“NO, NO, NANETTE”

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 16, 9 April 1927, Page 14

“NO, NO, NANETTE”

Musical comedy is gradually becoming a tradition. It must have changes of scenes, of clothes, of colour effects, ballets, novelty numbers, music that haunts the ear. It must have a comedian, with a comedienne for support, and the comedian must have one or more humorous friends to aid him in times of stress. There must also be a young man with a voice to sing about love, and he must have a lady friend to sing and dance with him. There must also be a troupe of chorus and ballet girls shapely as to limbs. “No, No, Nanette,” the phenomenally successful comedy, which is to be presented here by J. C. Williamson, Ltd., by arrangement with Sir Benjamin and Mr. John Fuller, at His Majesty’s Theatre, begininng with a matinee performance on Saturday afternoon next, is quite in keeping with the tradition. “No, No, Nanette,” has been described by London critics as a masterpiece of its kind. Many of the numbers in “No, No, Nanette,” have become universal favourites. One of the most popular is “I Want to be Happy,” which is a lilting melody of subtle charm. Other outstanding successes are “Tea For Two,” which incidentally is the favourite fox-trot of the Prince of Wales, “Too Many Rings Around Rosie,” “Take a Little Onestep,” and “You Can Dance With Any Girl.” It is said that Miss Elsie Prince mades an ideal Nanette. Personally she has the freshness and fragrance of a rose. Then, with a rare sense of comedy, the result of which is that she gets the limit in laughter out of everything that comes her way, she has a clear, rich singing voice that is never heard without being followed by enthusiastic applause. In Jimmy Godden the management has evidently acquired the services of a comedian right out of the ordinary, as he has become a general favourite in Australia and New Zealand. He makes the wealthy dispenser of Bibles a humorous and whimsical philanderer, who is filled with good intentions, and cannot resist the spectacle of a damsel in distress. Mr. Charlton Morton has also made himself very popular* by his brilliant comedy work, and his dancing in the part of Billy Early. An outstanding feature of the production is the superb dancing of Miss Alma Mackie. The ensembles are beautiful, and so are the ballets, the frocks, and the scenic effects. The box plans for the first six nights of “No, No, Nanette,” and for the opening matinee, Saturday next, and for the afternoon performances to be staged on Easter Monday, and Wednesday, April 20, will be opened at Lewis R. Eady and Sons, Ltd., on Tuesday morning next, at nine o’clock