HIS MAJESTY’S THEATRE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22743, 2 December 1935, Page 11

HIS MAJESTY’S THEATRE

“ ROBERTA” SEASON CONCLUDED The final performances of “Roberta,” the spectacular musical production presented by the J. C. Williamson Musical Comedy Company, were given in His Majesty’s Theatre on Saturday. The audience demonstrated the keenest appreciation of .the vei-satile efforts of the principals, Miss Madge Elliott and Mr Cyril Ritchard, who received excellent support from the remainder of the cast. Their work, as well as the elaborate staging and dressing of the production, will provide pleasant memories for those who have seen it. “ OUR MISS GIBBS.” To-night and on Wednesday afternoon “ Our Miss Gibbs,” one of the moat popular and tuneful musical comedies ever written, will be revived by the J. C. Williamson. Musical Comedy Company at His Majesty’s Theatre. Madge Elliott will appear in the name part and Cyril Ritchard will be seen as Hughie. The role of Timothy Gibbs will be played by the noted young London comedian, Freddie Foss, who will make his first appearance in Dunedin in this piece. Diane du Cane will play the part of Lady Betty and Marie le Varre will be at her best. Frank Leighton, Leo Franklyn, and Ethel Morrison are also prominently cast. The dressing of this show is said to be glorious, and ample scope is given the manikins to display some gorgeous creations, including some ultra-smart hats. “ Our Miss Gibbs ” ran for 21 weeks in Sydney when revived by this company recently. Popular songs in it are “Yip-I-Addy,” “Arms and the Man,” “Hats,” “Our Farm,” and “Moonstruck.” The settings are described as “something out of the box.” “ HIGH JINKS ” TO-MORROW The production of “ Our Miss Gibbs ” is to be followed by two performances of “ High Jinks ” to-morrow and Wednesday nights. “High Jinks” was one of the company’s most popular productions in Melbourne and Sydney. There is something of a remarkable record associated with this delightful play for ne fewer than 11 famous librettists, composers, and authors had a share in its production. The story was written by Otto Harbach, the score composed by Rudolph Friml, and the adaptation to the English stage by Frederick Lonsdale. Additional numbers were composed by Paul Reubens, Jerome Kern, Howard Talbot, and James W. TaTe. The result is a musical comedy full of sparkle, tunefulness, and variety, characteristic of the best work of the most notable writers and composers the stage has ever known. The ever-popular artists, Madge Elliott and Cyril Ritchard, will he the central figures in “High Jinks,” supported by the excellent company, which has just concluded a most successful season of “ Roberta."