Dianna Bonna

Singing.

"Dianna Bonna" sounded like a posing turn and proved to be one of the most attractive single women in appearance that vaudeville now claims title to. In the lobby of the Fifth Avenue is a frame stating Dianna Bonna is from the Chicago opera. (Maybe primma donna suggested Dianna Bonna). In a handsome gown the young woman sang numbers, from ballads to operatic, in a voice that she certainly seemed to have adjusted to her idea of vaudeville, the same as she had so placed her song repertoire. She sang with expression, softly repressed gesturing and in a manner to indicate she had had a world of stage experience before hitting the variety boards. But Dianna Bonna might procure a different song repertoire. She now carries along her present one. A more suitable list would life much of the burden. Dianna Bonna employs no faking methods. At least her conceptions of vaudeville did not include contempt for those with musical likes who attend the vaudeville theatres; and, again, having a voice the young woman did not have to trill, tra la or try to beat out the flute. At first appearance she looked impressive; then her looks commenced to grow. Her blonde hair shone in the spotlight, and she transmitted from good looks to handsomeness. She seemed to be a chameleon sort of creature, with the transformation occurring either way as she sang naturally or became conscious of herself. It might be easily imagined a prima unversed in vaudeville with frequent stops and starts could more easily and quickly become self conscious than natural. Appearing before a house drop in "one" and singing with the orchestra Dianna Bonna was made quite cold at the outset, but she warmed up, as did the house. Early in the turn as she was to sing "You Don't Know What You Are Missing," Miss Bonna delivered a short verse, stating there ecists a doubt as to her nationality. The doubt had arisen with her first song. She has a peculiar accent, suggesting the foreign. The verse said she was Welsh (Wales). Dianna Bonna should develop into a very high calss standard single singing turn for vaudeville. She should select her numbers with judgement and not (because she may have heard that any one song is "sure fire," such as "Rainbows") necessarily use that. As the girl can sing anything of a straight sort there are plenty to select from. She requires a setting whether in "one" or farther back. The matter of the orchestra alone is merely an opinion.

Variety, 53:13 (02/21/1919)