ENTERTAINMENTS

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XIX, Issue 210, 23 August 1929, Page 9

ENTERTAINMENTS

“RIO RITA” TO-NIGHT A GREAT MUSICAL COMEDY. Wreat interest is being manifested in Hastings in the “Rio Rita” musical comedy season, commencing at the Municipal Theatre this evening, when Sir Benjamin and Mr John Fuller will present one of the greatest and most costly musical comedy production that has ever come to the Dominion, produced and staged in exactly the same lavish way as presented at the St. James Theatre, Sydney. The ”Rjo Rita Company arrived in Hastings today and everything is now ready for the opening performance to-night. “Rio Rita” has scored sometnrng tar more than an ophemerol success as a musical play in Australia, and there have been requests from all the capital cities for the repeat season at the end of the New Zealand tour. Admittedly “Rio Rita” is one of the most elaborately staged plays since the days of ‘ ‘ Chu Chin Chow. ” As a matter of fact, the great Aztec scene, in which Gladys Moncrieff sings “Montezuma’s Daughter” is reminiscent of “Chu Chin Chow” in its magnificent range of colour, its bizarre splendour, and its procession of beautiful women. Yet ‘Montezuma’s Daughter’ is but a fleeting glimpse upon a crowded stage. All through the show tableau after tableau of colour fills the eye, and the music is richer and brighter than in most musical plays of to-day. In the title role is Australia’s idol, Gladys Moncrieff —a Gladys subtly transformed, surrounded by charming people, thrilling her wistful music under a luminous Mexican moon. A dainty artist is beautiful Jenette Gilmore, whose alluring dances are of a type peculiarly her own. She is a comedienne of great talent and offers a perfect characterisation of Dolly, the cabaret girl, while Mr Leslie Pearce, as Captain of the Rangers, shows himself possessed of a very fine voice and commanding stage presence. The whimsical fooling of Dave Nollen and Charles Norman is enough to send the very gravest of citizens into chuckles and gurgles of sheer mirth, and they provoke a continuous stream of laugh- . tor the whole time they occupy the stage. The supporting east is excellent, and the ballots and ensembles dazzle the eyes with their wealth of color, variety and bewildering beauty. The whole production is a rare treat for theatregoers, and early booking is recommended at Fail’s.

RETURN VISIT. In view of the phenomenal bookings for “Rio Rita,” which precluded the admission of many who desired to see this superb production, a return visit of one night has been arranged for Hastings on Monday, August 26th. This, of course, will be the last opportunity that ■will ever offer to see this magnificent show, as it is scheduled to open in Auckland on September 6th and goes straight from there to Sydney.