ACTIVITIES OF THE STAGE

Waikato Times, Volume 124, Issue 20821, 3 June 1939, Page 17 (Supplement)

ACTIVITIES OF THE STAGE

"Hollywood Hotel” Delights Hamilton “Hollywood Hotel,” "the spectacular American revue which delighted Hamilton playgoers last night, will be staged again this afternoon and tonight. The company is in the last nights of its long and successful tour of Australia and New Zealand, for after a week in Auckland (it played there for three weeks some months ago) *t will return to America. Marionettes for New Zealand Salici’s Marionettes will head the bill of the variety show, “Funz-a-Poppin’,” which Sir Benjamin Fuller will present to New Zealand audiences shortly. “After you look at Salici’s Parisian Puppets for a while you begin to believe that they aren’t marionettes, but human beings,” states a critic. The art of the Salicis goes back to 1825, and for generations they have concentrated on this one form of entertainment. Salici’s Puppets sing, dance and do acrobatic turns that were originally thought impossilbe for the ••string people.” “Funz-a-Poppin’ ” will have a number of other big American acts, including the Twelve Debutantes, trained by Albertina Rasch, who prepares the ballets for Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer’s great Aims. There will also be Rose and Edwards, Ziegfeld comedy top-liners, Carr Brothers and Betty, Green and Lang, vocal celebrities, the Van Twins, delightful Hollywood pair, Tommy “Bozo” Snyder, Broadway’s pantomime genius, and Jack Bickle, a remarkable young dancer. Marie Burke Hears “Bamballna” Again Marie Burke, who recently returned to Australia after winning success in London and America, was thrilled to hear the orchestra strike up “Bambalina” when she entered the new Minerva Theatre at King’s Gross, Sydney, on the opening night last week. Many theatregoers will remember that the gay “Bambalina,”' with its amusing dance, was one of the hits of “Wildflower,” in which Marie Burke ccored a great success some years ago. Help For New Zealand Dancer Over £IOO was raised at an entertainment in Invercargill for Rowena Jackson, the young New Zealand dancer, who will leave shortly to study abroad, on the advice of members of the Russian Ballet. A concert was also given at Dunedin. the performers including Lex MacDonald, formerly popular as a boy •oprano and now a baritone.

She Doesn’t Need the “Mike.” “The use of the microphone on the stage has become universal,” said Garnet Carroll, of the “Hollywood Hotel” revue company, “because the radio and the ‘talkies’ have attuned people’s ears to it. It is even used by Magda Neeld, although she has been clearly heard above the music when singing the principal role in “Rigoletto” to the accompaniment of an orchestra of 40 instruments.” I could corroborate what Mr Carroll says, for I heard Miss Neeld singing in “Rigoletto” in Sydney three years ago. She certainly has no need of the “mike.” Circus fop Hamilton Next Week Perry's Circus, which has been touring New Zealand for some time with success, will appear in Hamilton next Friday and Saturday. The Flying Dunbars, with amazing work on the trapeze, are among the star acts. Russian Ballet Dancers for N.Z. A number of the dancers of the Covent Garden Russian Ballet will begin a New Zealand tour at Wanganui on June 10, under the guidance of Maurice Ralph. Among them axe Raissa Kousnetzova, Eduard Sobishevski, Valery Shaeosky, Mile. Orlova, and Feodor Pellach, supported by a splendid company of dancers, who will present traditional, national, and folk dances, including elaborate and spectacular ballets, “Spectre of the Rose,” “Sylphides,” “Carnaval” and “Aurora’s Wedding.” Philip Wlrth Married By cable from America comes the announcement of the marriage of Miss Josephine Dibrell, daughter of Mtrs William S. Scott, of Sydney, and Mr Philip Wirth, a director of Wirth’s Circus, and son of Mrs P. Wirth, senr., of Coogee, and the late P. Wirth. The wedding took place at the famous Los Angeles church, the Wee Kirk o’ the Heather, which was designed by the late Mr Alexander Neilson Knox, brother of Dr. David Knox, of Sydney. Miss Frances Dorsey, cousin of the bride, was bridesmaid, and Mr Charles January, another of her cousins, attended Mr Wirth. The bride’s aunt, Mrs Charles January, senr., entertained at a reception at her home in Los Angeles after the ceremony. Mr and Mrs Wirth arc spending their honeymoon touring the United States of America. They will make their home in Sydney, and expect to arrive back in October.