AMERICAN REVUE

Waikato Times, Volume 124, Issue 20821, 3 June 1939, Page 9

AMERICAN REVUE

“ HOLLYWOOD HOTEL ”

SPARKLING ENTERTAINMENT

Modern American revue—smart, glittering, speedy, amusiing, and at times daring—was presented at the Hamilton Theatre Royal last night, when the “ Hollywood Hotel ” company commenced a season of two nights and a matinee. This type of entertainment, with its merry comedy, melodious music, clever dancing, spectacular settings, and startling specialty acts, is very popular with a modern audience, and last night’s production was greatly enjoyed. The show was opened in a novel manner that immediately created the Hollywood atmosphere, a row of “ Hello ” girls being seen putting calls through to film stars, including Clark Gable, Greta Garbo, and Claudette Colbert, whose doubles were seen in a spotlight through a transparent curtain. From then the revue speeded along at a great rate, and finished nearly three hours later /with all the members of the company on stage for the final curtain.

It is doubtful if anything so fine as the balancing feats of Frank Park and Robert Clifford had previously been seen in Hamilton. Performed against an exotic background of mannequins, their acts were executed with grace and amazing ease, their muscular control in a decidedly new routine being marvellous. It was an act that must be seen to be believed. Magda NeelJ was a rarity in an American revue—a singer who really sings. The beauties of her voice were revealed in several operatic arias, and she was just as successful in light numbers.

Amusing Comedians The comedians kept the audience in merry mood. Marty May, the compere of the show, was the last word in sophistication, and in addition to his broader humour he was delightfully subtle at times, while his impressions of popular radio singers were very amusing. Bobby Morris, a diminutive funmaker, Murray Briscoe, and Wilma Horner were also very amusing, their sketches keeping the audience chuckling, though there was, perhaps, rather too much of the “goofy” type of humour that does not appeal so much to I a British audience as to an American i one. Robert Berry was prominent in | several song scenas. ! The dancing was a feature of the ! revue. Jack Whitney, with his clever I bounds, speedy pirouettes, etc., revived memories of the Russian Ballet, while Jack and June Blair were very graceful in glorified waltzes and adagio work. The eight coloured dancers, with their exhibition of the “Big Apple.” with plenty of pace and noise, brought a touch of Harlem t.o Hamilton. “Temptation of Eve,” by Helen Park. Jack Whitney and Robert Clifford, was rather startling in its realism. The ballet presented several fine numbers, of which the most beautiful was the Feather Ballet, and the mannequins, tall and stately, paraded in costumes which were more revealing than anything seen on the local stage before. A irood orchestra was order the direction of Mr Mack G. Davis. Performance To-night A matinee is being given this afternoon, and the season will close with a performance to-night.