HIS MAJESTY’S THEATRE

Evening Star, Issue 22450, 22 September 1936, Page 13

HIS MAJESTY’S THEATRE

S A Midsummer Night's Dream,' at present being shown at His Majesty's Theatre, is the second Shakespearean play to be converted into an audible film. The first, ' The Taming of the Shrew,' opened what was proclaimed as a new era in Shakespearean achievement, but ' A Midsummer Night's Dream showed promise of being an entirely different iproduction, for it was under the direction of Max Reinhardt, the theatrical producer of towering genius. He worked on the film, and now at last the finished product of a great deal of activity meets the public eye. It lives up to expectations, principally in the settings. Every subterfuge of the camera has been artfully employed in order to give the fairy revels in the Athenian wood tbe insubstantial pageantry of a vision. Dancing figures swirling in among the misty trees; the black cloaks of Oberon's attendants billowing like storm-clouds; a band of dwarfs that plays merry music; the filmy garments of Titania and her followers, flowing like phosphorescent water —such things as these are a joy to the eye. They make one realise exactly why Reinhardt's production created such a sensation in the theatre. « NAUGHTY MARIETTA.' Produced on a spectacular scale by Metro-Goldwvn-Mayer, with Jeanctte Mac-Donald, the Sonia of 'The Merry Widow ' and acknowledged one of the greatest singing stars of the screen, and Nelson Eddy, operatic baritone, hailed as & sensational "discovery" among romantic leading men, ' Naughty Marietta ' was filmed as a thundering drama of romantic days, a vehicle that gives to the famous Victor Herbert music the importance it merits. Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer's screen transcription of ' Naughty Marietta,' which will commence at His Majesty's Theatre on Friday, takes on as much importance as its original stage premiere because of the unique handling of the story. The old comic opera libretto was laid aside, and the stirring incidents, historical facts, and dramatic thrills referred to in dialogue in the stage version are actually shown. Miss MaeDonnld plays a princess who masquerades as a castjuottc girl, and Nelson Eddy a Hrjtisb officer in New Orleans. Their songs are backed by huge symphony 0.. ..extras, a chorus of a hundred voices, and many musical novelties fitted into the score by Herbert Stotliart, famous composer and one-time associate of Herbert.