“THE GIRL FRIEND”

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 501, 2 November 1928, Page 15

“THE GIRL FRIEND”

BIG SUCCESS AT HIS MAJESTY’S

Packed with humour, complete with tuneful lyrics and produced on London scale “The Girl Friend,” now at His Majesty’s Theatre, is one of the most successful musical comedies seen Auckland for some time. D At the head of the cast are Ms Annie Croft, London’s favourite, and Mr. Reginald SUarland, who bas piayed opposite her in many a. West Ena The piece is especially strong S jn humour, having half a dozen fvritrinal comedy artists to put o\ei the unbroken sparkle of the dialogue and appear in entertaining son B and dance Gus Bluett, the Australian comedian, has a big role and * merry ono and the way he gets drunk is a marvel of hilarious realism. Loo Franklin, an English star and a newcomer, makes the “day clerk at the Hotel Wendell one of the outstanding successes of the show, and he is bacxed up by Billie Lockwood as a telephone girl and the real “Girl Friend” of the Sh May Beatty is as vivacious as ever and she gets a great reception each evening. . The story of "The Girl Friend is definite and interesting, which is rather a change from most musical comedies. The ballets are colourful and the lyrics melodious. The best songs in the show aro The Girl Friend” by Billie Lockwood and Leo Franklin, and “The Blue Room,” by Annie Croft and Reg. Sharland. Others are “I Travel the Road,” a delightful gipsy lyric sung by Annie Croft, and the popular “I'm in Love.” "Mountain Greenery” is a snappy finale. Memorable comedy scenes are those of Annie Croft and Gus Bluett in deshabille, and of Leo Franklin and Billie Lockwood.

There will be a matinee of “The Girl Friend” to-morrow. The show will be presented each night until November TO. when "Hit the Deck” will make its debut.