"WATCH YOUR STEP'

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 10, Issue 91, 7 February 1947, Page 5

"WATCH YOUR STEP'

RADIANT REVUE PRODUCTION PACKED HOUSE GREETS GREAT SHOW Whakatane took to its heart the splendidly versatile Radiant Revue Company which played for one night in the Grand Theatre last Wednesday evening. _ The show can be ranked as the finest Whakatane has known, and represents yet another step forward in the policy of Messrs. Kerridge-Odeon Theatres, to give the smaller towns the opportunity of witnessing the firstline company players and artists to reach the Dominion. The producer, Mr Ophir Rees, himself a talented singer has gathered together a surfeit of vaudeville celebrities which would be hard to beat anywhere. The packed house was kept in a constant state of high humour and expectation as sequence and presentation followed each other in swift and captivating manner. The Radiant Revue has outlawed every hint of dullness and the whole programme fairly scintillates throughout its three hours duration. From the overture by Vince Burke and his orchestra to the finale when all artists were assembled for formal introduction the show went with a zip which is seldom equalled on the stage. For really clever acting and stunting we have seen none to. equal Radiant Revue. Joe Lawman, the versatile comedian, ■ was typically Australian. His quips and appearances never failed to bring down the house, and though he was seen more than any other artist, his audience always yelled for more. As a laughmaker he is unequalled, though he would go even further if he could ■eliminate a hint of open vulgarity in his otherwise clever work.

Ventriloquism of the highest order was presented by Royston, whose performance was little short of uncanny. We are all conversant with the simpler form of straight ventriloquism,, but the amazing performance of Royston, carrying conversation in three distinct voices of differing pitch fairly left Wednesday's audience gasping. Here was an artist who has definitely made an art •of his line. Mandy' the musical •clown was also a star performer, who delighted with his trick playing of novelty instruments, and on the swinging bells gave his audience •.something to really applaud. Performers of his description are becoming all to few and his re-appear-ance in New Zealand is as welcome as it is timely. • A trio which also won instant popularity, was the Siscos group. Displaying a flair for whirlwind juggling, they gave a dazzling and polished performance, mingling humour with ability and skill. As singers, and yodellers they also hit the tops and were greeted with a ,-storm of applause. Le Harley, another acquisition, was a magician whose work delighted, and whose later appearance in clever felt sketches provided a novelty item which had wide appeal. On the musical side, the palm must be handed Miss Eileen Bourke who as the singing violiniste gave an exquisite performance. Mr Maurice Tansley, the New Zealand-born tenor, headed some effective song scenas, with Miss Adele Taylor opposite and with the splendidly drilled company's chorus as a background. Both voices in these groupings blended -and harmonised to perfection. The ballets incidentally were always highlights of the evening.

Other artists who went to make up a really great show were Miss Joy Robins (comedienne) and Peter Rowell (soloist and dancer). The 'Watch Your Step' variety show will long be remembered in this district for its vividity, entertainment and wide appeal, and we can only hope that Mr Ophir Rees will carry out his expressed wish, when conveying his thanks to the audience, that the company will if possible visit Whakatane again in the future.