ROYAL COMIC OPERA CO.

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2675, 22 January 1916, Page 7

ROYAL COMIC OPERA CO.

"GIPSY LOVE" CAST OF CHARACTERS.' Jozsi (A Gipsy Musician) Derek Hudson Andor (An Innkeeper) John lialston Joucl (betrothed to Iloha) Reginald Roberts Kaietau (a shy young man) .. l'hil Smith Dimiterau. (Kajetan's father) 0. It. Eantock Hudoiph (attendant to Lady ikibby} S. Odgers Kollo (attendant to Lady Babby) • I'. Hedlund Eiohard (attendant to Lady Babby) Gordon Ramsey Dragotin (a Rumanian Noble) Leslie Holland Julcea (Ilona's Nuree) Mrs. George Lauri Jolan (Dragotin o Niece) Minnie Love Zorika (a Gipsy Girl) Addis Leonard Atarischka (Andor's daughter) Ivy Dawn lloua (llragotin's Daughter) Ethel Cauman ■Lady Babhy Florcncc Young The Williamsoji Royal Comic Opera Company opened a seaiou at the Grand Houso last night with "Gipsy Love." The music of the opera is by Franz Leliar, the composer of "The Merry Widow," and tho libretto is from the pen of Basil Hood, with lyrics by Adrian Ross. A large audience witnessed the initial performance, and this fact, with the evident enjoyment tho performance gave, seems indubitable testimony to the lasting popularity of comic opera. It appeals to a larger public than is attracted by drama, while tho high standard of production generally achieved by the Williamson firm is never more in evidence than in the presentation of comic opera. To a degree that is common in comic opera. the plot of "Gipsy Love" travels lucidly, and in fact dominates the development of the play. It radiates in some measure an atmosphere of high romance and wedded to a succession of rich love lyrics, it attains a higher level than does many of the musical plays which havo reached a historical succoss in the last decade. The music is richly melody ous, full of varied themes, and some of the numbers possess the haunting lilt of which Leliar is a past master, and although the waltz refrain is present, it is not <=o delightfully abundant as in "Tho Merry Widow." The love lyrics may be classed as the gems of the opera, but the music also catches with pleasing effect the spirit of light comedy, particularly in the duets, which in humorous vein are a feature of "Gipsy Love." The main thread of the story concerns tlio philandering of a gipsy musician, Jozsi, to whose attractions Ilona, the daughter of Dragotin, a Rumanian nobleman, succumbs. Ilona is betrothed .to Jonel, an office? of Hussars, "but irresistibly drawn by the fascinating personality of the vagabond musician, she breaks her plighted troth, and forsakes Jonel for her gipsy lover. But Lady Bobby, a travelling Englishwoman, arrives on the scene, and with woman's wit detaches the love of the wayward Jozsi from Ilona to herself, and at the s.ame time cures Ilona of Jier infatuation. Lady Betty is the guest of Dragotin, and together they set oil in pursuit of Ilona and Jozsi, whom they run to earth in a gipsy inn. Here. Lady Betty, whose marriage to Dragotin is clearly pre-des-tined, nevertheless opens a violent flirtation with Jozsi, who, flattered by the attentions of a -high-born lady, deserts Ilona on the eve of their gipsy wedding. It is now Jozsi's turn to bo disillusioned, but this he accepts philosophically, and quits tho scene singing in a too lyric of tho joys which still remain to him in a roaming life. The reunion of Ilona and Jonel concludes the opera. In the original version of t'he play tho adventures of Ilona are'supposed to take place in a dream, as in the caso of "Ma Mio Rosette," but in the English adaptation tho story i 6 staged as one of. actual fact. Running through the opera is a goldeu vein of comedy, charmingly exploited by Lady Bobby and Dragotin, and by Jolan, a niece of Dragotin and Kajetau, to whom Jolan is betrothed. The librettist has excelled in a number of delightfully humorous duets, and their interpretation at the hands of the talented quartet who assume these respective roles accounts for a considerable share of the success of the opera.

The caste is-one of surpaaing aiideven excellence, and tho chorus, especially in tho first act, provided mpro than cue rare musical treat.

Miss Florence Young, whose voico is as rich and fresh as over, adds to her remarkably long list of comic opera successes.' Her beautifully clear enunciation, coming something in the light of a refreshing novelty, and the music which is never absent from her voice ensured the suceas of each of her numbers, and iu 'a duet, "You're in Love," with Dragotiii, and "I Go So," with Jozsi, slib conveyed: the subtle humour of the librettist to perfection. Her acting was brimful of vivacity. As a travelling European among Rumanians wearing the national costume she was able to dress with some attention to the modo of the moment, which she did with charming effect. Miss Ethel Cadman had a splendid part as Ilona. She possesses a soprano voice, richly pure in quality, especially in the upper scale. The main love lyrics fall, to her lot, and there were 110 more enjoyable numbers than "A Little Maiden," "The Looking Glass," and "Havo I Awakened From My Dreams." Miss Minni» Love played the part of .Tolan wiiii Sno spirit throughout, and in love passages with her shy sweetheart ICajetan (Mr. Phil Smith) revealed real talent as a comedienne. Mr. Derek Hudson, as the gipsy lover, achieved a distinct dramatic success. He depicted the reckless haughty gipsy to the life. His voice is a fine mellow baritone, and in "Tho Gipsy' Song" and also in the duet, "The Garden of Love," with Miss Cadman, ho lvas conspicuously successful. Mr. Leslie Holland plays the part of Dr ago tin in a spirit of broad comedy, his quips, puns, and general eccentricities bcin» keenly relished by the audience. Mr .Phil Smith also contributes to the lighter side of the opera, and appears in a clever song and dance to ragtime measure. Reginald Roberts, as Jones, and John Ralston, as tlio inn-keeper, have minor parts, w.bich, however, include two enjoyable musical numbers. Special dances were contributed by Miss Elsie Stephenson and Mr. Chas. Albert.

The play is capitally staged, the dressing, varied in every act, being picturesque in the extreme, and providing a succession of highly effective' stage pictures. "Gipsy love" will lie played again and on Monday uig-ht.