THEATRE ROYAL

Press, Volume LXVI, Issue 20104, 6 December 1930, Page 24

THEATRE ROYAL

«GAY NINETIES' TO-DAY

A breath of a biilliant, if somewhat faded, past will sweep across the screen of the Theatre Hoyal when Marion Davies's newest all-talking vehicle, "The Gay Nineties," opens *,o-day. For here we n panorama of the "good old days of the '9o's, when even bathing suits had necks and long sleeves, and a tri A > on a "bicycies built for two," a tandem, x \ iX9 decidedly more delightful than a car tk e is to-day. The piciuresquo scenes, quaint costumes, and strict morals depicted -n "The Gay Nineties" offer a similar diversion to that of looking through grandma s famil> album, with the added interest of the diou characters coming to life and mouthing Bl, y| old-fashioned sentiments as "Now i reulU Oon't want to slander the poor girl, t>ut I heart! that she was actually seen smoking a cigarette!" The plot, whicn is and entertainingly punctuated with hearty latighs, and many old iamous songs concerns the love of Daisy, a chorus girl. l" r Jack Vibart, a young well-to-do man, famous for his racing stables. However, Jac \s luck on the turf does not last out, and his mother tells Daisy that he must marr> a rich young society girl to maintain the family's social standing. Unhappy wor ; ried at the position, Daisy to try to convince Jack that her love for him has flown with his money, but Jack will not believe her, and in spite of further actions to try to turn him away, ho eventually learns of her sacrifice and, in a fitting climax, «ul ends happily. The cast is more than competent througuout, and Miss Davies s flair tor humour is again well to the fore. .Lawrence Gray gives a convincing performance as .lack Vibart, Nance O'Neill plays his mother, and the many comedy roles are ably filled by Jed Prouty, Walter Catlctt, and John Bartels; Sam Ilardy does his usual "villain" role to perfection. An attractive feature of the picture is the introduction of some of the famous '9o's melodies, and Lawrence Gray gives a good renderm. 1 ol a new song called "My Kind of Man." A specially selected number of short su are also on the programme.