“THE GIRL FRIEND”

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 503, 5 November 1928, Page 17

“THE GIRL FRIEND”

BRIGHT SHOW AT HIS MAJESTY’S

‘•The Girl Friend” reached the climax of its popular run at His Majesty’s on Saturday night, when a packed house showed in unmistakable fashion its warm appreciation of ope of the brightest and cleanest shows which has come to Auckland for a long time. Miss Annie Croft was a sweet and charming “Girl Friend.” She scored a notable personal' triumph on Saturday night. Three old favourites in Bay Beattie, Gus Bluett and Billie Lockwood, carry off the major honours in the comedy work, the latter being splendid, with Leo Franklyn as an admirable foil. The organisation and dressing in the choral numbers .was..parUfiMtotK.. good—in this best that the old firm has sent over to New Zealand—and some of the scenery merits special mention. At liis Majesty’s Theatre on Thursday night next the J. C. Williamson, Ltd., management will present Annie Crolt, May Beatty, Gus Bluett, Reginald Sharland, Leo. Franklin and the other members of the “Girl Friend’ Company in the latest successful musical comedy, “Hit the Deck,” which recently terminated a record run in Melbourne, and which is to have its Sydney premiere when the company returns to Australia in January next. “Hit the Deck” is described as a “nautical musical comedy,” in which there figure a varied selection of characters. including missionaries, mandarins and other Chinese, sailors, and men from along the waterfront. The scenes are enacted in a coffee-house on the dock at Newport, the forward deck of a warship, a seaport town in China, and inside a mandarin’s home. The piece provides plenty of opportunity for scenic and spectacular effects, and has the tang of the sea. Some of the musical numbers are particularly fine, including the already famous “Hallelujah,” which May Beatty, as the black "mammy.” will sing with full vocal and instrumental ,. Hit the Deck” provided a remarkable stimulus to recruiting for the Navy, and the call of “Join the Navy—See the World.” which is contained in one of the principal songs, was responded to by thousands of young men. Only five evening performances can be given of “Hit the Deck,” and an afternoon performance will be staged on Saturday. . w The company will appear at Hamilton on Wednesday and Thursday.