"THE PINK LADY"

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 28, 27 October 1917, Page 11

"THE PINK LADY"

9 A RADIANT MUSICAL COMEDY "The Fink Lady." a musical comedy in tliroo acts. Music bv .1 van Carvll. Book and lyrics by C. 11. tJ. M'Lelktml. Cast— Philippe Dondidicr Phil Smith Lucien Garidel .Reginald Roberts Maurice D'Uzac Jack Halßton Bebo Ouingolpli Leslie Holland Theodore Lcbee Ilarvy liutclilfc Crapote Cyril llitchards Pocliet Alfred Andrews The Hungry Man Dick Shortland Pan Cyril Kitchnrd Dr. Mazou Yilliern Arnold Koutret, Fred Valentine A Photographer William Buckley Ywaxy Claude Solomon Postman Freddy Wallace Benovoi Clyde Cook Angele Gladys MoncrieU Madame Dondidicr Addie Lennard Serpolette Pocliet, Jessie Cuflyn La Comtesse Florence Young Desireo Jessie CaHyn Jlimi Marjorie Bray Girl From Saskatchewan ... linsie Kverson Claudine Minnie Love "The Pinlc Lady," which saw ils premiere in New Zealand at the Grand Opera House last evening, is musical comedy do luxe. It embodies all those manifold' qualities which go to make a complete success—a delightful score written in Ivan Caryll's jumpiest style, a broad expanse of the giddiest comedy, a maze of beautiful 'girls, a more than competent cast nil round, speciality interpolations that made instantaneous hits, all in a three-act setting, which engaged the colour sense most pleasurably. As a rule there aro blemishes in even the host performances in musical comedy, hut one would be. really. hard put to it to find them in "The Pink Lady." "The Pink Lady" is founded on the French farce, "Lo Satyr," by MM. Georges Berr and Marcel Guillemand, which had quite a successful run about eight'years ago, and is gaily Parisian in its atmosphere. To be brief, its story concerns the love tangle of young Lucien Garidel, who, in haying a final fling before settling down to married life with Angele, gets into a scrape and has to find means to get clear. His rival, Maurice had fixed the joalonsy of Angolo by confiding to her the love affairs of Lucien. who is no end of a sad dog. At a country inn, Maurice and Angele, accompanied bv Bebe Guingolph, happen upon Lucien, who has an appointment to dine with Claudine (the Pink Lady), tlio rascal having told his fiancee that his engagement was with M. Dondidier. Disaster is averted at crnoiul moment by Bebo, who induces Claudine to enact tho role of Madame Dondidier, which slio does to such perfection that sho gives the partieß the address of her supposed lvusband. really that of a purveyor of antiques in Parii of tho same name. Still full of suspicion, and seeking to. effect a breanh between Lucien and Angele, Maurice hurries the latter oft' to tho address, but Lucien and tho Pink Lady get thero first, and arrange with Dondidier to sustain the tottering fabrication, but in doing so shatters the peace of his home, finally Lucien shows thnt Angele is th» oniy one, and Dondidicr proves to his wife that he had only been acting a part, and -was not really the outrageous soty ho was pretonding to bo. Tho plot is guite an excellent- ono a« musical comedies go, and every scene had its laughable situations and comii. lines, whilst tho grace of tuneful and ofttimes catchy music spread its swcot glamour over all. As Claudine, Miss Minnie Lovo was responsible for a performance of mucft delicacy, sympathy, and charm, and.fairly captivated tho big audience with her skill, personality, and acute coined* sense. Her success in "My Don't Caro Girl," with its clever business and setting for tho smartly-frocked chorus, "s<H over" in good stylo. In tho sccond act sho has the "Kiss Walt?!," in which shy yearned most alluringly, and tho final act saw her score a distinct hit in "Jt'j a Long Way Homo," a tuneful if somo* what tawdry bit of American sentiment in soli". Miss Love's mimicry with ilia violin was extremely clevcrly done. Miss Florence Young, as La Comtesse, achiovetl tho outstanding vocal succcss ol the evening,' as tho soloist in tho concerted number "Donny Didn't, Donn* Did," one of thoso songs thai go ting-a-ling from the outset, and catches hold from tho first linn. Miss Young's full-throated riugmg «i» prano, her admirable .diction, and dominating personality, found full-expression ill this delightful number. The pari; is one that calls for boiling indignation, and jSliss Young boiled dcliciously. Mi 6» Ul'adys Moncnt'tf is back again, as AtigeW, still a very beautiful shlgor, and improved as an actress. Her deportment, however, has hardly, tllat air of distinction, which tho rulo tails for. Ono of the most liiusicianly numbers is the duet "Lovo is Divine," sung with Jtr. John Kalsfon, which capitally displayed thu rare quality and range of Miss Moncrieff's voico. She was associated with Mr. Phil Smith in the nonsense duct "Hide and Seek," and sang delightfully In "My Beautilttl Lady" in tho final act. Mr. Reginald Roberts waa in Jus best form as tho irresponsible Itomeo, Lucicu, frivolling witli a freedom from self-consciousness that was pleasing" vu note. Mr. Leslie Holland crackles as drjly and competently as ever as th» quaint old Bebe, who is true to the memory of tho girl who wont to Canada twenty-five years ago. His "By the Saskatchewan" ! number, with its preti* fantasy, was a catchy number, and nothing waa funnier than his oft-repeated "Miss— I iiape you. Oh, howl hate youl" Dondidier was quaintly playssi by that volatilo little comedian, Phil Smith, who resembled nothing so much as a tamo rabbit under the influence of strong wine. His "I Like, It" jingle will m. whistled by the crowd iu the course of a day or two. Mr. John lialston sang and acted effectively as Maurice D'Uzac. A.n aiuasjngly clever dancer is Mr. Clym, Cook, whose agility and spryness in ft clever acrobatic dance was a feature of tho evening. That lie has gilts ns a comedian was apparent in his smart work as Benovoi. Miss Addio Lennard was a very human document as Madame Dondidier, who becomes a dreadful flirt in tho giddy last act. Tho dancing was good throughout, but honourable mention should be made of the satyrs and nymphs ballet in tlio final scene, wlioro Pan frolics with a bevy of light-heelcw maids at the ball. Tho orchestra, tinder Mr. Harry Burton, did good work, and the scenery, lighting, and dresses were all up to the best "Royal Comic" standard. "The Pink Lady" will be played again to-night and on Monday evcuing.