OPERA HOUSE, NEW PLYMOUTH.

Taranaki Daily News, 30 September 1940, Page 8

OPERA HOUSE, NEW PLYMOUTH.

"THE GREAT VICTOR HERBERT." A cast headed by such celebrities as Allan Jones, Mary Martin and Walter Connolly, 28 of the unforgettable melodies written by Victor Herbert, and a rousing romance of the show world of the early 1900's are on the bill of fare at the Opera House, New Plymouth, in Paramount's new musical drama, "The Great Victor Herbert." Not so much a biography of Victor Herbert as a drama of the composer's influence over the glamcrous show world of his day, the film tells of the' romance of a stage-struck girl and the matinee idol of the day. who meet in Herbert's gay world, find fame in starring in his operettas and happiness in their friendship with the gi'eat man. Miss Martin, as the young girl in the story, comes to New York with her only assets uncommonly good looks, a fine singing voice, and a spirited determination to make a name for herself on Broadway. Her lncky day comes when she meets Herbert's premier star, Jonea who falls in love with her, makes her his wife, and later his stage partner. "The Great Victor Herbert" then traces the couple's dramatic experiences over which Herbert, in the person of Connolly, casts a long shadow. Their struggle to stay in the public's favour, their efforts to prevent their marriage from becoming "just another Broadway affair." and their campaign to make another star of their talented daughter form a fast-paced backstage story.