“LIDO LADY”

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 917, 10 March 1930, Page 14

“LIDO LADY”

CHARMING YOUNG PERSON MUSICAL COMEDY RETURNS “Lido Lady,” a musical comedy in two acts and six scenes. 'Written by Ronald Jeans. Music by Richard Rogers. Lyrics by Lorenz Hart. Presented at His Majesty’s Theatre by Sir Benjamin and Mr. John Fuller. CAST Peaches Stone Verna Bain Benson Victor Arnley Spencer Weldon Charles Perrin Rufus Blake Cliff O'Keefe Luis Valeze Jack Phillips Bill Harker Ernest Arnley Harry Bassett .. .. .. .. Freddie Forbes Fay Blake Betty Lambert Peggy Bassett Catherine Stewart Rita Aster Faire Lady,” like many other ladies of the musical comedy world, is quite a charming person. Not quite so lavish, perhaps, as her London sister, but then the colonial edition of any musical comedy family is rarely up to London standards. Pageants and gala nights on the Lido require a bigger chorus to give them their true perspective. However, the company on Saturday night set itself out to delight a full house, and the audience obviously enjoyed a return of musical comedy. Most of the story, and the most amusing part of it, concerns a fPm actress in search of publicity. Nothing will stop her,' but every stunt goes wrong. Even her plunge into the Grand Canal is frustrated by a young man who is endeavouring to win an heiress. It is excellent material for all concerned, particularly for the qomedienne—the part played in London by Cecily Courtnidge. There is also a wealth of plot and counter-plot—a villain who is attempting to obtain the secret of synthetic rubber from the owner of the Lido mansion, and a suitor for the hand of the heiress, who disguises himself as a New York Pressman. It is all very light- and suitably bright, with a liberal sprinkling of melodies, old and new. There is a boxing interlude, a Queen of Sheba pageant. a glimpse of the Lido Sporting Club, and a trip on the s.s. Futuria. Mr. Forbes, who heads the company, is the most immaculate comedian we have seen for many a day. He has no cackles of laughter, no persistent gags or mannerisms to help him on his way His humour is obtained by legitimate methods and with the aid of a nimbleminded author. Miss Lambert graced her part with a pleasing appearance, a nice singing voice and some pretty frocks. Miss Stewart, who has the .most amusing part in the production, made it delightfully amusing. Her efforts to obtain headlines in the newspapers would have brought tears of joy to the eyes of any hard-working film star. Miss Bain spent most of the evening charmingly poised on her toes, dancing as delightfTilly as ever. The Arnley Brothers also stepped a lively measure. The Big Four, Messrs. O’Keefe, Perrin, Wignall and Webber, will be a popular feature of all the productions. They specialise in harmony and sing excellently. “Lido Lady” has some pretty melodies scattered through her story. These include “A Little Flat in Soho Square.” “My Heart Stood Still,” “Try Again Tomorrow” and “Love, Wonderful Love.” “Lido Lady” will be followed by “Archie,” “Sunny,” “Nellie Kelly,” and several other entertaining musical comedies. PRINCE EDWARD “Drag of the Family,” the dramatic story of a man’s fight against poverty and the drag of his wife’s family, is now being shown at the Prince Edward Theatre. This is a splendid all-talking production, starring Richard Barthelmess, with Alice Day and Lila Lee in supporting roles. Several shorter talkie items are also being shown. El Brendel is being kept busy at the Fox Movietone studios these days. No sooner did he finish a leading role with Victor McLaglen and Fifi, Dorsay in “Hot For Paris,” than he was cast for feature parts in “The Golden Calf” and “The Dollar Princess.”