“TIP TOES”

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 277, 13 February 1928, Page 13

“TIP TOES”

OPENS ON WEDNESDAY The booking for “Tip Toes,” which is to be staged here by the J. C. Williamson, Ltd., New Musical Comedy Company on Wednesday night next, is very heavy and the latest London and New York musical comedy seems likely to enjoy a successful run in Auckland. Mr. E. J. Tait, the managing director for J. C. Williamson, Ltd., in Sydney, arrived by the Aorangi to witness the initial New Zealand performance of “Tip Toes.” The company selected for th-e representation of “Tip Toes” comprises some of the popular comedians, singers and V-uslcal comedy artists who have ever visited New Zealand, and special interest centres in the debut of Josephine Head, Albert Hugo and Mdlle. Ramona, the famous and brilliant dancers from the Folies Bergere, Paris. These artists stirred Australian audiences to a high pitch of enthusiasm by their wonderful artistry and critics there declared that never before has such perfect and wonderful dance movements been witnessed. “The production of Tip Toes/ ” wrote a critic recently, is artistic in the extreme, and several of the sets are the best that have yet been witnessed in a Williamson theatre. The Palm Beach at Florida is a charmingly conceived and restful scene, whi]p that which shows Burton’s houseboat during the party is another fine example of the scenic art. The sea stretching away in the distance is in fine perspective and appeals to the colour sense. The final scene of all, a glade near the hotel, down which tumbles a dazzling cascade, is a rich setting for several spectacular dances of extreme beauty.” The music composed for “Tip Toes” by George Gershwin is said to present that brililant musician at his very best, and the writers of the book, Guy Bolton and Fred Thompson, have given a well constructed story. Special material has' been provided for the comedians, and it is said that R. Barrett-Lennard, Cecil Kellaway and George Welsh

have never been seen to better advantage. Playgoers will be glad to welcome Beryl Walkeley, Thelma Burness, Billie Lockwood (who has just returned from a successful visit to London, with the Lee White-Clay Smith Co.), Leyland Hodgson, all of whom have previously delighted us in musi- | cal comedy. Mr. Roy Russell, a famous London artist, will make his first appearance here in “Tip Toes.” The season is necessarily limited to 10 nights, during which “Queen High” will also be staged. A novel feature introduced in “Tip Toes” is the performance, of Gordon Rodda and Cecil Walter on two grand pianos, between acts I. and 11.