"1937 REVEILLE" OPENS

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 150, 13 July 1937, Page 7

"1937 REVEILLE" OPENS

Spectacular and Brilliant Production FINE ENTERTAINMENT Three and a-half hours of real enjoyment "were provided by the ''1967 lteveille, ' ' a musicai extravaganza with over 260- performers; whieh. began a four-night season ftt tbe liusstingd Municipai Theatre last eveuing. The performance seintiljated with sparkle and brilliance froni the spectacular opening chorus to the even greater speetacle of the finale. Something like 42 numbers wero presented, of which seven wore elaborate balietS; and song successos; sketchea and dance numbers kept things moying throughout a l°hg programme. The aetion never lagged and the numbers followed one another with no delays. The production was well stagod, the lighting effects being a special Teature. Each new itom Jjroughfc with it a dolightful freshness of scenery and costumes, but the stuge shifting was done without any delay whutever. Every set of lines in the theatre — and there are 35— are filled with Bpeclal scenery. More than £1000 worth of effects are nsed and 500 difEorent costumes are worn by the large cast. The jgrouping of 100 performers on the stage at once for the Opening and closing numbers was somethmg new in Hastings jdramatic performances, the tiers of chorus girls extending right to the top of the stage. . The soloists displayed 'fine voicos, but their work. was aiways enhanced by much good singing and dancing by the choruses. An orchestra of local iulcnt provided the music for the bright melodies, which ■went with a swlng% and toward the end of the evening the audience was joining in the singing of these catchy tunes. The solos and leads are takon by Messra Jack Sullivan, Docald Davies, Clouston, and Nolan McKay, M'isses Estber McKay, Joan Potter, Cyntliia Jefferd, an-I Mary Donovan, and Mesdames W. Greer and L. Potter. Higliligkts of the programme were the Night Club number, harmonised by Mrs Greer and Mr Clouston, assisted by 70 performers; the exhibition of. human statuary carried out with pr.eeisiOn by 43 Hastings girls j the comedy ballet and slavery trio; ''Trees," a picturesque item with Mts Greer as the soloist, an-i the ordeutal attraction in which Mr Clouston sings "Chu Chin Chpw.•,, Pepsonja^. of Eaiiete. The seven ballets dnclude.the stream linoSsallet, danced by Joyce Cullinane, Esther McKay ^ Cynthia Jefferd, Vida Hayee, Margaret Donovan, Grace Samjison, Hazel Tyers, Pat Wright, Verna Dew, Peggy 3anderson, Yvonne Dorward, Mena Lomas, Margaret Millson. and Brenda Mitchell; the fiying ballet, by Margaret Nntter, Koeleen Harding, Iioscmafy Williams^ Bosemary Miller, Marie Davdes, Betty Johnston, June Johnston, Norma Stewart, Sonia Watson, Lassie Baird, Zoe Pryer, Margo Glenny, and Joan Maddison; the tap ballet, by Ina Parkinson, Bay Setoni : Pay Hall, Lucy Cassin, Betty Ross, Rita | Parkinson (pupils of Mis>s Jean Ballantyne); and the comedy ballet, by ; Margaret Palmer, Mufyn Jamieson, Ida ! Jameson, Noeline Black, Thelma i Haekett, Clare Donovan, Joan Carter, ! June Hales, Linda Spence Harriett ! Campbell. Sybil Tyers, Ivy Garnett, | Frances Nutter, and Mary Lane. Pupils of Miss Jean Ballantyne assist I in the tap and tango ballets. The cast ! hat3 been specially selected from the | cream of Hastings talent and the 260 i performers have been rehearsing daily | for about six weeks. The Principals. There are eight eketches, ranging | from drgmatic to broad comedy, acted I by Mrs L. Potter, Misses Hiraani Scott, i M. Slater, Margaret Nutter, Zoe Pryer, | N. Stewart, Messrs I. Elliott, Donajd ; Davies, B. Oaro, N. Chapman and R. i Hankey. The solo dancerg are Misses | Vida Hayes, Betty Ross, Pay Hall. i Douglas Cook; Joan Patter and Ivena | Pothan. The production is under the auspices 1 of the Red Cross. The producer is Mr W. Lints, who deserves every credit for ! the high standard of excellence which i has been attained by the company. Mrs *£• H. Lowry, Dominion president i of the New Zealand Red Cross Society, spoke a f© wwords during the performance, stressing the amount of work which had been put into the production by the performers and the producer to help the eoeiety and asking for increased support from the general public. ' The performance will be repeated tonight, and Wednesday and Thursday nights, and there Will be a matinee on Thuysday at 2.30 p.m.