"THE MERRY WIDOW."

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 479, 12 April 1909, Page 8

"THE MERRY WIDOW."

ROYAL COMIC OPERA COMPANY. "Tho Merry 'Widow," a comic opera in threo acts, by Frank Lchar, libretto by Victor Leon and Leo Stein. Cast; , Baron Popoif.J Mr. Victor Gouriot Prince'Dnnilo.... Mr. Andrew Higfiuson. Vicomto Camillo de Jolidon Mr. Reginald Roberts Marquis do Cascnda Mr. CI. li. Bantock General Novikovitch Mr. A. Arthur M.'do St. Brioche .. Mr. J. Hughes M. Khadja Mr. D. B. O'Connor Nisch Mr. W.'S. Percy Waiter at Maxim's Mr. Arthur Hunter Pi-l ? i Miss Fanny Dango Olga (wife of Novikovitch) Mis 3 Alma Vaughan Natalie : .i. Miss Nellie Wilson .Sonia (thd Merry Widow) Miss Florence Young After a two years' absonco, tho Royal Comic Opera Company—a much • stronger organisation than when it last visited Wellington—mado its reappearance at tho Opera House on Saturday evening in Frank Leliar's delightful creation, "The Merry ' Widow," before an audience that for sizo and enthusiasm was a record. So marked has been tho success of "Tho Merry Widow"—much more -so than that which attended any of tho fino works written by Gilbert and Sullivan, Andrew Offenbach, Planquette, Victor Herbert, Ivan Oaryll, Paul Rubens, or the hundred and one modern writers for tho lyric stage—that it disarms criticism to a great extent, and leaves to the critic tho more limited task of probing for tho cause of it all. Though it cannot bo conceived that Lehar's opera will survive the test of time as long as the works of some of the writers mentioned,, there is that in the music which must keep'it-before the public for a long time. It is a contradictery work. The librettists have provided a "book" that is nbthing more (sometimes a little less) than racy musical comedy in .its general atmospheroj its characters, and action, and whilst listening: for a score in keeping one ' is amazed and delighted to hear music that would fit a work somewhere between comic and grand opera, a score that is enhanced by a brilliant and . altogether unconventional orchestration of singular completeness and undeniable-charm.:,-, Here, one is forced to conclude, lies the success of "Tho 'Merry Widow." On the one hand there is ultra-up-to-date, matter for the merry-minded, and compelling music of strango beauty that lends itself to bizarre effects and commands aural homage. - Otherwise the scenes' are bright; the colour schemos in the dressing are gorgeous in the extreme; and the opera is performed by a company of artists of ac-' pepted capacity. v. 1 . is'Sonia, a sprightly young Marsovian lady, who has married i! 20,000,000 ,and lost the donor. Her coun-

•try is in financial straits; so much so, indeed, that. Baron PopoiF, the Marsovian Ambassador at Paris, has been instructed to bring all the force of his diplomacy to bear on securing Sonia's millions for the State by a patriotic marriage. Popoff has marked off Sonia for marriage with Prince i Danilo, tho gay-young : secretary to tho EmbassyiAs it .' turns- out, the Danilo was fond of the girl before her first marriage, but as sho is now pursued by everyono, lie haif-jokingly says that ,ho will never say to her the words—"l love you." This becomes .rather- awkward later on, as his old' lovo revives, and Sonia's responsiveness merges into pleading. Finally Danilo, aflame with passion, has to capitulate, and say the words ,that.are .thex,ue.for..a grand finale of kiss-•ing-and dancing.'.'. As for .tho rest, it mainly consists of everybody's wives being in love. with. someone elso, impassioned love scenes that snap off .in a joke, and a Marsovian' fate," in whiih the pictureque costumes (after the fashion of old Montenegro) create a riot of colour in delicate harmonies and rich contrasts. Incidental to the piece are a number of dances astutely placed. The now_ famous danced by Danilo:,;aud Sonia, vindicates in its own ef-fective'way-the liind of regard the two young people have for. each other, and flashes new notions as to how a waltz might be waltzed under , certain conditions. The Marsovian

dances' in tho middle act were exhilaratingly novel, and were executed with grace and abandon.

Miss Florence Young, who received a warm reception, made Sonia a particularly ;bright and yiyaoious; widow. A more subtle ana-seductivp'readiiig:' of tho rolo can readily bo imagined,jfor Miss Young's style is singularly robust! and' frankly ingenuous, but she invests tho part with a vigorous spirit that goes far to disarm tho objections that purists have taken to the tone of the opera elsewhere. Added to these qualities is a Buperb soprano voice,, strong in fibre and pure in quality. It is a joy to listen to such excellent phrasing and . clear enunciation. Ono of■ tho features of the performance was her .singing of "Vilia," a fine ballad of-its class, and she carrolled "Tho Cavalier" .with a vocal abandonment quite charming, assistance being lent to' the number by Mr. Andrew, Riggiiison's clever businoss., Miss Young, who .. was richly apparelled proved herself a graceful dancer, both in the waltz and the Marsovian dance with Mr. Higginson. That gentleman made a distinct "hit" as l'rinco Danilo. He is equipped with a, handsomo presence, a manne.r _ graceful' and' debonnair, a serviceable baritone voice, and a keen senso of humour. The part needs such attributes, for 1 - Danilo is seldom- more than a' few minutes olf the stage. His scencs with. Sonia were the best-acted in the opera, and wherever there was fun to bo extracted, as when he wishes to find tho owner of a fanin which aro inscribed the words "I love you," he got it all without tho lea3t suspicion of theatrical strain. Ho was encored for his 1 Maxim" song,, and was valuable in several concerted nturfbers. Licidental to tho main themo is \ieomte Jolidon's love affair with Natalio (Baron Popoff's wife). Mr. Reginald Roberts made a' spruco young man of Jolidon, exlubiting a resonant tenor voico in some good miisic, notably in tho duet with Natalie, "A. Dutiful Wife." IVtiss Nellie "Wilson, who was perfectly gowned, made a handsome and was quito sclf-possoss€(l in her singing and acting. Miss Fanny Dango -as Fi-Fi was quito charming in the littlo sho had to do. That, however, included a danco (at .Maxim's") that' was a foatnro of the last act. She is of 'the order petite, with a ybico in. keeping,, bu*t with a lissom figure and -a dainty, gaiety, she ■ makes the most of'an inconseguential role. The comic element is mostly manipulated by Mr. Victor Go'uriet as tho , irasciole, eccentric Baron Popoff, who has an implicit trust in his flirtatious ' w-ife, and ; a disliko to being "thwar-r-tcd." Ho lias some smart dialogue, and a lengthy string of "gags," mostly new, which' ho delivers with a rasping chant. It is Mr. Gouriot's clever gagging rather than Mr. Gouriet's art that induces laughter. He chips ;in now and then vocally, but what he-sjngs really doesn't matter. ,Mr. VI. S. Percy, a.Pollard graduate, submitted a quaint character' study as Nisch. tho unctuous messenger to the Embassy. Ho managed .to sink his personality completely, and whether lie was singing,-dancing, or making fun of his chief, ho. was,always funny. His association' with Miss Dango in a bright duet and danco was a happy one. Another amusing exaggeration was Mr. Arthur Hunter's waiter at "Maxim's," who splodgos about tho placo in a wildly cccentrio "make-up." Messrs. D. B. O'Connor, C. R. Bantock, and Jas. Hughes appeared in minor roles satisfactorily. The orchestra, under the magnetic baton of Mr. Howard Carr, is tho finest heard in tho Opera House for some years, and its work on Saturday ovening showed a polish that does Mr. Carr infinite credit. ;Tho opera was produced under tho direction of Mr. Wybort Stamford. ' Tho scenery was quito adequate, and tho mounting siftisfyingly comploto. "Tho Morry Widow" will be played again this aftornoon and ovening, and until furthor notico;;/."Tho Dairymaids" is sot down as tho next production.