HIS MAJESTY’S THEATRE

Evening Star, Issue 22455, 28 September 1936, Page 2

HIS MAJESTY’S THEATRE

Not since the St. James presented the classic ‘ Barretts of Wiinpolo Street has a picture been received with such an enthusiastic reception as the musical romance, ‘ Naughty Marietta,’ at piesent in a return season at His Majesty s. Tho story is briefly that of the lovely Princess Marie de la Bonfain (Jeanette MacDonald), who is being forced by her uncle (Douglas Dumbrille) to marry the odious Don Carlos de Braganza. To cscapo this marriage, which is sponsored by King Louis XV., she exchanges identities with her servant, Marietta, and, armed with the latter’s credentials, leaves France as one of 40 “ casquettc ” girls bound for the French settlement of Louisiana to find husbands. The ship is captured by pirates, who land with their fair capitves in the Everglades, but are routed by a band of woodsmen under Captain Richard Warrington (Nelson Eddy), who commences a quaint courtship of Marietta. On arrival at St. Louis, Marietta discovers that she cannot go through with _ her contract of marriage, and in getting out of it places herself in a very awkward position, from which she is rescued by the captain. When all is going well for the young couple a ship arrives with the uncle and Don Carlos aboard. Tho real identity of Marietta is disclosed, and she is ordered back to France. Captain Warrington is threatened with execution if he so much as sees her again, but in a burst of melodious dare-devil-try he breaks in on the schemes of Don Carlos and Louis, and substitutes his and tho audience’s idea of a perfectly happy ending. As the Governor of the settlement and his consort, Frank Morgan and Elsa Lanchester reveal themselves as stars of no mean magnitude.