"ROBERTA"

Press, Volume LXXI, Issue 21631, 15 November 1935, Page 9

"ROBERTA"

I FINAL I'EKI'ORMANL'E | i SATURDAY NIGHT j ; "Roberta,'' the J. C. "Williamson j j musical comedy production at the j (Theatre Royal, will be continued toI night, to-morrow afternoon and even- : ing, but the management wishes to ' emphasise that there will be no perI formance this aUernoori. The cast is [ headed by Madge Elliott and Cyril .Rilchard, whose performance has won i them praise and popularity all through Australia and New Zealand. The production, which is in the ihand.-; of Mr Rilchard himself, is capi able and finished. The dancing' is, i of course, one of the outstanding features of the whole presentation; the I high opinions that have already been j ' heard of the performances of Cyril Rilchard and Madge Elliott, have been j ' i more than justified. and moreover j there are some very good numbers by i other members of the cast. There is, : for instance, a very pleasing dance ; ! given in the second scene by Pestie Crane, an Auckland girl whose work i shows very high promise indeed. The 'ballets show evidence of both talent and careful training. : The singing is no less pleasing. Miss Elliott herself sings biree or four song.-, all of which appealed ve-y ob- ' ] viously lo the audience. Arthur Clarke 1 | has a very fine voice and gives her ' i very capable support on one or two occasions. The humorous .singing, a ■ ! most enjoyable feature of the per- i ' ! formance. is entrusted with eminent < ' success to Marie Be Va.rre, with an | ! i occasional pleasant number bv Mr Rit- ! 1 ; chard. ! The stage selling.-, and tit.; dresses i ; are in keeping with the high standard j of ib.e acting, singing, and dancing. | These tilings tin; a most, necessary part i of a musical comedy, and epeeially of j "Roberta." which calls: for tasteful \ background for the entertainment pro- ! vkled by the players. Nothing has I been spared on this side of the pro- '; .. '. duction. \ I ! Next Monday night and Wednes- j 1 '■■ day afternoon the company will j .., i appear in a brand-new 1T35 pro- j , l 'iu' , tion of "Our Miss; Gibbs." j : Many are the happy memories ; :• this musical play will bring! back to ' | the minds of Christchurch theatrei ■ goers. Who can forget "Yip-I-addy-I-ay," "Mary," "Hughie," "Arms and the Man." "Moonstruck." "Yorkshire" ! and many o'her melodies associated j . with one of -tie preatest successes the 1 stage has know,'? "Our Miss Gibbs" I will introduce to the Dominion Freddie ! [ Fo-s, the English comedian recently i . introduced to Australia by J. C. j . Williamson, Lui. ; .\ext Tuesday and Wednesday nights j . (tie company will make its farewell I appearance in "High ,Jinks." a very at- j ,; tractive musical comedy, which is as , IVagranl and alluring as the perfume i ' ihat forms the central motif of its - : piijunnt story. j