FRIVOLITY SHOW

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20032, 2 September 1939, Page 3

FRIVOLITY SHOW

“FUNZ-A-PQPPIW’ ”

LAST X.Z. PERFORMANCE

OP HR.'. HOUSE TO-NIL TIT

“To-morrow night in this theatre, we will give our last performance m New Zealand, and we will leave by the next boat for America —if we can get,’’ stated Mr. Bobby Morns at the close of the frivolity show “Funz-a-poppin' ’’ at the Oepra House last night, his final words having a pointed meaning in view of the nows that broke earlier in the evening of the conflict in Europe.

But throughout the show frivolity reigned, and no thought was given to the momentous events overseas. With a company of 30 performers, the entertainment was kept moving from start, to finish with dance, song and a number of novelty items that were as entertaining as they were unusual. Comedy was a feature of practically all the items, and even the strenuous and amazing acrobatic feats were subjects-for burlesque. The Carr brothers kept the audience laughing while they performed their acrobatics, and they earned frequent applause for difficult pieces of work that were new to Gisborne audiences. They tumbled about each other .in such an alarming manner that it seemed that they must get hurt, but they always turned up smiling, many apparent serious crashes turning out quite harmless. “Rubber Legs” An acrobatic dancer. Jack Bickell, had earned, the name of “rubber legs,” and the audience quickly discovered how he earned that appellation, for his legs twisted in all directions as he performed unusual steps. The fun merchants were in force in a variety of types, headed by Bobby Morris, who had achieved outstanding success in “The Hollywood Hotel Revue.” He headed the casts in a number of sketches, and in one entitled "The Peace Conference” most of the comedy artists were assembled, representing some well known characters in international affairs. Some satirical comment was made on national viewpoints. Eddie Edwards, Peter Carr, Keith Connolly, Murray Greene, Tommy Snyder, Harry. Ross and Miss Elsa Hosking were in the cast. Tommy Snyder was of lire silent type, but his humour was effective. Miss Loretta Grey proved a vivacious comedienne, and she contributed a variety of popular "hits,” which, together with grotesque actions, brought instant laughter from the audience. A Fine Soprano. In less hiladious though still mainly in lighter vein, Miss Elsa Lang and Murray Greene captivated those present with a number of popular stage and screen song “hits," Miss Lang's soprano voice proving one of the features of the pro. gramme. '/ Kept until fast, Saiici’s Parisian puppets were a show on their own. The puppets were amazingly life-like, and if one could have visualised their stage as a large one in the distance and forgetting that .it was merely a .half-sized one on the main stage there would have been little to distinguish them from real llesh and blood people. They danced, played the piano and other musical instruments, and got through a variety of amusing antics, the sound being perfectly timed to their actions.

Not least in the successful company was a ballet of 12 dancing girls, who Were associated with the Van Twins, a talented pair, in some attractive dancing numbers.