Round the Shows “WHOOPEE”

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 848, 17 December 1929, Page 16

Round the Shows

“WHOOPEE”

COMING TO HIS MAJESTY’S “Whoopee,” the stupendous musical comedy triumph to be staged for the first time in New Zealand by the J. C. Williamson. Ltd., management at His Majesty’s Theatre on Thursday afternoon, December 26 (Boxing Day), is named from the term used in America for anything suggestive of gladness, fun and joy. When contempalting a night out they invariably say:—“Let’s make Whoopee.” The name for the musical play to be staged here next week was specially selected by Mr. Ziegfeld himself and he backed up his idea with an expenditure of over £20,000, which made “Whoopee” the most gorgeous and most stupendous musical play that has ever been staged in New York. The Australian producer of ‘Whoopee” paid a special visit to America to witness the New York representation and the Williamson production is an exact replica of that staged by Mr. Ziegfeld. There will be close on 100 people in the Auckland production of “Whoopee,” including a number of popular favourites, among whom are Miss Lilian Crisp, the delightful young soprano who appeared here very successfully with the last Gilbert and Sullivan company that toured New Zealand. Other singers wjll be Mr. William Perryman, the talented young tenor who supported Gladys Moncrieff in the original productions of “The Lady of the Rose” and “The Maid of the Mountains”; Mr. Don Nicol, a brilliantly clever comedian, ■who has been appearing in Australia in “The Desert Song,” “The Maid of the Mountains” and other musical plays, and Mr. John Ralston, who is one of the most popular baritones who has ever appeared in this Dominion. “Whoopee” has been described as a riot of fun, with a musical score of unusual excellence, and presented amid scenes of spectacular magnificence. The ballets, under the direction of Maurice Diamond, are, it is said, really wonderful, while a beauty chorus of glorified Australian girls add lustre to the show. The box plans will be opened for “Whoopee” at Lewis Eady, Ltd., on Friday morning, December 20, at 9 o'clock. A queue will be formed from 8 a.m.