THE "ROYAL COMICS"

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

THE "ROYAL COMICS"

I (By Sylvius.)

<*— | A COMPANY WITH A HISTORY

it is .1 far cry now to the genesis of liio rather celebrated company which opened at the Grand Opera House lust evening. The "Hoyal Comics"—the nanio and traditions of the company have always been maintained, though its personnel necessarily changes—form part of our theatrical history, and a. very important and interesting part it is. Of course, light opera was played in Australia long before the era of the ".Royal Comics," but it was not played oil such a lavish scalo until that company was founded. That came about during Sir. J. C. "Williamson's second visit to Australia, when ho brought out "H.M.S. l'inaforo." At that tiuio (1832) the late George Musgrovo was running "Tambour Major," and Arthur Garner was playing his English Comedy Company. They approached Mr. Williamson with a partnership plan, and so tho iirm of Williamson, Garner, and Musgrovn camo about, and it must bo confossed that tho management proved a great raiser of standards in Australia and Now Zealand. The partnership lasted nine years, at the end of which Air. Musgrovo went out, leaving Williamson and Garner together for two years. Then Mr. Williamson bought Jlr. Garner out, ami was later rejoined by Mr. Musgrovo. Tho Williamson and Musgrovo firm lasted for seven years, and then "J.C.W." was alono for four yenrs, until ho took in Messrs. George Tallis and Gustavo Eaniaciotti. Later camo the Meynell and Gimn alliance. John Gurni died, Williamson died; Hugh J. Ward was taken in, and later tho late Harold Ashton. Finally, C. H. Wenmau hns been taken into tho directorate. But to get away from ownership, and back to tho more interesting oxploiis of tho "Jioynl Comics." Mr. Williamson found that peoplo wero jiirating "Pinafore" and Pirates," and his first duty was to check all such harmful infringements. This was tho beginning- of tho Gilbert-Sullivan era, which interlocked with tho ono in which such mid-Victor-ian successes as "Tambour Major," "La Mascotte," and "Madamo Argot" figured, in which Miss Nellie Stewart mado her earliest operatic successes as a chit oi' a girl. Othor successes of the period wero "Les Cloches," "Tho Merry Duchess," "Ustrolla," "Tatmitza," "Tho Littlo Duke," and "La Mascotte." Tho company in those days included such names as Fanny Liddiard, Emma Chambers, Pattio Brown, Aggio Kelton (afterwards Mrs. Georgo Hall), Edwin Kelly, Ilarwood, Grevillo tho elder, Verdi (baritone), and Woodfield (a fine tenor). A littlo later camo Fredorici. a _ very _ notable basso, who appeared in a. big revival of Gounod's 'Faust." This artist's heart was affected, and it was his habit to always carry certain littlo lozenges about with him as a stimulant, and each of his stage cos-* tuines had a little pocket for their reception. On one fatal niglit Mephistopheles mado one of his exits "into the earth" in a trap J midst fire and smoke, but when the stage hands who were working the trap wont to lielj> liirn off he fell into their arms—dead. Broccolini (baritone) and Chas. Lemnano (tenor) then dawned 011 the horizon, and "lolantho" brought from England a notable cast of peoplo, with the late Bob Brough as tho Chancellor, singing: "And in my court I sit all day Giving agreeable girls away." Mrs. Brough was lolanthe. Miss Alice Barnett a Junoesquo Queen of the Fairies, and Stannis Leslio was Private Willis. In. 18S7 tho now Princess Theatre in Melbourne was opened with a very special production oi "The Mikado," with Nellie Stewart as Yum Turn, Mr. Woodfield as Nanki Poo, and Howard Vernon (tho best of all Gilbertians) as Koko, which company also delighted big audionces in New Zealand. Another visit was paid to New Zealand in 1890, when "Dorothy," "Princess Ida," "Patience," "Yeomen of tho Guard," and "La Muscotto" wore produced witli such excellent performers in tho cast as Nellie Stewart, Fanny Liddiard, Howard Vernon, Hay l'ollard, Win. Elton, Chas. Leumane (tenor), and Mano (baritone). Two or three years later the lioyal returned again to New Zealand, when Clara Merivale was the lead, and "Dorothy," "Pcpita," "Marjorie," and "Tho Mikado" were played in the old Theatre Hoyal. On their next advent tho season opened with ft lovely production of "Tho Gondoliers" in tho new (now Everybody s) Opera House, with Violet Varloy, Flora Graupncr, Florence Young (Casilda), Henry Bracey, Chas. Eyley, Howard Vernon, "Geo. Lauri, and Syd. Dean 111 tho c ast. , , ~ Nellio Stewart returned to the company in 189G, and performed brilliantly in such bills as "Ma Alio Hosctte," "M'scllo Natouche," and "Paul Jones," supported by Josoph Tapley, Wallace Brownlow, Flo. Young, Geo. Lauri, Howard Vernon, and Marietta Nash. Then for a long period the production of light opera m New Zealand was left to tho Pollard Oncra Company, under au arrangement with tho J. C. Williamson management. In 1903, or the succeeding year, the lioyal Comic Opera Company camo onco moro k> New Zealand, .to play ' ih<s Country Girl." "Lady Molly," and other piecea, with Mr. Kvs. lioberts, jiir. Haigh Jackson, CJ. 11. Bantock, Flo. .Young Ivy Scott, Celia Gliilom, and Gem-go Laun to keep tho t'un going. Neitner -\n,. Koberts nor Miss ioung (wiio are Willi Iho present company) came to New Zealand in I'JO7, wlien "The Orchid and "Tho Cingalee" wero piaycd by a cast that included such players as Misaw Olive Godwin, and Alma llarber, John 8.11ston, George Laun, and Arthui Oifuifcin ISO!) the company returned with J.JIO Girls of Gottenburg and Ilio DdUjuiaids," with Fanny Dango, Nome Wib .011, Marietta Nasn. 110. Koberts, Victor Gounet, W.. b. Feuy, Dave O'Connor, Andrew Higginson, and C K. Bantock in the cast "Tho Jung of Cadonia" in 1910 introduced n* to Herbert Clayton, Frank tjreene, Lottie Ssurent Bert Gilbert, and DoroJiy Court-an aggregation that did not exactly startle the natives into fits oi ecstatic admiration. Indeed, it■ be said, and very appropriately*sa d, at this point, that tho tailing away m Ue duality of the musical, piays woubat about a lowering of the acting and 6iJ„ing standard generally. 1 Nightbirds, and a revival of Cingalee," were features of tho The "lioyal Comics of that year broJ o ht under notico a very accomplished star 111 tho person of Miss Sybil tandalo, imd a downing star in sweet Dorothy Biunion (now in Amorica). J.ho Mtnpanj also included Talteuv Andrews (tend), W s Percy ami Victor Prince (cooiedians), Keg- ltoberls, and Miss Amy Murphy, ft was a good show. Ihen camo "Tho Quaker Girl' season—also in jgi3_ w hich introduced Blanche Lrowne. Miss Graco Palotta's Madame bluin was easily the best performance in the play, imd good work wos done by Lrosiio Jioiland, Jack Cannot, Jessio Lonnon. anu Vera I'earce. This company also played . "The Sunshiiio Girl/' At the beginning | of last year tho Koyal Comics again ; Visited Wellington with "Gipsy j and revivals of "The Chocolate boldier %( j "Taul Jones," and the. "Quaker Gin, bringing along Minnie Love, Lthel Oad- j man, Phil Smith, Leslie Holland, Derek | Hudson, and Florence Young. Ou the present occasion we have MinnieLovo and Florence Young again in the leads, v 'Ul G'.r-dvs Moncrieff. Addio I,ontinrd, iteg. Koberte, Leslio Holland, PsU Smith, and Clyde Cook in responsible roles. This brings Litis brief history up- I to-dat", so v,-e 'Jif.w the curtain. 1