“THE REVEILLE”

Waikato Times, Volume 120, Issue 19991, 15 September 1936, Page 8

“THE REVEILLE”

AN EXTRAVAGANZA

AN ENTERTAINING PRODUCTION. SPECTACLE, MELODY, HUMOUR. “The Reveille,” staged at the Theatre Royal last night by Mr W. Lints on behalf of the funds of the Hamilton operatic Society, was an entertaining production, Ailed with all those tilings which make an extravaganza popular to a modern audience — clever ballets and specialty dancing, merry comedy, melodious music,, dramatic sketches, spectacular settings, effective lighting, and beautifui costumes, it was a tribute to the talent available in the town and the producer that such a varied programme should be carried through so successfully. Perhaps more snap was required—a faster tempo in production and more abandon and smiles from performers—for an extravaganza must be taken at an exhilarating pace, but for a flrst night it was a line production, and now that the company has “got into its stride” the remaining performances should be even more enjoyable. There was an excellent first-night audience, and judging by the applause "The Reveille’’ was very much enjoyed. At times there was an outburst of applause at a spectacular setting even before an item was commenced. Harmonised Binging. Some brilliant stage pictures were presented, and the opening scene and finale were a gay mass of colour, lights and movement. The harmonised singing, too, was an unusual feature that was much enjoyed. “One Alone” sung by Mr Kenneth Sandford, supported by the maie chorus, was particularly well done, while “Ah, Sweet Mystery of Life,” by Miss Evans and Mr Battersby, was another pleasing number. There was some delightful solo singing by Mrs A. G. Lavington, Misses Duloie Evans, Gladys Plummer, Marjorie and Joan Campbell, Felecia Taylor, Messrs Kenneth Sandford, J. T. Battersby, Bellgrave, Cusack, W. Trenberth and Liddy. The Harmonic Four —Messrs J. T. Battersby, Kenneth Eade, E. H. Quill and G. Wheeler, harmonised pleasingly in “A Soldier's Farewell.”

The sketches, dramatic and humorous, were a feature of the production. The tense little drama, “Electricity,” presented very realistically by Miss Phyllis Torpy and Mr Gordon Rear, was one of the best things of the - evening, while the farcical “ Eve,” a skit on the much-discussed statue at Auckland, created much amusement as given by Messrs John Reidy and Swindle. Other sketches which proved very entertaining were “Flying,” by Messrs R. Powell, J. Reidy and Swindle; “Circumstantial Evidence,” Miss Phyllis Torpy and Mr J. Reidy; "It Happened in Sydney,” Mrs A. C. Lavington, Mrs C. Linder and Mr R. Powell; “The Eternal Question," Mrs Lavington and Mr R. Powell; “Buying Hats,” Miss Campbell, Mrs Lavington, Mrs Linder, Mr R. Powell and Mr J. Reidy; “The Operation,” Mrs Linder and Mr R. Powell. Ballets and Vooal Numbers. Many splendid ballets, well conceived, excellently performed, and beautifully frocked, were included in the programme. Jn some cases they were led by a soloist taking a vocal number. Included were:— “ The Poetry of Motion ” (solo by Mrs Lavington).—June Mclntosh, Violet Gibson, Jean Malcom, Joan Peterson, Edna Smith, Irene Smith, Beatrice Fisher, Margaret Lyon, Kathleen Trembath, Dorothy Ashmore, Flo Bremner, Dora Peterson, Gwen Foster, Phyllis Woolford, Joan Salisbury, Marie Pearce. Freda Aiken, Freda Watson, Eileen Carr. “ Chu Chin Chow ” (solo by Mr Kenneth Sandford). —Gloria Findlay, Prudence Hebtdictch, Olive Goodall, Mabel Allan. Rita Collins, Eileen Philpott, Patricia Ellis, Iris Drummond, Norma Shirley, Evelyn Earley, Doreen Davis, Ruth Gordon, Lois McKelvie, Nadine Bell, May Sanderson, Norme Parsons, Yalda Hyde, N'ola Graham, Marjorie Gerrand, Joyce Norman, Dulcie McLea, Mollie McOnie, Fay Hanlon, Shirley Pointon, Glory Reid, Doreen Dingle, Alma White, Thelma McLeod, Mona Smith, Norma Johnson. “ When the Rest of the Crowd Goes Home” (solo by Mr Tremberth).— J. Radford, G. Johns, L. Jones, C. Rollo, W. Moffatt, L. Raven. L. Williams, Jocelyn Milroy, Alison Hooker, Nell Ward, Dorothy Stranger, Nina Raven, Audrey Seddon, Joyce Ambury, Patty Blake. "Covered Waggon” (solo by Mr jßelgrave). 'Daisy Gilmore, Joan 'Harder, Maureen Lambert. Kathleen Ahern, Verna Norrel, Claire iScale, Rona Painter, Joan Parkhouse, Essie Phillips, Kathleen Green, Joy Snowling, Ailsa Lafferty. “What’s the Reason" (sung by Miss Gladys Plummer). —Daisy Gilmore, Joan Harder. Maureen Lambert, Kathleen Ahern, Verna Norrel, Claire Scale, Rona Painter, Joan Parkhouse, Essie Phillips, Kathleen Green, Joy Snowling, Ailsa Lafferty. “ Hiawatha’s Melody ” (solo by Miss Gladys Plummer) and dance by Indian Ballet. Streamlined Ballet. —Daisy Gilmore, Joan Harder, Maureen Lambert, Kathleen Ahern, Verna Norrel, Claire Scale, Rona Painter, Joan Parkhouse, Essie Phillips. Kathleen Green, Joy Snowling, Ailsa Lafferty. “ When I am Too Old to Dream ” (solo by Miss Dulcie Evans).— Jocelyn Milroy, Alison Hooker, Nell Ward", Dorothy Stranger. Nina Raven, Audrey Seddon, Joyce Amhurv, Patty Blake. “ If You’re in Love You’ll Waltz ” (harmonised by Mrs Lavington and Mr Tremberth). —Marie Pearce. Gwen Foster. Eileen Carr, Joan Salisbury, Margaret Lyon, Kathleen Trembath, Dora PeteYson, Irene Smith, Edna Smith, Flo* Bremner, Violet Gibson, Joan Peterson, Freda Aiken, Freda Watson, Naretta Plummer, Dorothy Ashmore, Jean Malcolm. June Mclntosh, Beatrice Fisher, Phyllis Woolford. “ Rock-a-bye Moon ” (solo by Miss Felecia Taylor).—lrene Wilson, Alma White, Lorraine Shirley. Urusla Renoulf, Phyllis Oliver, Muriel Whittaker, Doreen Dingle, Diane Henderson, Betty Patton, Merle Goldsvvorthj. Faj 1 rex ena. Shirley Baker, June Bishop, Edwin.l Thompson, Valdora Stubbing, \ alma Flyger, Betty Jones, Rita Collins. Eileen Philpott, Nonna Shirley. Lois McKelvie, Merle Pike. Mavis Wills, Mary Evans. Maurinc Thomas, Norme Parsons, olive Goodall. Dawn Flyger, Yalda Hyde, Alison Bell, Marjorie Gerrand, Moreen McLea, Betty Cramp, Glory Reid, Doreen Bishop. (Continued in next column.)«

A Clever Soarecrow Danoa. Comedy Scarecrow Ballet.—Olive Smith, Thelma Tanner. Edna Watkins, Mavis Peterson, Joyce Alexander, Una Wilson, L)orothy Waugh, Elsie Hopkins, Phyllis Woolford, Joan Salisbury, Ida Martin. Vera Jvbnson, Loretta Plummer. This ballet was very clever and amusing. Mirror Ballet.—Norma Shirley, Glory Reid, Doreen Dingle, Dawn Flyger, Nola Graham, Yalda Hyde, Felicia Taylor, Diane Henderson, Betty Hutcheon, Phyllis Oliver, Muriel Whittaker. Betty Mangnall. “1 Saw Stars” (solo by Mr Cusack). Jocelyn Milroy, Alison Hooker, Nell Ward, Dorothy Stranger, Nina Raven, Audrey Seddon, Joyce Ambury, Patty Blake. The 1936 Jazz Ballet.—Daisy Gilmore, Joan Harder, Maureen Lambert, Kathleen Ahern, Verna Norrel, Claire Scale, Rona Painter, Joan Parkhouse, Essie Phillips, Kathleen Green, Joy Snowling, Ailsa Lafferty. Musical Comedy Success (sung by Mr Liddy).—Olive Smith, Thelma Tanner. Edna Watkins, Mavis Peterson, Joyce Alexander, Una Wilson, Dorothy Waugh, Elsie Hopkins, Phyllis Woolford. Joan Salisbury. Ida Martin. Vera Johnson. Loretta Plummer. “Vienna in Springtime” (sung by Mrs Lavington).—Jocelyn Milroy. Alison Hooker, Nell Ward, Dorothy Stranger. Nina Raven, Audrey Seddon, Joyce Ambury. Patty Blake. Simultaneous Feature (sung, danced and whistled by Misses Joan and Marjorie Campbell).—Gwen Foster, Eileen Carr, Phyllis Woolford, Joan Salisbury. Edna Smith, Flo Bremner, Violet Gibson, Irene Smith, Joan Peterson, Freda Aiken, Freda Watson. Naretta Plummer, Jean Malcolm, June Mclntosh, Beatrice Fisher. Lamp Shade Scene (solo by Miss Dulcie Evans). —Freda Watson, Freda Aiken. Gwen Foster, Eileen Carr, Joan Peterson, Dorothy Ashmore, Phyllis Woolford. Beatrice Fisher, Violet Gibson, Naretta Plummer, June Mclntosh. June Malcolm. “Me and the Man in the Moon ” (sung, danced and whistled by Misses Marjorie and Joan Campbell;.—Brassell Harder, John Armstrong, Roy Michell, Wally Woolford, John Carlisle, Jim Cusack, George Parkhouse, Colin Anderson, Alan Dale. Daisy Gilmore, Joan Harder, Maureen Lambert, Kathleen Ahern, Verna Norrel, Claire Scale, Rona Painter, Joan Parkhouse, Essie Phillips, Kathleen Green. Joy Snowling, Ailsa Lafferty. Musical Comedy Number (harmonised by Mrs Lavington and Mr Tremberth). —J. Pountney, J. Radford, G. Johns, L. Jones, C. Rollo, W. Moffatt, L. Raven, L. Williams. Jocelyn Milroy, Alison Hooker, Nell Ward, Dorothy Stranger, Nina Haven, Audrey Seddon, Joyce Ambury, Patty Blake. The tap ballet by George Kingston. Florence Redwot », Joyce Tomlinson, Peggy Penney, Dot Furnell, Tom Barnett and Kenneth Martin was an attractive mixture of grace and precision, and the tap duo by George Kingston and Tom Barnett and the graceful dance by Miss Phyllis Davies and George Kingston were equally enjoyable. The orchestra, under the direction of Mr J. T. Battersby, gave splendid support to the performers, though a trifle slow sometimes in taking up its cues. It consisted of Messrs G. Kerby, K. Prime, L. Scott, E. H. Quill, E. Houlton, W. Keenan. G. Parkhouse, A. E. Savage, 11. Critchley and J. Bolton. Among those who helped in the general success were: Assistant stage manageress, ? "s G. Parkhouse; house manager, Mr A. E. Sandford; electrical effects, Mr Sherson and staff; property manager, Mr W. Powell anil staff; wardrobe mistress, Mrs McKenzie; make-up. Miss Sophie Vivian. Another Performance To-night. “The Reveille" will be repeated tonight and should go with an even better swing. Performances will also be given to-morrow night and on Thursday night.