FAREWELL APPEARANCE

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 65, 3 April 1937, Page 17

FAREWELL APPEARANCE

Chosltakoi & Vineent Ryan in Hastings There was a good; "house" at the 1 Municipal Theatre, Hastings, last night when Senia ChostiakoflE^ the Russian , tenor,. and Vineent, Ryan-, the. Australian comedian, presented their farewell performance. Hastings ga-ve these- two artists an excellent hearing when they appeared here some months ago, and iast night, showed. that they- had in noway declined in popuiarity. Chostiakoff's fine tenor voice in itsqlf an attraetion, and, combined with the sparkling humour of Vineent Ryan, the audience could not. quibble. with, the fareprovided for them. AssistLng these two- artists was OssieOheegeman, "piano-accordion wizard,"' who- has been heard in. Hastings before

with- variety companies that have toured the Dominion. His playing of the piano-accordion was a treat. to listen to, while his accompaniments on the piano for the other two artists provided the finishing toueh to the show. Gssi'e Cheeseman. opened the. programme with several piano and pianoaecordion- numbers,, includ.ing! "Liebestraum" and "Light Cavalry" overture, in which the latter number he displayed amazing dexterity in the handling of his instrument. Several popular light. numbers compieted this seotion. Thea "Mrs Ryan's son,. Vineent himself '' came to lead the house in cominunity singing and regale it with humour. Vineent Ryan was at the toji of hiq form, and in a few minutes, had the crowd singing lustily the various popular songs which wero seledted. When not, singing, all were in fits, of laughter, either at the performer's. amusing anecdoiee or at his. eccentric dancing — so eccentrie tha* at times the artist had to furn a mildly reproachful eye on his audience when they were becoming too. overcotne with merfimentSenia Chostiakoff was enthusiastically received, and was recalled time and time again to entertain- with his singing. Among the numbers he prqsented were "Song of the Volga Boatmen," "Funieuli, Funicula," "The Rose of Tralee", "Because,'? and "Ah,. S-weet Mysterv of Life."

The first half of the evening- concluded with Vineent Ryan giving two of his well-known comedy numbers, and singing "Misty Islands of the Highlands." Gssie Cheeseman opened the second part of the programme with a piano solp, and was then joined, by. Senia. Chostiakoff who was again called upon to draw extensively on his. repertoire. A particularly fine number, sung with Ossie Cheeseman playing the accom-. paniment. on the accordion, was "Mlserere," and "11 Trovatore," while "Evening Bell," a Russian traditional song, in which the fine voice of the ; singer was heard; at its best, proved exceptionally popular. Two further comedy numbers by Vineent Ryan-, "That's How I Like Them," and "Maggie," and a group comedy number, featuring "Eileen Allanah,'' brougiht an excellent evening tp , a- clos©