“ROSE MARIE”

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 221, 7 December 1927, Page 15

“ROSE MARIE”

It is stated that “Rose Marie,” which comes to Auckland on December 21, has proved one of the most expensive musical productions ever staged by J. C. Williamson, Ltd., and the splendid support given, to this most striking and spectacular of musical comedies has testified in no uncertain measure the appreciation of the public of the very best in stage presentations. The elaborate wardrobe and the beautiful dressings—they are a replica of those used in the London and New York productions—cost many thousands of pounds, while the purchase of the rights and the preliminary expenses meant the expenditure of a very large sum. It is estimated that the expenses of the preliminary rehearsals alone cost over £2,000, and £25,000 must have been something like the expenditure by the firm before the musical comedy was staged i.n Australia. The army of principals, chorus girls, chorus men and dancers was selected from England, America and Australia. The principals are said to be the highest salaried combination ever brought to Australia and New Zealand. “Rose Marie” ran for ten months in Sydney alone, and was generally voted one of the greatest musical comedy productions ever seen under the Southern Cross, and in many respects equal to the London and New York productions. This feature was produced by George Highland, who has put his best work into it, and the ballets and dances w’ere arranged by Miss Minnie Hooper.

Box plans for preferential booking will be opened at Lewis R. Eady and Son, Ltd., on Monday morning next.