“ROSE MARIE"

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 232, 20 December 1927, Page 19

“ROSE MARIE"

HIS MAJESTY’S TO-MORROW “Rose Marie” is the most expensive musical production ever staged by J. C. Williamson, Ltd., and when it comes to New Zealand will no doubt amaze all who flock to see and hear it. It will open at His Majesty’s Theatre tomorrow direct from a sensational Australian season which constitutes a record. Songs from “Rose Marie” have been brought to us, and such haunting melodies as “Indian Love Call,” “Rose Marie,” “Pretty Things,” “Luk Jeerb,’' “Totem Tom Tom,” “Only a Kiss,” “Wanda Waltz,” “Dour of My Dreams,” and others have only whetted the appetite for more. “Rose Marie” is a romance of the Canadian Rockies, and tho cast is one of the best ever assembled. It was welcome nows to New Zealanders that the charming Miss Harriet Bennet was making the trip, and will be seen in her original role of Rose Marie; Reginald Dandy, a clean-cut young Englishman, who has the juvenile lead, is an actor and singer of some distinction, and shares with Miss Bennet the principal honours. One must not forget the character study of Frederic Bentley, also an Englishman, in the comedy role of Haard-Boiled Herman, nor the work of Yvonno Banvard, as Lady Jane. Miss Stephanie Deste has a unique role, that of Wanda, the Indian vampire, who leads the Totem girls in the dance that has been the talk of con-

tinents. There are other names to conjure with, too —James Hughes, as Sergeant Malone; George Bryant, as Black Eagle; Lou Vernon, Emile La Flame; Noel Allan, Edward Hawley; and Doris Johnstone, as Ethel Grander. “Rose Marie” comes with huge scenic equipment and wonderful dressing, an army of chorus girls and Totem dancers, selected from England, America and Australia, and a crowd of chorus men, so essential to the talc. It will bo a revelation —according to those who have seen “Rose Marie” —to watch the evolutions of the Totem girls, an extraordinarily beautiful and vitalising action-song in which some 50 girls take part with a precision that is military in its perfection. This is only ono feature of “Rose Marie” with its haunting songs, its romantic love stor’ its gorgeous settings, its pretty girls, its posturing ballets, its melodramatic developments, its operatic atmosphere suddenly descending to the level of pure farce. .Those who see “Rose Marie” will see musical comedy, revue, spectacle, drama, and operetta, and will hear softly-flowing love songs, rousing marches, barbaric themes, lilting tunes and excited outbursts. rivalb T * Puccini. Rudolf Friml and Herbert Stothart have done their best with the musical side of “Rose Marie.” whip there could be no more interesting «;tage love tale than the books of Otto Harbach and Oscar Hammerstein. Mr George Highland will “produce” for the Firm, and there will be a large orchestra to usher in and accompany" delicious “Rose Marie.”