"ROBERTA" AGAIN.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVI, Issue 234, 3 October 1935, Page 12

"ROBERTA" AGAIN.

REAL MUSICAL COMEDY SUCCESS OF STAGE PLAY. ENTHUSIASTIC FIRST NIGHT. What know they of "Roberta" who the stage play do not know?—a paraphrase of a famous line, but it comes summary of the general view expressed in word and plaudit by the house which filled His Majesty's Theatre last night to greet the stage play "Roberta" as presented by a Williamson company featuring Madge Elliott and Cyril Ritchard with a wealth of talent in the supporting roles, j Cordial from the outset, the house grew sheerly enthusiastic as it got the full bouquet of an exhilarating blend of melody, comedy and tender sentiment with' opulence of dancing, colour and design. At the final curtain the players got what amounted almost to an ovation, which Miss Elliott and Mr. Ritchard acknowledged simply and gracefully. . Madge Elliott imparted a rare delicacy to .the role of Stephanie to enhance the romanticism and tender sentiment of the play, with a sweetness of voice in her song numbers that was attractive and interludes of rhythmic steps reminding Eatrons that their well-remembered wourite danseusc was again with them. There was talented expressiveness in her songs. "The Touch of Your Hands" and "Smoke Gets In Your Eyes." But real magic stirred when Cyril Ritchard (Huck) and she teamed up in the song and dance "Let's Begin," to awaken memories of their earlier alliances and reveal terpsiehorean talent ripened into mellow grace. Cyril Ritchard wan ever in the picture as the haunting Huck, suiting his personality to the genera] x'parkle of the play or creating the spai'le as required with unexpected unkind but witty 'words, a tuneful ditty at the piano or a few equally diverting steps to keep the party

moving. He set a-rolling the •catchy theme song "You're Devastating," which merrily went the rounds of baritone, soprano, tenor and chorus. Leo Franklyn strongly enhanced the comedy with quaint eccentricities which established him _ a warm favourite. But he was rivalled tor favour with the house in the comedy line by Marie La Varre, whose study of the temperamental Clementina Scharwenka kept patrons roundly amused and whose songs, "Something's Got to Happen,' "Bride's Soliloquy and "I'll Be Hard to Handle," sung with Gracie Fields effects, were outstanding features of the vocal programme. Field Fisher added more restrained humour in the part of Lord Henry. Though appearing in only one scene, Violet Morrison, in a character study as Aunt Minnie, set a standard for the tender sentiment running through the play, and her contralto song "Yesterdays" was one of the gems of the evening. Frank Leighton's John Kent was another of the very good character studies of the play, and though she was cast in an unsympathetic part as Sophie (who is something of a cat) Diana Ducane was distinctly impressive in her first New Zealand appearance.

Those mentioned are but a few of the brighter lights in a great cast, for the play is a tremendous production -with nearly a dozen scenes, constantly changing choruses and ballets and a continuous progression of striking stage pictures. The mannequin parade is a play in itself, with a dozen picturesque scenes and the "shadows of silver" group finale a most arresting climax. The frocks which form the motif of the play appear continuously as a woman's visions in their magnificence. While these visions float singly and in battalions through the action, they merely add distinction and richness to but never overshadow the story, romance, joyous fun and sparkling music of ,the entertainment. That is the triumph and irresistible attraction . of a production made possible only by the great wealth of outstanding talent in the cast and the assistance of an orchestra notable in both proportions and control under the baton of Leo Packer.

"Roberta" the stage play undoubtedly captured the house last night as a sparkling, memorable entertainment as well as a procession of magnificent features. The play will be presented nightly and at Saturday and Wednesday matinees till further notice.