AMUSEMENTS.

Press, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20490, 8 March 1932, Page 15

AMUSEMENTS.

GILBERT AND SULLIVAN SEASON. "THE GONDOLIERS." The triumph of tlie first nisht e Gondoliers," presentod at the Theatre * i by the J. 0. Williamson Gilbert and t vnn Opera Company, was repeated last nigbt, an enthusiastic house showing its evident appreciation o£ a spirited performance. o leads, Mr Ivan Henaics and Miss , Gardiner, played and sang their Par s . liglitfully, their magnetic personalities adai 5 greatly to their success. The supporti -v ists, tli<s chorus, and the orchestra tained their curlier standard. "THE MIKADO" TO-MORROW. I To-morrow afternoon and evening and Thursday night will see the precentalion "y, the J. C. Williamson Gilbert and Sullivan Company of the delightful Japanese comic opera, "The ' Mikado,"- which proved one of the most successful of the operas by the company during the recent season. Satire runs riot in this audacious c ■ ception, in which English foibles flourish in a : Japanese betting. 4 'The Mikado" is packed with delishttui melodies and excellent musical numbers. 16 character of Pooh Bah is one of trilbert s finest conceptions, and ranks with the great comic figutes of English literature, while it Sullivan poured out more lovely melody in some of his other operas, he never achieved such originality, such strength of handling, such a profusion of dramatic and comic effects, a* in "The Mikado." Rhythm is the underlying structure of the Savoy operas, and while both author and composer f J|L° w unfailing resource in this respect, "The Mikado," in which music, libretto, and gesture are carefully synchronised, is their mas-, terpiece. Mr Ivan Menzies is said to be at his best as Ko Ko, and so is Miss Evelyn Gardiner as Katisha. Mr Leo Darnton will appear as Nanki Poo, Mr Gregory Stroud as Pish Tush, Mr Bernard Manning as The Mikado, and the dainty artist, Miss Marie Bremner, will take the role of Yum Yum. Miss Mary Hotham will appear as Pitti Sing, and Mr John Kalston as Pooh Bah. On Friday and Saturday evenings and Saturday afternoon, "lolanthe" will be 6taged.