"THE RED WIDOW"

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 164, 1 April 1918, Page 3

"THE RED WIDOW"

ROYAL COMIC OPERA COMPANY'S SEASON "The Red Widow," a. musical comedy in three acts. Music by Chae. J. Gebest lyrics and libretto by Channing Pollock and Rennold Wolf. Cast— Cicero Butts, of TJ.S.A Phil Smith Violet Butte ; Addie Lennard Oswald Butts Cyril Biehnrd Anna Vavara Florence Young lvette '. Glaclye Moncrieff Count Ivan Scori>ioH Stanley Odgere Baron Scßreovitch John Ralston Dick Graham a Oliver Peacock Tantul Fopova Alfred Andrew Captain Basil Eomanoll ...Reginald Roberts Princess Sophia Eva Webber Countess Alexandria Nesta Barry The always welcomo Eoyal Comic Opera Company, not .jcrhaps eo geDerously equipped with principals or so strong in all other departments as it was six months ago, when "The Pini Lady" and "The Cinema Slur" received puc'fhtarty approbation eommsaced the initial season of another tour of the Dominion at the Grand Opera House before a crowded audience on Saturday evening in "The Bed Widow." Thia is a product of prolific New York, from whic'h we nowadays draw the bulk of our theatrical supplies. "The Red Widow" found the authors, both of whom are live New York critics, at odds with themselves as to whether their production should be musical comedy or comic opera. There are moments of the purest frivol, in which all restraint is thrown to the wind, when suddenly the fun dies down to slabs of action similar in construction snd as oM-fasblnned in manner as "Giroile Girofla" or "The Princess of Trebizonde," as illustrated in the humour which feeds- oh Nihilism, bombs, spies, fierce oiiicials, and spectral allusions to the mines of Siberia, all of which is a century old in the light of recent sensational happenings in unhappiest Russia. "The Red Widow" has a presentable nmsic score, which ie improved by interpolated numbers, but tho book k not of the sparkling order, and the situations never seem to come to a head. There is an illusivenese about everything, without any of the usual compensations that go with such constructional looseness. In brief, the story concerns the doings of a giddy little Xankee corset manufacturer named Cicero Butts, who desires to introduce his wares to the officers of tho Russian Army and Anna Vavara, a perambulating •Nihilist, and proscribed within the .tsar's dominions. She overhears Butts's wife declare that she cannot leave for Petrograd, and with tho subtlety of a bull in a china shop she ogles the littlo man, and sobs her distress at not being able to find an obliging man with passports to Rustia for two, ae she must get oack to her Aunt Olga. Of courso Butt, mils to the wiles oi the scarlet wiuow, ami as man anil wue they travel to the JNovsky Prospect. There tno rierco blackmoastached i<olloo eoon get on to Anna's trail, and tilings loot biuerian for Uutts, when his own wito turns u.p. Cicero tries hard to blult it out, even to repudiating his own wire, but is eventually jorjieu into ;i more reasonable Iramo 01 mmd by Anna'u utter contempt lor iiini as sliottii, by her love lor Capiain Basil Koniaiiott, whoso loyalty to liis royal naiuesaxo prevents .'nina from anticipating tho moiutioiiißts in making itusbia Xaarless. Tlie Kcti Widow eventually chooses love to iNiliihslic glory, which is tile cue for iintts to lall into the arms of his real wile and for the nnal double lorte chorus.

'i'lie cmef figure in the play is naturally the scanet, bloodthirsty Anna Vavara, or, as sko k Known to the police, tlie lieci IV mow, ii role wiiieh, 41s iar aa the inconclusiveue.'s of fho authors permit, is graced by Aliss Jb'iorecce Young, whose excellent \oice anil animated manner were a.ways imineusely satisfying. She modulated thu strength of ner fullpowered soprano Uj the prettiest musical pipe in "just for low," which concludes on a high luczxo voco noto of singular purity. Tnis song was very heartily encored. Miss y.oung was also happily associated with ilr. Kegiuald Roberts in. the duet "i Lovo You," a.-id her ringing tones were dominant in tho bracing hnale, "The Soldiers of tho Tsar.'' Mr. Pflil. Smith as Butts has as much to do and say as nil the otner malecharacters put together, and he bubbled and pranced and grimaced and guggeu/ with refraining gliuness and comedy intelligence. Butts is always in hot water, but over cheerful, and Mr.' Smith has the useful faculty of being able to get laughs whenever he wants them. As Butts, he turned up with an old vocal favourite, "Tho lankee Doodle Boy," wliich proved to be the liveliest number of the evening. • Mr. Reginald Roberts, always a conscientious performer, looked well in the smart Russian outfit of Captain Romanoff, sing well, and fulfilled all the demands of a poorly-developed character. Miss Addie Leonard's expression of pained exasperation was not at all unsmted to the requirements of Mro. Butts, and a slighter Aliss Gladys Moucrielf sang charmingly' , as Yvette, who marries the eknguted Oswald Butts (-Mr. Cj'cil ltitcharii). iliss Moncrieff's principal 6ong, "Somen'here in France," is hardly worth while. Mr. John Ralston blustered bravely as the fiery Count Scareovitch, but Mr. .Stanley Odgers hardly made the most of his chances as the chief police bogie, Count ScorpiofE, though his make-up was excellent. • Mr. Oliver Peacock figured momentarily as Dick Graham, and Mr. Alfred Andrew cavorted round as a comic bomb-thrower. The chorus and ballet will be more at home when they have settled down after the first-night anxieties. "The Red Widow" will be played for three nighte longer. On Thursday Mr. Manhattan" will be produced lor tlw first timo in New Zealand.