PLAZA

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 683, 7 June 1929, Page 15

PLAZA

"THE SINGING FOOL” In “The Singing: Fool,” at the Plaza Theatre, A 1 Jolson, the star, is seen and heard as a carefree, joking-enter-tainer—a singing waiter in a New York cabaret. Eventually there comes to him a weight of sorrow and mental stress that entirely changes the course of his life. Everything which he has attained through years of striving is suddenly stripped from him, and the way he meets and copes with his misfortunes makes a story of absorbing heart interest. Married to a revue star who falls in love with another man, the singing waiter suffers torments, whicl; include the death of the child to whom he is passionately devoted. “The Singing Fool” runs the whole scale of human emotions. Jolson’s amazing gift for recognising those who have, like himself, the ability to transmit their feelings to others was demonstrated in his choice of adorable three-year-old Bavey Lee to play the part of Sonny Boy in “The Singing Fool.” The child was chosen from among nearly two hundred applicants. Betty Bronson and Josephine Bunn are seen in the principal feminine roles and other well-known players in the cast are Reed Howes, Arthur liousman, Robert Emmett O’Connor and Edward Martin-del. A really excellent supporting programme of short “talkie” features is also presented, opening with the “Tannhauser” overture, played by the New York Philharmonic Orchestra. Then there are two beautiful violin solos by the famous Mischa Elman. Solos from the popular opera, “I Pagliaeci” are heard as sung by Giovanni Martineili, the leading dramatic tenor of the Metropolitan Opera Company, and a number of well-known songs by popular artists are provided by “In a Monastery Cellar,” which depicts the recreation of the monk after his day’s labour.