THEATRE ROYAL.

Press, Volume LXVI, Issue 19888, 27 March 1930, Page 7

THEATRE ROYAL.

In lavishMM of production, quality of both nolo »nd concerted singing, and mobility of ac«ne, "Bio Rita," at the Theatre Royal, is certainly immeasurably superior to any' musical comedy which has been produced on the utage locally. Bebe Daniels, as Rita, reveab the fact that she possesses a voice admirably suited to musical comedy; it is sweat, and rarely marred by tho screech so often heard in "talkie*." John Boles as Jim Stewart sings his love in a pleasing voice of even better quality. Besides this, however, one, 'other thing attracts attention—the''excellence of the orchestra in the background. The recording is brilliant, and • the mtfsic reveals exactly what can b« attained by a first-class dance orheetra in America. The ballet work is excellently staged in splendid settings, and the members of the chorua, besides being beautifully and originally dressed, possess that necessary comeliness and charm without which any ballet is only half successful. Yet one thing here seems to deserve comment. In a production which bears the name of Ziegfeld it is surprising to find that the' ballet work v is at times ragged, giving the impression that the girls have not been thoroughly drilled iri their danoes. No matter how ex* eellent the rest .of the staging, the show lose* something if the feeling is conveyed that the ballet has not' fully grasped the rhythm of the dance. Apart from this minor 'matter, the picture is excellent; It is, in faeli one of the best entertainments the "talkies',' have brought to us. . There Is in it humour that ia not over-obvious,, and which will cause one to laugh even after leaving the theatre; the songs are well worth remembering, and in the second half the colour ia extremely successful, lending an added attraction to an already sumptuous production.