NEW OPERA HOUSE.

Press, Volume LXVI, Issue 19854, 15 February 1930, Page 7

NEW OPERA HOUSE.

The last production of Jim Gerald's revue Company a season, "The Honeymoon Girl," ia a sparkling one, and audiences at the New Opera Houeb may well come to the conclusion that the last is the beat. Jim Gerald aa Mumps, the Boots of an hotel, has created a character that has probably never existed before, either on or off the stage. It is not so much the appearance of Mumps, which at times is almost ludicrous, as his humorous personality which puts the audience into fits of laughter at his every appearance.

In many musical comedies, if a plot does exist, it iB usually trifling or else ho well camouflaged as to be invisible to an ordinary person. This to not the case with "The Honeymoon Girl.' There is an amusing and well-considered plot which becomes more and more involved as the comedy progresses and is finally otraightentd out by an amazing series of strokes of good fortune in the last scene in the honeymoon chateau. The sinking is quite up to the standard one would expect in such a production. "I Said Oil!" by Jim Gerald, "One Little Boy" by Miss Lily Coburn, and "For To-night" by Miss Linda Poy and Tom Dale deserve special mention. Albo the dancing is excellent in every respect The ballets by the chorus in particular and the whole company in general, are beautifully synchronised and leave no loophole for criticism.

FULLERS' PROGRESSIVE POLICY.

KN'TERTAINMENT FOR THE PUBLIC. Oil the occasion of the presentation of the "talkies" throughout the Fuller theatres in New Zealand, the Fuller management cannot but feel a slight dilation on the 19U0 amusement programme of their firm would not be out of place. Christchurch amusement lovers must by now realise to the full the value the Fuller name lends when allied to any entertainment. Though usually associated with vaudevile and revue, Sir Benjamin and Mr John Fuller, refusing to be tied to any one offering, aim to be the universal providers of the amusement-seeking people. For over a quarter of a century they have studied the public tastes in Australia and New Zealand, and have held the vaudeville field unchallenged. Within recent years there has been no lack of evidence to show their unrestricted policy and consideration of the public. To digress but a little, we have had the presentation of the London Musical Comedy Company with the adorable Elsie Prince, and later the Fuller-Gonsalez Italian Opera Company, and then the wonderful production of "Rio Rita," starring Gladys MoncriefC.

Now the big Fuller firm have entered the "talkie" world for their future activities, and on Saturday next, February 22nd, Chrfstchurch'R most popular theatre, Fullers' New Opera House, which was built for sound, will make its premier opening with the talkies. _

The best that the world has to offer in the way of "talkie" equipment and super all-talking pictures have been secured by Sir Ben.iamin and Mr John Fuller. The New Opera House has been equipped with the latest Western Electric sound system, and the entire 1930 quota of the famous Warner Bros.' studios have been booked for the New Opera House, which will open with Warner Bros.' Vitaphone masterpiece "Disraeli, the wonder alMalking photo-play, starring the creat English actor George Arliss, to he followed bv "The Gold Diggers of Broartwny," "Show of Shows." "Tiger "So Lone. Letty," "The Green Godde-s, "The Hottentot," and A 1 Jolson in Say It with Songs" and "Mammy." These are but a few of the treats that the big Fuller firm promises for the future.