CIVIC

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 965, 7 May 1930, Page 15

CIVIC

“PUTTIN’ ON THE RITZ” Something- ns win scenes of backstage life is promised in “Puttin' on the Rifz,” the United Artists’ all-dia-logue musical extravaganza starring Harry Rlchman, which is now at the Civic Theatre. This production contains not only the conventional glimpses of rehearsals and dressing rooms. It goes deeply into the lives of that interesting and curious band of folk—the professionals —shows them as human beings. It depicts them in

ucpicLß mem in poverty and riches, leads the audience to the little nooks and crannies of boarding houses and theatrical hotels which they call home, and .makes them real personalities. As a vaudeville team with many ups and considerably more downs.

Rich man, Joan Bennett, Richard Tucker, James Gleason and Lilyan Tashman offer some remarkable characterisations, with a great deal of comedy and many serious scenes. “Puttin’ on the Ritz” offers to the public several songs written especially for the picture by Irving Berlin and sung by the golden-voiced Richman. Edward Sloman directed the picture, which is based on an original story by John W. Considine, junr. Others in the east include Aileen Pringle, Purnell B. Pratt and Eddie Kane. The Civic’s programme includes supporting talkies and new musical selections by Ted Henkel’s Orchestra and by Ered Scholl at the Grand Organ.