ENTERTAINMENTS.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2502, 15 May 1909, Page 5

ENTERTAINMENTS.

"THE GIRLS OF GOTTENBERG

The large assemblage wihch fidr-d i a a U s t lt nteht m h a °d f HiS Ma i esty ’ s Theatre A,, p, had wwy reason to be satished with the piece produced for their delectation by Williamson’s Comic Onera Company. “The Girls of Gotteuherg is a work of decidedly higher class Than the average “musical comT", , . a military comic opera, light, bright, and fascinating. The music is tuiiexul, tne dialogue is clever and the plot, though slight, is sufficientlo allow the songs, dances, and spectacles to be presented with some regard to sequence and coherency. It is founded, to a slight extent, upon two occurrences in the- recent history of the Fatherland, the Kaiser’s promise to send a cavalry regiment to a certain t-own. where the young ladies complained they could not get partners for their dances :and the Kcepeniek affair, wherein an old gaol-bird masqueraded as a military officer. The performance was entirely worthy of the reputation which Air. Williamson’s present company has obtained. The success of the piece depends largely upon its comic element, and tliis, in turn, depended largely upon Mr. Victor Gouriet, who proved quite equal to the responsibility. As Max Aloddeikopf, a valet, who passes himself off as an envoy of the Kaiser, he kept the audience in-a simmer of merriment whenever he' was on the tstage, which was pretty frequently. Aliss Florence Young made a charming Elsa, the heroine of the piece, a princess who, for a freak, masquerades as an inkeeper's daughter. Aliss Fanny Dango represented Alitzi, the real innkeeper’ daughter, with admirable_vivacity and skill. Aliss Alarietta Nash, as Clementine, daughter of the burgomaster of- Gottenberg; Aliss Jessie Brown, as Lucille, Elsa’s maid; Aliss Grorgie Alusgrove, who representec Katrina, “tho only girl in Roti.enberg,” were all admirable. Air. Reginald Roberts was a manly Prince Otto, the hero of the piece. He acted well, and sang effectively. As Sergeant JBrittlbottl, Mr. AY. S. Percy contributed a large share of the comic element and did so in excellent style. Air. Andrew Higgiuson was very effective as Albrecht, a bumptious captain of dragoons. Mr. R. C. Bantoek made a capital, burgomaster, and Air. Middliu presented a cleVer study of the part of Adolph, an especially “milk-soppy” town clerk. A number or minor characters were capably represented. There were several good choruses, much dancing, both graceful and' eccentric, and excellently performed. As a spectacle the performance was worthy of high praise. Goregous uniforms, picturesque Gorman national costumes, -the extremely attractive semi-military dresses of a corps of lady university students, combined with' some excellent scenery, made a series of stage pictures of the most bright and attractive description. Chorus, ballet, and orchestra did their respective parts in most praiseworthy fashion. The- dressing and mounting' wore alike admirable. BURNS-JOHNSON PICTURES. Air. Henry Kcoring has made arrangements with Mr. Hugh D. Mclntosh, governing director of the Scientific Boxing and Self Defence Ltd., for the sole rights to exhibit the bicgrapli pictures of the Burns-Johnson contest in New Zealand. Four cameras were used at the ring-side, on perfect day from the operators 1 point o view, with tho result that a perfect re production was achieved. Two nights after the big event 20,000 persons visited the Stadium to again see the contestants fighting, this time on the kmematograpn screen, and the pictures aio still beiite shown in Sydney, in addition to which” outfits are on their way ta America, Europe, England, bout-h Africa and the East. Every incident i shown, including the operations be tween tho rounds, panoramas ■ uta<K and outside the Stadium, paying over the stakes, etc. A complete electric li'ditin" outfit in charge of a competent engineer is carried; in fact, nothing is left undone to provide everythng needful to make the show a triumph, m kinomatographic work. Iho local sea son, strictly limited to two nights, commences on Monday evening- next, ? Hie Majesty's Theatre.