“THE STUDENT PRINCE”

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 360, 22 May 1928, Page 15

“THE STUDENT PRINCE”

HIS MAJESTY’S TO-MORROW After the most successful season of comic opera yet staged in Australia, the J. C. Williamson Royal Comics arrived to-day by the s.s. Marama and commence a Dominion tour to-mor-row (Wednesday) evening at His Majesty’s Theatre, opening in the romantic comic opera, “The Student Prince.” The complete company, principals, chorus and orchestra, that broke all records in Sydney and Melbourne, has been brought to the Dominion, and is without doubt the biggest and costliest production the firm has ever staged here. “The Student Prince” is written round the romantic drama, “Old Heidelberg,” and the story has been closely followed. The plot lends itself to glittering scenes, palatial rooms, soldiers in all the splendour of the eighteenth century uniforms, and ladies in gorgeous gowns of that period. It is described as a. brilliant and wonderful pageant. The company is headed by Beppie de Vries, something entirely new in the way of a Dutch leading lady. This is the first time a lady from the Netherlands has occupied such a position in the colonies. Charmingly pretty, with a voice to match, and more fortunate than all. the personality, without which all these would be naught, she in Australia completely captivated her audiences from her very first appearance James Teddy, who plays Prince Jvaal, has appeared in the role on the Continent over 1,000 times. Important people with Continental reputations are Hedley Hall and Frank Webster. Popular people already well known here are Arthur Stigent, Leslie Holland, Noel Dainton, Vera Spaull, Adele Crane and George Lane. A big feature of the production is the male chorus of 40 singing students. The box plans for the first six nights of “The Student Prince” are open at Lewis Eady, Ltd.’s, while the preferential plans are open for the season-