“THE DESERT SONG”

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 826, 21 November 1929, Page 14

“THE DESERT SONG”

A GORGEOUS SPECTACLE MELODY AND ROMANCE IN MOROCCO “The Desert Song.” a. musical play j in two acts and eight scenes: music j by Sigmund Romberg. Presented at j His Majesty’s Theatre last evening by j J. C. Williamson, Ltd. CAST Sid El Kar Herbert Browne 1 M.indar ......... J. H. Scott j Hassi Sidney Wheeler j Xeri ......... Maud Pomeroy ! Hadji John Ronald j Ben jam iq Kidd .... Herbert Mundin ; Pierre Birabeau . . . Lance Fairfax j Capt. Fontaine .... Sidney Burchall Azuri Marjorie Maxwell ! Margot Bonvalet .... Marie Breraner I General Birabeau . . . Cecil Pawley \ Susan Renee Murphy \ Ali Ben Ali Douglas Herald j Clementina Maud Zimbla • The sands of the desert will never ' grow cold in the realms of musical j comedy. Here they are again, more i lovely than ever, in “The Desert Song.” Sand and passion burn with only | that fervour and beauty which can be called up by competent scenic artists, composers, librettists and lime-light-men. When “The Desert Song” was heralded as the most spectacular and gorgeous production ever sent to New Zealand by “The Firm,” one imagined that the scenic artists, dress designers and others concerned had run riot—each in his own particular department. But no—everything has been done with extremely good taste. * The Desert Song” is not overloaded with scenery which is so beautiful that it swamps everything else. Romberg has composed many haunting and stirring melodies for the principals, the frocks are all that can be desired (from a man’s point of view), there is a good : romantic story for those who want j stories, a splendid chorus and ballet i and a real horse and a real donkey to j add to stage realism or humour as de- 1 sired. Set in Morocco. “The Desert Song’’ lends itself to spectacle and romance. One glimpses stretches of sundrenched desert through the silken hangings of fretted harem windows?: a Riff mountain retreat against a midnight blue sky; a French general’s house where flowers clamber riotously at the instigation of the scene pointer. It is all very lovely, and for three hours the production speeds on its melodious way as the story of Pierre’s love for Margot unfolds itself. Action never flags for a moment. The authors have been sensible of the value of a song or chorus to relieve any tedium which might intrude in the telling of their dramatic storv And the stony! It is all prettily told in the programme and as everv Aueklander will want to see “The Desert pong, there is no necessity to retail it here. Sufficient to say that Pierre Birabeau, regarded as a milksop bv i Ins father, decides to become the Robin Hood ot Morocco by disguising himself ! as the mysterious Red Shadow. Auckland is more fortunate than the rest of New Zealand in seeiim 31iss Bremner us Margot Bonvalet. She Is the ideal leading lady, and Hurt i s ! an enchanting freshness about her i " orlt which makes it all the mere , enjoyable. A beautiful singing voice , I ,?. xcellent s P ea -king voice and the ability to act are rarely the lot of one hf thc S h h<?Se days; but Mi ss Bremner is the happy possessor of all three P °" e n welcomes the virility of Mr. behaves hie*' 6 lS a leadln = man who vhV *? ke a . man - and Convinces one , th e sincerity of his work. His splendid voice, so much admired when .he Played through New Zealand in Gi?l--bert and Sullivan operas, seemed rather tired last night. And so ftwas ever 01 thiS Se va ln a curtain speech. How-' vivi V i dld llot deter the house from M, u wonderful welcome. i*/ r * Mundin is a clever comedian but some of the material he has to

use is rather tliin. Although the iu, dice enjoyed it with the w"' heartiness. He was happiest in ; second act. Clad in a wildle billon garment he proved that, given the r Portunity. he can be very ammin--particularly with the aid of atl tremely mobile face. Mr. Mundin ' neat dancer—a department in «-v Miss .Murphy, vis confederate in' lighter side of “The Desert Scnr at her best. All*. Burchall gave an admirable t formance. lie sings well and L with conviction. Mr. Browne, hea> disguised in Riff beautifully as usual. Miss swirled her Spanish frock with - required abandon and made an atp, tire figure. Miss Maxwell pleased* ber oriental dances. The other me hers of the con: pany gave all necesm support to this very tine product!, and the chorus and ballet sane . danced with that excellence one hi grown to expect from “Tae Fir®', best productions. “The Desert Sot will be played until December.