STARR-HARVEY SEASON

Evening Star, Issue 18852, 29 January 1925, Page 5

STARR-HARVEY SEASON

‘ GARDEN OF ALLAH ’ TO-NIGHT. ‘ East of Suez,' which opener! on Saturday night- in His Majesty'? Theatre, had final presentation last- evening. The audience was large. The play (one of most (unusual theme) was splendidly acted. Frank Harvey. Muriel Starr, and Harvey Adams won the whole-hearted admiration of the audience, and high praise is due to the other members of the company— Roger Harry, Fred Coupe, Maurice Tuohy, Jessie Page, and Marjorie Hardie. “Let all those who love (he beautiful in stage setting and production, richness in color and texture of dross, expertdramatic. acting, tense situations, and daring and realism in stage mechanirm, visit the J. C. Wiliarnson production of 1 The Garden of Allah,’ for there they will find all these things added unto them.” Thus wrote a leading Sydney critic of the opening production of the play in Australia. Those who have a taste for tho picturesque in theatrical productions will, it is stated, be well served at His Majesty’s Theatre to-night and to-mor-row evening, when 1 The Garden of Allah ’ will he presented in Dunedin. With Mies Muriel Starr and Mr Frank Harvey as the principals of a specially selected cast, and Mr Clifford Spurr (who was the producer of the original Drury Lane play), all the essentials for a brilliant and effective interpretation of a highly emotional romance in the Far East are dear. As the title suggests, the production will he highly spectacular. But as in many productions with Oriental settings, (be efforts of the artists, it is claimed, will not be dwarfed on this account as the .absorbing story is unfolded. Arab street sellers in flowing white robes, Algerian tirailleurs in red and blue costumes, street of the Ouled Nails in Beni-Mora, a dancing house, the garden of Count Antenni. the realistic sandstorm in (he desert—such features stand out in the colorful charm and tpicfu'resqueness of ‘ The Garden of Allan.’ In each spectacle the effect is said to be emphasised by exquisite incidental music, which has been specially composed for the play by Fir Landon Ronald. The big supporting cast will include Maurice Tuohy. Harvey Adams, Roger Barry, John Fernside, Charles Wheeler, Fred Coape, Rosamund? M'Millan, and Violet Wray. Saturday next, the last night of the Dunedin season, will he devoted to a revival of George Broadhurst-'s notable dramatic success, 1 Bought and Paid For.’ The box plans are at The Bristol.