THEATRE ROYAL.

Press, Volume LXV, Issue 19683, 29 July 1929, Page 6

THEATRE ROYAL.

"WHITE SHADOWS IN THE SOUTH SEAS." Under the direction of Williamson Filfni fS.Z.), Ltd., "White Shadows In the South Seas" opened it season with notable (access at the Theatre Boyal oo Thursday. This romance ol the tropics—the story of a derelict doctor and a native princess—is not a dialogue-talkie, but the new science of sound-synchronisation is employed to create colour and atmosphere, and to produce a realism that would otherwise be totally impossible. For instance, with the wholly silent film one must imagine the crash of mountainous seas, the howling of the storm in a ship's rigging, and the plantive songs of South Sea Islanders. In this film one actually hears all theie interesting sounds, and the effect is astounding. The picture shows Nature in her most beautiful moods, and strikes a great contrast during storm scenes, when her cruelty is made doubly manifest. A particularly impressive passage is a ship's perilous journey through a typhoon, with all the awe-inspiring sounds in accompaniment. The music of the natives of the Marquesas Islands is heard in all its haunting beauty, and is blended with a fine orchestra) score, in clever and artistic fashion. In addition to the purely entertaining note of the tale, one is given educational glimpses into exploitation of the natives by a certain type OI trader, whose business is pearl-fishing, the hardships suffered by the natives, and some remarkable submarine scenes. The "shorts" which make up the first part of the programme are unusually interesting, being "all-talkie." A Pathe Newi presents, visibly and audibly, feeding-time in a zoo, motor-cycle stunting, the launching of an aeroplane by a catapult, and other topical features. Vincent Tjopez, an American radio pianist, plays "Flapperette," and other numbers; Duci de Kenckiarto, violin virtuoso, plays "Andalusian Romance," and another item; and Miss Mar'on Harris is heard and seen singing "I Wonder" and "I'm More Than Satisfied." By way of an introduction to the whole programme the song "Sonny Boy" is sunt?, to a WurliUer organ accompaniment. The programme will be repeated to-day.