"NIGHTBIRDS."

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1662, 31 January 1913, Page 6

"NIGHTBIRDS."

THE WRAITH OF JOHANN STRAUSS. . "Nightbirds," a comic.opera by Johann Strauss. Cast— Count Max Cliquot ... Mr. Ecginald Roberts Mattoni Mr. W. S. Percy Gabor Szab,o Mr. W. Tulleur Andrews Dr. Berncaetlor Mr. Charles Albert Hochheimer Mr. Victor Princo Wind Mr. Fred. Wiun Prince Orloffsky Mr. Edinuud fcherraa Hcrr Nierstelner Mr. Cecil Outtriin Second Warder Mr. Edward Wynno Ilka Miss Sybil Arundalo Minna Miss Dorothy Brunton Countess Rosalinda, Cliqnot Mies Amy Murphy ' "Nightbirds," produced- by the New Comic Opera Company at the Opera House last evening, made a distinctly favourable impression on the large audience present. With more or less-clearly-defined ideas of the classification of tho various forms of modern .light operas and musical plays, "Nightbirds" presents yet another pattern—one which has been lost >in the scramble for over a score of years. "Nightbirds" is really an old salad in,a new dressing, being the work; of Johann Strauss, the famous waltz composer (and 6on of a famous waltz writer and' conductor).. This particular Strauss,. among the many of the name known to musical fame, is generally identified among.musicians lis tho "Blue Danube" Strauss. Among his better-known, works was "Die Fledermans," an opera bouffe of the lightest character, which was fairly popular some thirty years or so ago. This was the opera which boldly and. brightly, paraded, itself as "Nightbirds" last evening, and accounted for some of the' moro elderly patrons being vaguely haunted by the chiming cadences of their youth'. For the music of Strauss was a big vogue in the .sixties and seventies, and there still remains a charm and glamour" ,in tho music, particularly of the several. waltzy Eongs and choruses which bespangl-o tho score. The old opera has been given.a new book which does not exactly Scintillate, but tho m?rry gags and mirthful antics of the comedians helped to keep tho fun effervescing throughout the ovening. Whilst ..the music is extremely light and sparkling, the manner in which it has been orchestrated calls for special notice. On many occasions it was delightful to listen to. the band ' (apart from anything on the stage), which, under the baton of Mt. Champion,'was a feature of the performance., i Forty years ago plots in opera bouffe were as ephemeral as they are to : day in musical comedy, and not .being, aided by tho smart books the modern musical play is given had to dopend a good deal more on the music,- which had to be good to live beside tho works of.'such writers as :.Offenbach arid Von Suppe. The'story of "Nightbirds" is no excoption to tho old unalterable rule. To bo cryptic tho arguj meut is wine, women, and song. Love of wine and women induco'the gay Count Max Cliquot (who has been sentenced to imprisonment for exceeding the 4 speed limit) to accompany his'gay friend Dr. Bernastler to a ball being given by Prince Orloffsky, a bored young/Russian' nobleman, who has offered a bonus to .anyone who can make him laugh. -Tho Countess Cliquot, enraged at her husband's desertion during the last few hours of liberty, invites to her room'arid supper-table'her ardent Hungarian, admirer,' Gabor Szabo. As they .are. at Slipper, and Gabor is singing a love toast; the police enter to Scarry off the Count to gaol, the authorities, having discovered that the Count must,be incarcerated before the.latter anticipated. To preserve,the Countess's reputation, the Hungarian, is forced -to impersonate the Count/and is bundled off to the New Age : Prison, where all prisoners are ■ treated with, deference and kindness. -In 'the, meantime, the Count is having a most enjoyable time at the ball, where he is discovered flirting with his own parlourmaid Ilka, who is a very saucy, twentieth century wench. Enraged at finding herself ..deceived,' "yet fearful at her husband's discovery that someone, has been personating- him, tho Countess arranges that her husband and everyone else at the hall shall be arrested by a polico raid on the Arum Lily. Club, for no reason in particular. . This sends all parties cOnce'rned ~to" gaol, ll iYhere'i,V lot'- of excellent comedy,, is perpetrated by; Mattoni, an ecceritrio objector to' work at any price,, and • thq ■' genial Hpchhekner, the governor, of the gaol.' Explanations follow a clever ruse on, tho-part' of tho Countess to secure her erring husband's affection, and all en'ds merrily to the intoxicating -swerve of a,'-, typical Strauss waltz. .- - ■';'.'', ; r'

After a year's absence, ~-iTiss Amy Murphy, one of the native-born, mado her reappearance as the' Countess Cliquot. Whilst she has improved/.* slightly .as an actress, Miss Murphy ...has 'not yet ac-' quired that bon vivrej so necessary ■ for the realisation of such' a sprightly- character.' She is singing wonderfully tfell, and, in that respectwas a' tower of strength in the cast. One habit of 'Miss Murphy's when thoroughly interested in what' alio is singing is to leave off acting, and-while she'has all eyes for the beat, the bcoiis suffers. Miss Murphy isang charmingly i\i the trio. "Then'l-Who love. YouOnly," in the bright duet "How 'Seductive," and "Homeland." Miss Arundel was well suitedas'llka, the pert forward-parlour-maid, who'makes no bone's about "mashing" a in-one :of the-Count-esses gowns before the'.Cbunt." Jfiss Arundel acts with assurance ahd-aplomb. Shu made a hit in the delightful laughing song in the second act, ; in "Every Little MovV-tr-.ent;">and iwith ; Mr.- Edmund'.Sherras' gave'an exposition-of the latest Americandances—the "Turkey Trot," the Change. Waltz." the "Tango," and the "Bunny Hugr Even ]mtli the restraint exercised by Miss Arundalo and-her partner in the "Bunny Hug,"' it'wos -still very apparent why New York i. society banned the dance. Miss Dorothy Brttnton .had nothing much to'do, as Ninn,a, and did it very gracefully." ''Mr.-W. <S,-Percy was allowed a full and'free range as Mattoni, a jobber of jobs'/ and he-took every advantage. of it. While he V was not the geyser of fun he was as! the Judgo in "The Girl in the Train," there was a restraint and deliberation in his'Mattoni humour which'-was;Very appealing, and • the laughter-.he raised was, hearty enough, to please-anyl merry-maker.'. Another unctuous comedian who scored with ,the audience was, Mr. Victor Prince, whose Hoehheimer is a. capital performance. Mr. .Talleur Andrews, -aided by .a. good niake-np.and a capital accent, gave.ii sterling performance as Gabor Szajoo.'and enhanced the impression he had .already -.made as a singer. He vocalised•'■ "The Blue Danube" .waltz very tastefully, and the serenade'with great gusto. Mr, 'Reginald Roberts.; acted with engaging .bonhomme as Count Cliquot, and exhibit-' ill his serviceable tenor voice unimpaired; by time and effort ' Mr." Charles' Albert was excellent as Dr. Berncastler, and .occasionally "flung a.foot" with all his oldlightness and grace. There is riot-much chorus work in the opera,- but it is a long:time sinco we have heard'so .tuneful a finale as that which preceded, the fall of the'eurtain on the second'act. 'In that act also Miss Vivian Talleur executed with wonderful verve, grace, ',•' and dexterity "The Danse a, la Russe" as an adjunct to the pretty Fascination Ballet.' The opera was produced under the direction of Mr.Charles Weninan.'' "Nightbirds" will bo played again this ovening.