PLAZA THEATRE

Evening Post, Volume CXXVIII, Issue 136, 6 December 1939, Page 6

PLAZA THEATRE

"She Shall Have Music."

With Jascha Heifetz, the world's most renowned violinist starred, Samuel Goldwyn's new major production, "They Shall Have Music," which will open on Friday at the Plaza Theatre, unfolds a gripping story of human interest, high-lighted by tense and thrilling action. The principal romantic roles are played by Andrea Leeds and Joel McCrea, while, the important supporting roles are portrayed by Walter Brennan, Gene Reynolds, and Tommy Kelly. Archie Mayo, who staged such hits as, "The Adventures of Marco Polo" and "The Petrified Forest," directed "They Shall Have% Music." "They Shall Have"Music" draws its characters and plot from the wealth of material found on N^ew York's East Side. Briefly, the story revolves around Professor Lawson, portrayed by Walter Brennan, and his music school settlement,, composed of ragged youngster's who are musical prodigies. Into this school comes' Frankie, who inherited a talent for the violin from his dead father and has run away from home to escape the hate of his stepfather. The boy is taken in hand by the professor, arid blossoms into a fine musician. How he tries, to repay his debt and how he lures the great Heifetz to the aid of the financially bankrupt school provides the climax to the story. To portray the pupils in the school, Mr. Goldwyh hired thej California Junior Symphony Orchestra, composed of 45 youngsters, whose ages range from 8 to 14. They represent a cross-section of American life with few if any of their parents in the brackets of more than moderate means. Music as produced by the symphony- orchestra of prodigies has been classed by such an authority as Stokowski as surpassing, many orchestras of adults. Mr. Goldwyn also introduces to the screen for the first time a nine-year-old opera singer, Jacqueline Nash, whose voice is said to be reminiscent of Galli Curci's.