CIVIC’S NINTH BILL

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 905, 24 February 1930, Page 15

CIVIC’S NINTH BILL

SPECTACULAR EFFECTS SUCCESS OF “BROADWAY” Brilliant stage spectacles that dazzle the eye, with snappy melodies that catch the ear—that is the typical and established entertainment of today, and the Civic Theatre is providing it in good measure. The splendid programme presented for the first time on Saturday evening is all that could be desired in this line, both in the chief picture, “Broadway,” and in the glamorous stage show by Ted Henkel, entitled “Orientale.”

Here was a whole show in miniature. The atmosphere of the East pervaded this, perhaps, the most brilliant stage setting that the Civic has yet seen. Oriental dances by the Civic Ballet and Oriental tunes by the band were but the prelude to an amazing display of acrobatic dancing by the ever-popular trio, Ramon, Madeline and Pedro. As for the picture, “Broadway,” it is in a class by itself. It includes a powerful dramatic story of murder and detectives, of bootleggers and gang warfare, with a glowing tale of stage life, with plenty of dancing and several new tunes, the whole compounded into a picture, that is as dazzling as Broadway itself. The story centres around a New York cabaret entertainer, Roy Lane, played by Glenn Tryon. It is doubtful if the producer could have found a better actor for the part of Roy Lane than Mr. Tryon.

The main action of the story unfolds behind the scenes in a huge Broadway cafe, a place which accommodates several hundred diners and has a ballet of 50 or 60. There are many wonderful views of the interior of this cafe. A friend of the proprietor, Steven Crandall, has murdered a rival “bootlegger” and manages to elude suspicion, at the same time courting Billie Moore, a chorus girl and the dancing partner of Lane. Naturally Lane protests, but retribution comes from an unexpected quarter.

Among the new songs sung by the cabaret performers during the course of the story are ‘Sing a Little Love Song,” “Broadway’s Got Rhythm,” and “The Chicken Or the Egg?” The cast of “Broadway” contains the names of a number of prominent screen and stage players, such as Evelyn Brent and Merna Kennedy, also Thorpas E. Jackson, Otis Harlan and Robert Ellis. “Broadway” is a colourful, vivid, vital story of New York today. Saturday evening’s programme was opened by the overture, “Slavische Rhapsodie” (Karl Friedmann). The spirited passages of this fine overture. with its haunting half-gipsy music and beautiful melodies, were exquisitely given by the Ciaric Unit Orchestra under Mr. Henkel’s baton. Fred Scholl and his masterly playing of all classes of music on the grand organ, by this time needs no introduction. His pieces are “Souvenier” (Drdla) and two versions, one rather humorous, of “Among My Souveniers.” A sound cartoon, “Noah’s Ark,” and an interesting sound news complete a long and enjoyable programme.