MAJESTIC THEATRE

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 2, Issue 242, 2 June 1932, Page 3

MAJESTIC THEATRE

TO-NIGHT. In "The Prodigal," which will open to-night at the Majestic Theatre, Lawrence Tibbett abandons his erstWhile swashbuckling lines and gay uniforms to appear for the first time in a strictly modern x"ole. Infox'ination is that Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, anxious to get away from typical musical comedy plots, selected an original story which centres about the question of divorce in an aristocratic Sonthern family. This in no way depx'ives music lovers from hearing the Metropolitian Opera favourite sing, for the circumstances of the plot are such as to contrive various episodes in which Tibbett sings a variety of songs as a natural part of the gripping story. Tibbett will be seen as a prodigal son who has been roaming the country with a band of tramps. He stops off at his hoxne to see his mother and for the first time becomes acquainted with his brother's wife, Antonia. Antonia is miserably unhappy with her tyrannical husband and is abont to elope with a former lover. In his attempts to preserve the family integrity, Tibbett succumhs to the charms of the bewitching Antonia and- finds himself in a compromising position. The nnraveling of the situation makes for an extremely dramatic screen plot. Scenes in the "tramps" camp are among the novelties of the production, it being probably the first time that this species of humanity has been exploited in motion pictures. In these sequences Tibbett sings "De Glory Road," a number which he has made famous on the concert stage. Another unusual phase of the picture is a spectacular negro barbecue scene in which Tibbett, together with a chorus of several hundred voices, sings "A Child Is Born" and "Chidlins." Other songs sung at various points in the story are "Life Is a Dream" "Without a Song," and a comic ballad called "Looks Like Pappy." A large supporting cast was engaged for Tibbett's third picture. Esther Ralston, has the feminine lead. Roland Young, last seen in "New Moon," and Cliff Edwards share comedy roles as two of' the tramps.