‘THE DESERT SONG’

Evening Star, Issue 20315, 25 October 1929, Page 7

‘THE DESERT SONG ’

SPECTACULAR MUSICAL COMEDY In going to soo ‘The Desert Song,’ which will open to-morrow night at His Majesty's Theatre for a season of seven nights'and two matinees, under the J. 0. Williamson management, the public will bo honouring an actor who is also a New Zealander, and by his worldwide success has, to some extent, brought lustre to this dominion. Lance Fairfax, who acts the part of Red Shadow, chid of the Riffs of Morocco, is a native of Wellington. A baritone voice of remarkable quality and a fine sense of tho actor’s art have lifted him to the ranks of the world’s best wherever singing and acting go together. Considered as a successor to tho beautifully spectacular ‘ Rose Mario,’ ‘ The Desert Song ’ is generally considered superior oven to that, and also to ‘ The Vagabond King ’ and ‘ Tho Student Prince.’ Lance Fairfax is assisted by a cast that is ono of the finest ever assembled J. C. Williamson for a production of a like nature. Lance Fairfax will play a dual part, a hafwit (the result of being struck on the head by his superior officer in th© battalion of which ho was a member) and head of the Riffs, to whom he goes for tho purpose of working out his revenge. It is in this latter character that he is the real hero, as ho appears on the stage on his white charger, or sings the numerous songs of love or incitement to daring action. Opposite him is llomalla Hansen, who, as Margot, falls passionately in love with the Red Shadow. As in ‘The Student Prince * so in this play, a feature of tho performance is the singing of the male chorus. It would bo hard to find anyone more capable of guiding such choruses than Herbert Browne, who led ‘ Tho Student Prince' choruses. The ballets and the dancing bear the hallmark of Minnie Everett, than which there can be no higher praise. li ‘ The Desert Song ’ abounds in song, chorus, ballets, and dramatic incidents it is by no means without its humour. For this Herbert Mundin and Renee Murphy combine with rare skill. The whole play is elaborately staged with a wealth of colour.