"RIO RITA." TO-MORROW EVENING.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Volume 58, Issue 166, 15 August 1929, Page 2

"RIO RITA." TO-MORROW EVENING.

J iidging by tho exccptionally heavy booking at Ilowe Bros. for to-morrocv ( Kridav) cvcning, Sir Benjamin ancl 3lr Jo'lin Fuller's "Rio Rita" 31usical C'uinedy Conipany should _ have a lecord season in Napier. Everybody is looking lorward witb kecn intcrcst to the arrival of tliis wondcrful sbow, wbicb bas caused such a sensation throughout Australia, ancl is now taking New Zealand by storm. It is only "at very ra ro intervals that clic'atre-goers in New Zealand lnive an opportunity of sceing sucli a magnificent production as "Rio Rita" aclequately intcrpreted by a first-class ."0111 pauy, ancl a spccial orcliestra. No pantoinimc coubl surpass "Rio Rita" for sartorial spkuulour. It is America 11 liiusicnl comcdv at its best. There it; a woll-defmed love tbeme, delightfui music, and an excellent story told in scttings of tempestuous 3Iexico, witb a peep into "Gav Paree" and Siuinv Spoin. Tlie tbeme is liandled adoquatelv. garnisbed witb song gems ancl bauntiiig refrains. Tlie nmnerous dances are woven into tlie movemenfc of the plav so that the continuitv of tlie story is never interrupted ancl can be foilowed right througli the production. Tlie personnel of tho "Rio Rita" C'oninnny includcs 3Iiss Gladvs MoiicricfT, hailcd by critics as tlie world's greatest niusical comecly artist. and 3Iiss Jauette Gilmove, a vondorfnl danc-or and comedienuc. 3Iiss Gilmore's woik. accordiug to report. bcars tlie truo stamp of gcnius, and her eccentric dancing is smnething to be marvelled at. 31essrs Dave 3ralleri and Charles Norman fonn the comcdv cluo. wbilc 3D Lcslie Pearce, ns_ C'aptain of thc Rangevs, shows himself possessed of a very fine voice. and (•omnianding stage presence. Lesscr roles are liandled bv specially imported artists. who, in their own particnlar nicbos in thc comnany. give oolisbcd perfonnances. adding histre to the gcneral effcct of tho presentation. Australia lias admittcdly the finest ballet girls to be found anywbere, and the vcrv cream of tbesc was cbosen for tlie "Rio Rita" ballets. Tlie result is tliroe solid bonrs of gorgcous pageantry.