THEATRE ROYAL.

Press, Volume LXVI, Issue 20105, 8 December 1930, Page 4

THEATRE ROYAL.

A CONVINCING VIEW OF "TDK GAY NINETIES/' Gorgeous Bcenes, in thfl rjurj. ' ol forty years ago is portrayed in a thoroughly convincing manner, humorous wlicro tho j)omp and circumstance of <wryday life of tho period hj; revealed, and delightful acting by fair-lieadeil Marion Duvieri ir; :x demuro maiden' of fifty years ago, make of "Tho Clay -Tsintit'i l ,' J whieh cuiunifiiecd a sohsou at tbts Theatre Koyal cm ►Saturday, a talking picture that is really worth feeing. Primarily the pieturo is pun.: i'lircv, but. this is relieved by a story that at, finu'-a ri.-r'.-.s to quito dramatic li'-i'.ihts. A hnpii'ui feature of tho production, m»w so many American talkies harp «»tt oi>e in*-j.-> !.e;-«. modern theme, is thai it treat.*; of u period that up to now has burn .ignored hy .-eon ;i rm writers. Because of this n of Vrc-ii uir runs through the whole him, :nu! i■* l • attention of the audience /.'anno!. piwander. If tho production po!-:->of ; :-<-d nu other merit, no idleness oi' cont-.truetiou, and none of the brilliant acting of Hariou !.>:«v!»■>:, then it- would intviguo with its intimate revelation of what really did go behind tho scenes of tho jMctu re-postcards, aiid old fashion plates, that are imw tho solo witnesses of an ago that vas, alter alt, only forty years ago. Tho story is told of a chorus i;irl in nn American theatre in the gay '■nineties.'' All her friends enjoy themselves in various ways with the young "dogs," whose whiskers and money are, to modern eyes, their ynlu attraction. Daisy,, the chorus girl, cannot seem, however, to let herself go in equal measure with the others, and, despite her undoubted prettiness, she is unhappy. Thou the hero appears, a very wealthy young man, who immediately falls in lovo with her. After some adventures, they "live happily ever afterwards." Marion Davies is so versatile that it is not necessary to enlarge on her very excellent acting. As Jack Vibart, Lawrence <Jray is also good. The remainder of the easl. play their parts suitably. Old song refrains, aptly revived, form a novel feature of the production.