"THE DESERT SONG"

Press, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22520, 30 September 1938, Page 5

"THE DESERT SONG"

In a review of "The Desert Song." which will begin at the Theatre Royal this evening, a Wellington critic wrote: "The passage of years has not dimmed the lustre of 'The Desert Song,' and

Season Begins To-day

when it was revived on Saturday in the Grand Opera House by the J. C. Williamson Company which had previously made such a success of 'Balalaika,' this romantic musical play seemed as fresh as ever. 'The Desert Song' has nothing in it to date it, and there is no reason why 20 years hence it should not be as captivating as it is to-day. It has all the ingredients necessary for a popular success—a good and romantic story, a colourful setting, and a musical score above the average. "In the present revival no trouble or expense seems to have been spared to make the production as near perfction as possible. Magnificent scenery, colourful mounting, and the acme of stagecraft backed the efforts of a more than capable company, each and every member of which works hard and contributes towards the success of the show. 'The Desert Song' provides thoroughly satisfying entertainment from all points of view, and the audi-ences-at both performances on Saturday were not slow at expressing their appreciation. "Troublesome Riffs in Morocco are the folk who initially populate the stage in 'The Desert Song.' The first scene—and a very effective one, too—shows these gentry in their mountain retreat. They have a mysterious leader—The Red Shadow—who comes and goes, no one knows whence or whither, and an effective appearance on the stage is made by him on a white Arab steed. The French Governor of the province where roam these Riffs is determined to capture the Red Shadow. He has with him at headquarters an attractive young ward who has come out to Morocco for a taste of- romance, and before the plav has run its course she gets -a whole handful of it. The Governor also has a son who appears a bit soft. Margot, the ward, wavers in her affections between this son and an army officer. The latter places duty before romance

and the former seems too insipid for ft husband. "The desired romance comes, Lowever, when Margot is abducted by the -Bed Shadow and carried away to the Riff stronghold. Although protesting, she falls in love with her abductor, who, it subsequently transpires, is ho other than the Governor's son in disguise. Such a story lends itself to spectacular treatment and it gets it, in addition to having a musical score which is consistently pleasing to the ear. As Pierre, the Governor's son* (otherwise the Red Shadow), Mr George Hancock has a part full of dramatic possibilities, and the part also provides him with many opportunities for the exercise of his vocal talents. "The Desert Song* being his chief number. Miss Diana Ducane is a charming and natural Margot. whose appearance, singing, and acting are exactly what are required of the part."