"A WALTZ DREAM."

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1015, 3 January 1911, Page 6

"A WALTZ DREAM."

A SPARKLING LIGHT OPERA. A light opera, in three acts, by Oscar Strauss and Hamish MacCunn, adapted from tho German of Felix Doermann and Loop:, i Jacob.son. . Lyrics by , Adrian Ross. ~ Cast of characters— s!* ••"■Mr; Reginald Roberts Count Lothar. ..- l[r. Langford Kirby JCousin. of. the. Prince) Joachim XII Sfr. Victor Prince (Pnnce-of Flausenthurn). Lieut.-Montschi ; Mr. Frank Greene Wcndohn • , Mr. H.- Eatcliffie (alajor-Domo) Sigismuud Mr. Arthur Lissant (head lackey) Max Baur Mr. Charles Albert (a waiter) Franzi Steingruber. Mis 3 Lottie Sargent (Directress of .the Ladies' Band) Fill Miis Stella Selbourne (of the Ladies' Band) Frederica, Miss Ivy Bickford ' 7 (chief lady-in-waiting) Hana ....; Miss L. Moor© (of the Ladies' Band) .' and Princoss Helens Miss Florence Young The Williamson company, which drew such crowded audienccs to "The Dollar Princess" all last week, will undoubtedly be equally: well rewarded this week in its production of "A Waltz Dream," Which' was enthusiastically received last night by an audience for which the Opera Houso was much too small'. "A Waltz Dream" is a typical and almost an idc'al light opera. It is fnll of charm and sparkle, catchy music, ' and wit. Many of. tho jokes would not amount to very much in print, but on the stage and in their proper setting they do very well. . There is just enough "story" to servo as thread for the brilliant beads of song, dauce,. dialogue, and spectacular effect. Heleue, the hereditary princess of Flauseiithurn, lias chosen as her husband Lieutenant:;^jiki, ; ,of the Austrian army. It is the choice of love on her part, but her father, the, fuzzy-witted old Joachim XII, and her 'cousin Count Lothar, uphold, tho olficial.:view that she has married a nobody'in.order that she, as hereditary. princess,, shall not.be controlled by a, husband. The princess .tries to. adopt their advice .to'"keep hilri down!" But it, can't be done. Niki is a fine, soldierly fellow, who, doesn't take at all. kindly to the idea of-feeding the canary, washing the poodje, and performing similar genteel chores about tho palace, in return for the privilege of helping to carry on tho dynasty. Ho lets, first, his wife's and then herself know how he feels about it, and some highly diverting domestic "scenes" ensue. Ho determines to .act so that they will liavo to expel him. In doing so, ho indulges his homesick longings by going to the restaurant gardens to hear the Viennese ladies' band, and there-he finds-tho company of Franzi, the leader of -the band, irresistibly attractive: The Prince and the Count follow to- spy upon him, but the Prince .falls a victim, to tho charms of .another member'of the band—Fifi, '"the big drum"—while the Count, after being mado the sport, of Franzi, finds solaco in the..company of "tho piccolo." The Princess and her lady-in-waiting, Frederica, also come to the garden' to see what the Princo Consort is doing, and after sundry "alarums and excursions," a climax is reached when the band plays the .Viennese waltz, and Niki, after beginning to. dance, with the Princess, breaks away,.and whirls through the waltz with Franzi, iu<. full view of his royal- relatives and everybody else in the niece. The last act opens with a deliciously absurd pretence of the taking of evidence for the divorco' of Niki. Helene, however, Insists that her husband's wishes shall bo consulted... She sees-.him., alone, but, they fail to understand each other, and he . says "Good-bye." Then Franzi comes in-and explains things to tho princess, telling her what sort of creatures men are, and assuring her. that Niki had only "let himself go" in the garden, bccause he was desperately in love with his cold-mannered bride that he did not know.-what to do with- himself. And so everybody, becomes. happier than, before, and there is again hopo for the dynasty of Flausenthuiii. Mr. Reginald Roberts, who, .as Lieutenant Niki, made his first appearance in New Zealand last night, is an actor and'vocalist of great talent. The part fitted him -exactly, and .he was an admirable centrepiece for a series of brilliant scenes. Count Lothar was played by Mr. Langford Kirby, an English artist of repute,'who has not before appeared in Australasia. As the decadent .aristocrat who would be a villain if he wasn't such a fool he produced a large proportion of the fun of tho piece. The agility of his legs was a perpetual joy. Mr.. Victor Prince, as the comic Joachim XII, was first-rate, and Mr. Charles Albert' gave very quaint and clever sketch of a waiter. Miss Florence Young appeared quite at home as the Princess, and her fine soprano voice was repeatedly heard: to advantage. Miss Lottio Sargent was vivacious and winning as Franzi, and the other ladies were well in -the picture. Praise is due to those who figured so prettily as tho .Viennese band. To name all i the songs that deserve consideration would be .to mention all that were heard, and the 'list would bo long. Miss Yonng's song in the garden and her go'od-byo duet with Mr; Roberts were particularly good. Tho solo in which Mr. Roberts celebrates tlio witchery* of Viennese music was also ofoutstanding merit. Tho opera was produced by Mr. Fred. Young, who has como over from Sydney for the purpose: Mr. Fritz Hart directed an adequate tra. "Tho .'Waltz Drejim" will bo repeated nightly throughout the .week, "A KNIGHT FOR A DAY." On Monday next "A' Knight for a Day" will be presented for the first time here. "A Knight for a Day" is a farce-comedy, with music, and has been, remarkably successful in both England and America. It is hilarious in tho extreme. The plot deals with tho vicissitudes that occur to Jerremy Joy and Tilly Day, the piny itself being of tho broad fun order. It is said tliero are_ more laughs to tho square inch' in "A Knight for a Day" than in anv known modern play of the saino calibre. Mr. Bert Gilbert will appear as Jerremy Joy and Miss Lottio Sargent as Tilly Day. For thp last nights of the season will bo given three performances of the famous "Merry Widow."