THEATRE ROYAL.

Press, Volume LXVI, Issue 20096, 27 November 1930, Page 7

THEATRE ROYAL.

*'Alf'a Button," the latest triumph of tk# British talking picture industry, is enjoying: a very successful season at the Theatre lloyal. The reason for this is not har<l to find. There have been comedies and comedies, but never one with such a happy twist of plot as "Alf's Button." Ab the title indicates, the story revolves around $ button. But the button is made out of a piece of the original Aladdin's lamp, and ensuing: complio«U«U are necessarily riotous. "THE ROGUE SONG." The much-discussed scropn operetta, "The Rogue Song," filmed entirely in technicolour and starring Lawrence Tibbett, leading baritone of tho Metropolitan Opera. Company, will open an engagement 'at th#» Theatre Roynl on .Saturday. Lawrence Tibbett it the only living opera star of international reputation so far to bo introduced to the .screen. The songs in tho production range from numbers of operatic magnitude- accompanied by a symphony orchestra ,to simple love songs and ballads. They include "To Live, to Love," "Once in the Georgian Hills," "When I'm Looking at You," "Little White Dove," "The Rogue Song," and "The Bandit Chorus." Assisting in the musical end of the picture are Elsa Alsen, dramatic soprano, a women's chorus, and a male chorus. It is stated that while a largo number of persons will bo primarily interested in the musical attractions of "The Rogue Song,'* the producers were careful not to allow the interesting pint of the picture to become submerged in the maze of musical numbers. It was with this in mind that Lionel Barrymore, considered to be one of the foremost* directors, wa? selected to supervise the fiim. The colourful story is told in the Caucasus Mountains, with Tibbett playing the role of ft swashbuckling Russian Robin Hood, leader of a group of singing bandits who steal from the rich and give to the poor. The picture is said to contain somo unusually effective cavalry scenes in which a large number of Russian Cossackn participated. The production contains a hu*ro cast. Prominent parts are played by Catherine Dale Owen, Wallace Mac Donald, Kate Price, Lionel Belmore, James "Rradlmry, jtin., Nance O Neil, Judith Vosselli, Burr Macintosh, IJlrich Haupt, and the well-known Hal Roach team of Laurel and Hardy, who supply comedy relief as renegades attached to Tib» bett's band.