish as vigorously as ever, is still unusual enough in this country for its merit to be arresting, was presented in His Majesty’s Theatre on Saturday night by the Montague Show, under the direction of Sir Benjamin Fuller by arrangement with Mr Bertram Montague. The opening revue was entitled “ Let’s Go Places.” and its light comedy, carefree burlesque and scintillating colour and melody should be very acceptable during the coming week. The Montague Show is an excellent combination. It surpasses its transAtlantic predecessor of a few weeks ago in the honest worth of its quality. There is less ostentation, it contains fewer extravagances but there is real value in every unit of its varied, highspeed programme. Mr George Doonan, for instance, is an artist who compels admiration immediately. It would be difficult to recall off-hand any comedian of his kind who relies less on dubious expedients such a grotesqueries or habit and absurdities of appearance for his effects. .He is dependent entirely on his keenly developed sense of comedy and his expressive and attractive style, and they never fail him, notwithstanding the early unresponsiveness of Saturday night’s audience. The house seemed hardly to realise that here was an' artist who needed none of the meretricious aids which the average vaudeville lampoon invokes, but once he got well into his stride, and administered a subtle dig or two, the ice was broken, and the performance finished on a note of obvious satisfaction.

The evening’s entertainment follows the general line of such productions, the difference being in the high average standard of performance in both solo and team work. “ Let’s Go Places ” has a distinctly shipboard flavour, which is heightened by appropriate staging, and all through the 19 episodes which it comprises the pace is fast, the atmosphere bright and the material attractive. George Doonan proves himself a glutton for work. He keeps the ball of comedy moving unceasingly with patter and skit, wisecrack and witty retort, and even adds to such good measure with a ditty or two and some neat dancing. “It Happened On Board ” found him in very _good humour, and “The Purser’s Quarters” showed him to be a character performer of special skill as well as a lightning change artist. His antics in the Sheik’s harem in Cairo and his final appearance when for a-quarter of an hour or more he kept the house amused absolutely unaided was a fine piece of work. Mr Jimmy Jewell is another accomplished comedian and he made many friends on Saturday night. He, too, relies on skill rather than artificialities of dress to see him through, and he makes a very useful partner for the star. The Darmora Troupe of dancers, headed by Madame Darmora, is a striking illustration of how much better than the usual the Montague Show really is. For artistry, precision, and graceful effect the vaudeville has never produced the equal of this combination in Dunedin. All their ensembles were full of charm and colour, beautiful frocking adding to the exquisite effect of skilful and rhythmic dancing. “Wintertime in Norway,” the glamorous beauty of harem scenes in Cairo, the brilliant sparkle of the Hollywood scene against a background of lamplit skyscrapers, “In Old Vienna,” and the magnificence of the final ensemble were all enthusiastically received, and a great deal of their merit was to be found in the way the Darmora Troupe acquitted itself. Miss Catherine Stewart and Miss Margaret Kelly, the one as a comedy foil and the other in lilting song numbers, both gave a good account of themselves, and The Blenders, a quartet of male vocalists, made an excellent impression, especially in songs of range and the Wild West. Mr Ben Warriss also had a very busy night trying to keep pace with the frolicking of Mr Doonan and Mr Jewell, and he always had his audience in a good humour, particularly in his impersonation of Eddie Cantor. But of all the performances of the evening few were as popular as the hearty exhibitions given by the Dawn Sisters. They are a droll pair, with a nice sense of comedy values, and a happy knack of always being able to preserve a proper balance between straight comedy and unbridled burlesque. The one as Mae West and the other as Zasu Pitts were marvellous impersonators, and their burlesque ballet after the Russian fashion was admirable fooling. Mis Alma Mackie and the Two Rogues did some cleverly rapid and skilful dancing, and the ballet was responsible for a lot of good work. „ ~ . The production was effectively staged by Mr Lewis Mark, and some beautiful spectacles were presented The Penguin Dance in black and white was irresistibly convincing as done by the Darmora Troupe, and the settings for the Hollywood interlude and the scenes in Cairo were perfectly contrived. There were richness and quality in the frocking and drapings which made an Instant appeal, and the lavishness of the ensembles had a restraint which is much more pleasing to the eye than a welter of spangles and gaudy tones. An instance of the thoroughness of the production side of the show was the presentation of the Can-Can by the Darmora Troupe Everything seemed to be.right ini the setting to which these vividly artistic performers danced their gay and abanThe music in the Montague Show is an important factor in the attractiveness or the production, and for this Mr Cyril Connolly is responsible. . Let s Go Places" will be repeated nightly this week, with e matinee performance this afternoon.