A BRIGHT COMEDY.

Star (Christchurch), Volume LXVI, Issue 20219, 1 February 1934, Page 3

A BRIGHT COMEDY.

“ Soldiers of the King ” for Crystal, Saturday. Stanley Lupino and Betty Stookfeld are the principals in the comedy, “King of the Ritz,” which will be shown finally to-morrow night at the Crystal Palace Theatre. “ Soldiers of the King,” the bright and entertaining production which will start on Saturday at the Crystal Palace Theatre, tells a story of the stage, both before and behind the footlights. With a musical background in the patriotic song of the Edwardian era, the theme only slightly touches on military life, when two dashing officers figure in the. romantc narrative that runs lightly hut pleasantly through the picture. The Marvello troupe of entertainers is a varied and talented aggregation of theathicals and Cicely Courtneidge, its leader, scores an impressive triumph in a double role, talcing the parts of the aged and enfeebled founder of the troupe and its new, vigorous and vivacious leaded. Her parts are so wonderfully portrayed that it is impossible to detect in the tottering old woman who relinquishes her charge of the company, the same personality as her successor who infuses in the touring theatricals a vim and artistry astounding in their versatility. There are mirth, music and pathos running throughout the piece, with at times violent burlesque that has the audience in rollicking laughter. The production is lavishlj' staged and excellently acted, the musical setting being exceptionally pleasing. Cicely Courtneidge, queen of London’s music hall stars, is seen in this film for the first time without her popular husband. Jack Hulbert, who starred with her in “The Ghost Train” and “Jack’s the Boy.” While every moment of (he picture is described as a sheer delight owing to the speed with which one laughable incident follows In the wake of another, one sequence will, it is said, stand out in the memory of all who see it. In this particular instance one of the adagio troupe fails to appear, and at. the last moment Cicely takes her place. It would be impossible to imagine anything funnier than the. inelegant Cicely Courtneidge trying vainly to appear graceful as she ts thrown from one man to another. The supporting cast, includes many famous English vaudevillians.” and the Courtneidge comedy is greatly enhanced by the presence of Edward Everett Horton, veteran comedian of many of the most successful pictures from Hollvwood. Box plans at The Bristol.