"DIANE DEVELOPS"

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 1, Issue 116, 8 January 1932, Page 6

"DIANE DEVELOPS"

BRIGHT AND BRBEZY MUSICAL COMEDY SUCCESSFUL FIRST NIGHT Combining the medieval with the ultra-modern in a gigantic farce which held the large audience at the M'ajestic Theatre last evening. "Diane IDevelops," produced by Messrs Cardston and Baxter with a cast mostly drawn from Rotorua talent, proved an outstanding success. From the first rise to the final fall of the curtain thB enjjbrtarnment proceeded without a hitch, every scene gripping the spectators. The first act was set in the lounge of the Hotel Belvoir, carried out in old-world style and the players were preceded by a chorus of singing and dancing girls. After this the" actual story commences with a conversation between the telephone girl behind a desk and the bell boy at the door of the grand entrance. Gradually, as the theme evolves, more and more hitmour is introduced. the greater part of this being supnlieci by Mr. Baxter himself. In the role of Madame Valeta Pazooti, the proprietress of the hotel, he is decidedly successful. Cleverly interwoven between the scenes are numbers giving many beautiful displays of intricate dance steps, harmonic blending of voices, an: gorgeous dresses. The training and care put into these numbers can only be fully appreciated by seeing the play itself and the "Post" has no ' hesitation in recommending it as an entertainment worth seeing.

Costumes in Keeping The costumes of the players are in keeping with the ancient period of the story but the dialogue and entrenumbers are of the present day. Ont scene in the third act certainly mei with the approval of the ladies in the audience, who demonstrated their ap preciation in no uncertain terms. Thk was the fashion parade before the prince and Madame Pazooti, who is incidentally, trying to capture him ii. place of her daughter whose hand t!u prince seeks. The dresses displayee the height of modern fashion and timi, attractiveness was gracef.ully enhanc ed by the rnannequins. The story commences with the visit of Francis, Crown Prince of Knucvir (Mr. Frank Jones), to the hotel, seeking to marry the beautiful daughtee Diane (Miss Gay Thomson) of the proprietress. Diane, however, doe.not want the prince but gives her love to the bell boy Michel (Mr. Colir. Shorter) and her mother's efforts tr "get her off," produce much amusement. " Later in the story the proprietress herself decides to marry the prince who by no means likes the idea, and from here the story worlcs up to a grand climax which entirely satisfi.es The personnel of the east and their parts are as follows: —

Alphonse Lui d'Avignon (Manage* of the Hotel Belvoir at WeismuchenV Mr. Charles Cottrell; Krusha (Telephone Girl, Hotel Belvoir) Miss Avor Hawkins; Michel (Relieving Bell Boy) Mr Colin Shorter; Madame Valeta Pazooti (Proprietress), Mr. J. DavidsonBaxter; Francis ("Crown Prince o' Knutvia), Mr. Frank Jones; Cone' d'lddli Bunato (Aide de Camp), Mr Norman Steele; Count Fforbaifm (Aide de Camp), Mr. Trevor Carnac,han; Madame Torynia (Modiste from " Paris) Miss Rose Campny; Chaneelloof Knutvia, Mr. Bernard Carter; Tit' (Bell Boy of Hotel Belvoir), Mr. Jack Kitchen; General Kuttupruff, Mr. Johr Kinninmont; Therese, Miss Rang' Owens; Mitzi, Miss Roma Steele • Bianca, Miss Olive Beamish; Diane Miss Gay Thomson. The orchestra, under the eonductor ship of Mr. H. J. Norris gave severn1 pleasing items. Excellent work was also done by Mrs "Duncan Steele (wardrobe mistress and chaperone). Mrs Shalfoon (stage assistant), Mrs Campny (flcwal display), Mrs Searse (mannequin parade), and Mrs Moorc "(assistant).