ENTERTAINMENTS.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2500, 13 May 1909, Page 4

ENTERTAINMENTS.

WILLIAMSON’S OPERA COMPANY.

For many weeks the music-loving, public of Gisborne had looked forward to the visit of Mr. J. 0. Williamson’s Royal Comic Opera Company, and to the production of Frank Lehar’e deservedly famous light opera, ‘The Merry Widow.” His Majesty’s Theatre last evening held an audience, to welcome both the company and the production. that in numbers and enthusiasm estaMiftJiQd a record. The opera, both in its music, and its lyrics, is far above many of the musical productions that have been seen on the New Zealand stage. The music, at times, rises almost to the elevation of grand opera. There is a pleasing absence of the absurd and the ridiculous. There is, moreover, an acceptable and interesting love plot. The costumes, thescenery, and the spectacular effects delight the eye. The general atmosphere in each of the three scenes is pleasing and the music possesses an irresistibly entrancing charm. All thosequalities combined have made the fame of “The Merry Widow', and that fame is not fXely to be transitory, but should last for many, years to come. While the opera is a creation of a superior type,, it provides sufficient food for the merry-minded; the humor is crisp-, the jokes in the dialogue are new, and there are light dancing and harmoniouschoruses. The color scenes are artistic, the dressing gorgeous, and the production w r as presented by a company of unusual ability, i The Merry Widow is Sonia, a young, lady of Marsovia, an imaginary country, w r ho bad been left £20,000,000 by her late husband. Her country is suffering from a financial depression, and Baron Popoff. the Marsovian dor in Paris, had been instructed to arrange a marriage between the Marsovian Prince Danilo and the widow, so that hen fortune will remain in the State. It had happened that the Prince was in love with Sonia as a girl, but was forbidden to marry her, and as she has many suitors for her hand, or rather her fortune, he refuses to join the number, though it is evident that he is still violently in love with her. Finally he sees that Sonia is also in love with him. He capitulates to the inevitable, wins a wife and a and saves his country from insolvency. Miss Florence Young, who received a imost enthusiastic reception on hexfirst appearance in Gisborne, was Sonia r and made the widow a most acceptable, bright, and at times sympathetic personage. Miss Young’s style is singularly robust and vivaciously confident, and to these qualities is added a superb resonant soprano voice. Her notes are full, round, and rich, and it was a treat to listen to her finished phrasing and fine enunciation. Her singing of “The Cavalier” was a charming vocal effort, and Mr. Andrew Higginson’6 well suited “horse play” as a cavalryman lent assistance to the Her trills in the song with chorus, “Vilia,” was also splendidly produced, and a double encore was insisted upon. Miss Young likewise proved a most graceful dancer, both in the waltzes a- in the Marsovian national dance. Mr. Andrew Higginson made a debonnair Prince Danilo. He has a fine stage presence, a good baritone voice, and some skill as _ a dancer. Mr. Higginson’s scenes with Sonia- were acted with animation, and he put a great deal of natural vivacity into bis work. Mr. Reginald Roberts made an ideal Yieomte d© Jolidon, a part that gave ample opportunity for the. use of his sweet tenor voice, his best effort being' in the duet- with Natalie, “A Dutiful Wife.” Miss Fanny Dango was Fifi. and with Mr. Percy danced cleverly, while Miss Nellie Wilson made a good Natalie, wife of Popoff. The comedy was, for the greater part, supplied by Mr. W. S. Percy as Nisch, a messenger at the Legation, and whether singing, dancing, talking or skipping about the Ftage, he was always funny. Mr. Victor Gouriet had little' scope for humor as Baron Popoff. but Mr. Arthur Hunter’s humorous make-up. as a waiter at Maxim’s, certainly deserves mention. Other parts were well filled bv Messrs D. B. O’Connor. C. A. Bantock and James Hughes. The orchestra, under the baton of Mr Howard Carr, was splendid, and the audience was at times carried away with the beautiful melodies, especially the “Merry Widow” waltz. The opera was staged under the direction of Mr. Wyberd Stamford, and a word of praise nuist be said for the completeness of the detail, the exquisite gowns, the Marsovian national costumes, and the splendid grouping of the large company in support of the principals. To-night the company will appear in “The Dairymaids.” in which a mosteffective gymnasium scene, showing the Sandow Girls, will bo introduced.