KING’S THEATRE

Dominion, Volume 34, Issue 157, 29 March 1941, Page 15

KING’S THEATRE

Alice Faye and Betty Grable are cast as the Blane sisters (Katie and Lily respectively), in that musical and romantic show, “Tin Pan Alley,” retained for a further week at the King’s Theatre. Katie and Lily have been in vaudeville almost since they could walk, and, when the story opens in 1915, have been persuaded by the fiirm of Harrigan and Calhoun (John Payne and Jack Oakie) to “put over” one of their songs.

Harrigan and Calhoun have established themselves as song publishers, but luck does not seem to come their way. Calhoun has one tune in which he has sublime faith, but whenever it is. presented it just misses. Harrigan has a straight left which is the envy of all prize-fight managers, but he is only interested m the ring when the song publishing business has left him without money to pay the rent. Harrigan falls in love with Katie, but as he always had his eye on the main chance, some of his business actions do not meet with her approval. Lily, who is definitely not a one-man s girl, has in the meantime gone over to London and made quite a “hit” on the London stage. Katie follows, and they continue to share the honours when Amerii can soldiers arrive in" London. Katie has tried to forget Harrigan and has become engaged to an English nobleman, but when she sees Harrigan, once more she realizes she still loves him and. promises to wait for him till he returns. “Tin Pan Alley’’ is notable for its revival of song “hits” of more than 20 years ago, and. has an interesting and amusing theory about how the famous “K-K-K-Katy” came to be written.