Couldn't Go On Without Them

Radio Record, 31 July 1936, Page 17

Couldn't Go On Without Them

Local Artists Rehearsing Hard for Their Work In Wellington’s First 1936 Concert-Revue

W HEN Wellington people roll up to the first 1936 broadcasting variety show in their Town Hall on August 20 they will have a great spate of visiting artists to entertain and amuse them, ‘ but there is a lot of room, too, for local amateurs to prove their mettle. There must be choruses and ballets, and there must be music; so here is the story

ot what's being. prepared tor the delectation of the public by Wellington artists. The show couldn’t very well go on without ’em. The whole thing hangs on music, and here we find the old maestro at

his old game-Frank Crowther conducting the orchestra from the piano, as he did for years — and years on the Fuller vaudeville circuit. For the Charity Concert he will have his own orchestra augmented’ to 14 picked players, who will turn on a full evening of assistance for practically every other artist in the show, in addition to giving the audience a light overture and entr’acte. Ava Symons will be, the leader-that means top-notch violin work. Claude Tanner will bow the *cello strings, and others equally well known are getting together for rehearsals. .Ballet and chorus music has been carefully chosen,. and the public who attend-as well,as the thousands who will. listen... -will hear some mighty fine~ interpretations of un-to-the-

minute tunes. One of their tasks, too, will be to play up to Dave Howard, who will blow his saxophone from the stage. But here is a visiting artist creeping into the story, and this is about the locals. What would a revue chow he without the

choruses? The broadcasting authorities know the answer, so there will be a goodly collection of vocalists in combination for the purpose of collective joyfulness. The opening chorus is a lively one, entitled "Marching Along the Highway." This is to go with the ballet, which at this stage appears in a hiking number. The chorus style which has proved so popular in past charity concerts will have a similar personnel for this occasion, under their usual able direction. After the interval. they will sing-guess what ?-"The Music Goes ’Round and Around." This number, too, will have the support of the ballet-or will support the ballet, as the case may be. And, of course, the singers join hands and play Nuts.in May or something equally pally with everybody else for the finale. "They’re a bit wild with their tambos, so you'd better get over here,’. warned. Edward Parlette when the "Radio Record" located his training quarters one night

last week. The ballet girls were going hard at it, and doing well.: This was the Hungarian Ballet, full of movement and colour, even in rehearsal. And what a bump it finishes up with! The-soloists are worked harder, however, in the "Slavic Rhythm" number, where the girls will be dressed in the manner of the sketch illustrated on this page. -There are nine girls

in this number, in groups of three, doing conventional Slavic folk dance, while the two soloists, Edward and Dorothy Parlette, work and work and work. Even-at. this stage of rehearsal it is obvious that this will be one of the most spectacular ballets

presented in Wellington for a long time. Special* attention has been paid. to:-the* frocking -for all their numbers, and the hikers’ ballet, which opens the whole show, will be as colourful as possible. This is a good motion ballet, with a lot of neat tapping and swinging about the stage. Spléndid finish to this, too. Another pretty turn will be the. "June in January" nu ber-with a.spot of Comedy relief provided by the three central figures-more snappy tapping. Suitable swirling of generous frocks will emphasise ‘the "Music Goes *Round"’ ballet, and the -clearnéss of the tapping work evident at rehearsal promises. ‘that even listeners will be able to picture _ the girls’ work to a good ex- ~ tent.

A dainty Continental flavour is given in "Dutch Fantasy," with the Parlette pair clogging -up-and down-the stage. Bit of quite amusing mime for the audience to smile over in this

number. ihe ballet is to be used generously in tne concert, as can be seen. In fact, the evening promises to.be so bright: all round that one should really call it revue. There’s obviously going to be a polish about all the local performers’ contributions, which will be well up to matching the standard assured by the inclusion of the principals from overseas. Wellington’s first broadcasting concert of this season, although better known as a "celebrity" concert, owing to the appearance of pre-eminent visiting artists, provided an example of the indispensibility of local performers. In that case, the Royal Wellington Choral Union turned on some really beautiful music in the "Hinemoa" cantata, and local instrumentalists were, of course, used in the orchestra, The August 20 concert will give mostly a different lot of locals a chance, If conscientious rehearsing is likely to help, they’ll bring the house down.