PLAZA

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 690, 15 June 1929, Page 14

PLAZA

“THE SINGING FOOL” . This evening marks the commehcement of the seventh consecutive week of “The Singing Fool” at the Plaza Theatre. “The Singing P'ool” provides A 1 Jolson, the star, with a story of universal appeal. First seen as a waiter in a New York cafe, in love with a beautiful entertainer. he later becomes owner of a pretentious night club and husband of the same faithless lady, who casts him into the depths of despair by deserting him and their little boy for a stranger. For the sake of the child he goes on, urged on and aided by a pretty cigarette girl he. had known in his less .successful days. Then comes news that Sonny Boy is dangerously ill. But no more of the thrilling story need be told. Suffice it to say that Jolson has never been quite so Jolsonian, never quite so tremendously appealing. The supporting cast is especially adequate, the photography is beautiful, and Lloyd Bacon has done a masterly piece of directing. A really excellent supporting programme of short “talkie” features is also presented, opening with the “Tannhauser” overture, played by the New York Philharmonic Orchestra. Then there are two beautiful violin solos by the famous Mischa Elman. Solos from the popular opera, “1 Pagliacci” are heard as sung by Giovanni Martinelli, the leading dramatic tenor of the Metropolitan Opera Company, and a number of well-known songs by popular artists are provided by ‘ln a Monastery Cellar,” which depicts tile recreation of the monk after his day’s labour.