KING'S THEATERS

Gisborne Times, Volume LXXXI, Issue 12398, 10 November 1934, Page 6

KING'S THEATERS

TO-DAY SPARKLING EXTRAVAGANZA. “OHU CHIN CHOW.” For four years continuously, in Loudon and for seasons extending into many months in the capital cities of Australia and other countries of tho Empire, tho stage version of “Qhu Chin Chow” enjoyed extraordinary popularity. It was the greatest musical play spectacle ever devised. But that it was capable of expansion of still more spectacular presentation, and of amplification in story-detail, which commences at four sessions at 10.30 a.m., 2, 5 and 8 p.m at the King's Theatre to-day, the Gaumont British screen version, splendidly demonstrates. Musical films were never more popular than they are today, but this rich Oriental story provides not only a feast for the eye. but an abundance of music far in advance of what is generally termed “jazz” and that which is ordinarily served up in a revue. The “Chu Chin Chow” choruses and solos are as seductive today as when Frederic Norton first gave their attractions to music-lovers, while. in the fidin, their presentation is greatly enhanced by elaborate staging in an atmosphere of realism. Moveovor .all the Arabian Nights’ glamour of the original subject has been preserved with rare, skill ; but the tinselly pantomime effect* has been eliminated go that the characters are flesh and blood portraits, rather than puppets of more or less fantastic origin. The production has been excellently cast, and every detail of the picture presents that polish and finish which picture-goers have come to expect.

The musical score of the' work is, <•» course, one of its great si It ructions “The Robbers Chorus,” tho ‘Cibber’s Song,” “I Love You So’ ami “dm Chin Chow’ are all ox cell entity rendered and prove that, they ba\e survived tho passage o* the years with ease.