"THE ARCADIANS."

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1974, 3 February 1914, Page 8

"THE ARCADIANS."

. NEW COMIC OPERA CO v j I "The Arcndinns, , ', a comic opera in three nets, by. Mark Ambient. Lyrics tsy Arthur Yl'ymijeris. Music by I/ioncl llonckton and Howard Ta.lbot. Cast: •Tamo? Smith, Siirtpilcitas ...,., Phil Smith. Peter Doody , Itobfcri, Whyt*. junr. Jack Meadow's ..' R«ginji!d ltobofta. Ifcibby Ernest LaShbfodTte. I Sir Geffrgo Pftddodk i... Edward- Wynne. [ IJooton ■ tcslio Jlorcl«s - . ' FatlKir- Time .-. Charloe Mrs. Smith Cejia Qhiloni. Eileen Cayiuianh ;...: Copßic JtiiJic. Ohn'scn. „.„,,........., Po.n B4t.terbu.n'. Astrojihcl :i...... Cecil OutUim. Somljra Dorothy Urunton, Time is tho fMentless nrbitcr in ..all things ar.d iti no infitattce dofis he show his power moro than in pl«iriE in their proper niches the -unending ' productions ovofved' for the delectation and amusement of theatre-goere. Scores of musical comedies and light operas liaye. their little hour, and are heard no more, but new alia again there is one that stands out as graced ivith tlioso virtues that make for longevity., and of such "The Arcadians," .produced, by the. New Comic Opera Company at tiro Opera Hoiiso last- evening, is assuredly oiic. There' is a freshness ail.d charm about the .sett-ing of tho first, ae£ that lias the breath of spring that sighed through bilsh flnd brake when the 'World was young, a poetic suggestion of' nymphs and dryads sporting ill in sunny glade to the music of Pan's pipes, £Vcr so far away from .the sordid t'onimoaplaces of. life, This spirit, eo grossly , travestied'in the later seenes, is yet ejfbugh to flavour tho Avliolo play, and lend; to it s, eiia!fra thrtt nono can resist. Mark Ambient's ■xrMck raado a fortvtno for him grid his producer in Londou;' Mr, Hobort■ Courts : noidge-tiuapired A.rtliiir Wympo.ris to write, clover lyrics,' a«d • Lionet ■Moiidcten. and Howard Talhot to ill.«miiiate. tliij, whdto witji -sppo. deligW.ful mu'siei ■ The happy coftibiiiation. flieant a Work of quality; and gualjty means life; hence : the revival after a.kps.e of four years of ■ this captivating. ■ light opera," After tileso years.it is scarcely necos- ' sary to eftter into, deiasls as'to the argumpnt of . tho play. Steady play- ■ ■goers will voniombe'f tlio aeroplane flight ■ of James Smith, the. CoGkney restaiiraiir. teui-j to Aready, his submersion in the well of truth in that fair, land, and", ■his return, to Jiis familiar haunts in! ■Laiidoa as a gay Arcadian, wlio, with other fair sylphs, Sefek to reform tlioj giddy; set of tno m'.etr ; Qpolis. Tlipy. will ■■ re.mowber the. melancholy jockey, Doody,,who is Wasting iiis \ray'througii life.;-Mrs, Smith,/tile shriekiy vulgar; prei-ty -Eileen C>va:.iiagji. (from Ireland),. her; slave, t-he -sportvfcb" Jack Meadows. ■ .. these footHgiit'- crea-. tion,s, they will bo pleased to learn that' the pe.fformaiice givort last evening is' really a capital ono all round, challengr ing cdmparisoit With the original east of charaeterj • Seen in New Zealand, and ■■ in sqmo instances -tolipses it. On .mote ■! than one occasion it lias' been our lot to draw attention ; to''the outstanding talent and maidenly chiirm ■of Mtea Dorothy Bruiiton, tlie giftedi daughter of the late John Briinton, master scenie artist, in "The Arcadians:", she. m'ato her iirst appearance as a pE.ima.donna' (if ono iiiay' so stylo tlio loadiflg rdle In so light an'opera), her parts in tho pn.?t ■lvaving been of tlie ; so'Ubretto : order. Her. iwpfornianco. was, delightful ■throu.gh.ou.'t She' imrusts tho 'rolo of Sonilira, i riitsid' .of AreadjTj with a iympaihy ajid grace wjricli at once csteblaJied her in ti.6 wa'rmost favouf of the large .audience, : Though Miss, iirunton's voice is. psMto : 'for loadwg roles, it 'is extremely Sweet; ■ add.her methods show culture and refinement. .fl.s .Weil; <iiS» the-. ke;ai.ipsitr,|iit€lliEencb, ■STie'ieniif'rupea'i'f •'vTlio'-.Pijws o.f Pah" delioiously in" tho first aof; and ilivestcd tho second-act stiloj "In Ajrca'dy," with .ft ehjirm eiitifely plea.s-' ■ing. '"The Arcadtajis" brings Mr.. Phil , 'Smith right to tha front as-'-a conjeditin , - ic be roclvjjiied with. So revels in tho role of giddy Jatoes Smith, the "bogtj '■ Arcadiaiii a-hd gives out a fund of rieh fi.tftrtour that couvpels'ldnghtor at , every . line. VMt clever ie Ws assuinption of i .the.'volat-ilo cavortiij.gs. of the ,Cockney j confeetioner, particularly in thpge tcenes , ; witfi fcjife; Areadian.a-, and his fickle biifcj ■frowsy spouse. Another excellent comedy . performance was Mr, Robert W'hyte'i . eliaiact'erisatio'n of Peter Doody., tho ■ Ingu'bnoiis . jodkey. it was full ef" e'lever. ■rouches, but olio which I . does. flot' ■ disturb ■ the , impression j made b'y'.M:r> Tom Walts., in'tiio sa.mo part. 4s wa? to be expected, Jlr, Wtyte scored heavily in 'the chant "I've Go'tter Motter, , "' 'and had to submit.to -httlf adozen recalls., Miss'-QeJi* pltilo.ni mn.do a comical Mrs. Smit-li, addiiig to lie:t powers of ■ comedy a .fine taste in : co;stiimes.' Eileen €avanag.h was brightly conceiveel by Miss Cpnnm Milne on'eo.nventional luies.'" fie'f stylo was 'raihW ■sbplristicatpd'fpr' tlio- Jittte Ifish, girl, and, for all the audience knew, she might 'haw been an English ,6r even : Sn Attsfraliaii .girl. Mr. Reginald ,R»br. erts 'was entirely.is.atis'faetoijy as jack Meadows', and Mr, Ed'ward Wynne..played Sir George Paddock on, "heavy ■father" lines effectively , ■enough, i Spe-: eial mention should roads of a. vet:}' attractive bare-fo'd.t dane.6 by.Miss Vlastji Novoina, the HuiiiGiarian dancer, in association with ■M-γ. Charles Albert... S!io,tfas tlio cmbodiincht ''of.yonthful grace and suppleness, and'gayo life find.-charaotflr to tho dance. "Mr: Albert tlanced nihth-ly, and nir.de what little he had to do,stand out in -bald relief, The chorus- was' alvra.yft ■very ef-. feetive, and the setting wajj :&dmira,ble. Mr. .-Slapoffski r s oKh.eßtra Was a feature of the performance. • "The Ardadians" will be pjoduied again this and to'-juoiTOW evenings, aiidoil. Thursday ©yenin.g "The Choc&lato Soldier , "-'.wili be Tfiviv«3. ■'■''.