"KATINKA"

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 173, 11 April 1918, Page 7

"KATINKA"

A SPARKLING COMIC OPERA '"Katinka," a ooinic opera in throe acts. Music by Budolf Mini; book by Otto Hauorbach. Cast— Thaddeus T. Hopper Mr. Hiil Smith Ivan Dimitri Mr. Reginald Roberts Boris Strogofl Mr. John Ralston Petrov Mr. Harry Ratcliflo Knopf Mr. Alfred Andrew Arif Bey Mr. Oliver Peacock Abdul Kr. Stanley Odgcrs' Katinka Miss Gladys Moucneff Tatiana Miss Addie Lonnard Olga (Nashari) Miss Eva Webber Varenka Mias Violet Yorko Mrs. Helen Hopper ... Miss Florenoo Young Russian Dancers . Miss Kitty Dow lies & Mr. Oyril Ritchard It is seldom that any contro in tho Dominion is favoured with a premiere performance by any of J. C. Williamson's musical companies, as, naturally, tho firnl centres its resouroo3 in cither Sydney or Melbourne, as the stamp of approval in either of those cities is tantamount to aliall-niark for the rest of Australasia. But .lost evening tho custom was broken by the Koyal Comic Opera' Company giving the first performance in Australasia of "Katinka," .a .comio opera of undoubted merit: with, a bracing ami melodious music score, a highly picturesque setting, and a logical plot which holds the interest to tho very end. In point of intrinsio merit the management have reserved tho best till tho last, and such is the character of tho music and the sparkle of its action that one may fairly congratulate tho producer, Mr. George Highland, on his painstaking and resourceful work, tho company on a spirited and always interesting performance, and the management in having secured a sure winner. Indeed-such aro the qualities of "Katinka" that it may not bo impertinent to quory why so many musical plays with little or nothing to commond them aro staged at all when such works are procurable. Katinka is a demure young Hussion lady who is being dragooned into marrying Boris Strogoff, an elderly and over-, bearing Russian officer and alleged widower, whilst she is madly in lovo with Ivan Dimitri, a young officer on Strogoff's staff. On tho wedding day tho young couplo ascertain how they havo been tricked and kept apart, and aro at a loss to know how to prevent . the seemingly inevitable, when Thaddeus T. Hopper, of U.S.A., bobs up with a bright idea. He has a passport for self and wife (temporarily mislaid), and! proposes that Katinka shall escape in tho guiso of Mrs. Hopper to Turkey, where the first Mrs. Strogoff is said to bo hiding from her brutal husband. At Stamboul the real Mrs. Hopper turns up, and Micro are oomicnl complications i that worry the cherubic Thaddeus a good deal, but the worst is avoided by Katinka, who poses as a Circassian 6ingcr in order to, find the first Mrs. Strogoff, who is seeking consolation in a harem, but in his anxiety to ensure ICatinkn's admission "behind tho dim lattice," Mr. Hopper imprisons his own wife, who ascertains that Thaddeus hits actually bribed a Turkish tout to abe'mot lior, which makes for furious domestio trouble. Eventually, however, tho Circassian girls (including Kntinkn) are engaged by Knopf, tho proprietor of tho Cafe Tnrkoiso in Paris, and' thither all parties ropair, Strogoff in search of Hopand his abducted brido, Mrs. Tloppor in a vain pursuit of happiness without' Hopper and his abducted bride, Mrs, Hopper in his. sweetheart', Thero in tho gay halls of giddy high life, Strogoff meets Hopper face .to face, and is about to annihilate him wiien Katinka enrols her away through the throng with a veiled hiSy who is found to bo none other than Olga, Strogoff's first wife, thus clearing tho way to a happy finale. Deserting the trivialities and inconsequent inlities of musical comedy, tho composer has harked back to oomio opera form by writing a scoro that iB brightened with melodious solos, duets, quartets, and impressive ensembles and finales that demand singing in tho real sense of the word. The cast was singularly 'appropriate. Miss. Gladys Moncrieff, who was entrusted with the nainu part, has an attractive yet arduous part, to which, she did full justice. Experience lias givon her easy confidence as a romantic actress, and her sweet avid true soprano was precisely suited to tho music. She was charming in the solo "One Who Will Understand," but it was in tho 'oft-re-peated lovo song "Itackety-Coo" that she made her deepest impression, and its haunting melody is bound to infect tho public before tho week is out. Another successful performance was that of Mrs. Hoppta by Miss Florence Young, whose infallible ■brightness found breezy expression. It was a comedy lole pure and simple," and Miss Young infected, overyono with hoi* gaiety and abandon. Hor vocal successes w'cro "Hurry Homo," "I- Can Tell You By tho Way You Dance," and as soloist and conductor of tho male quartot, a.number that delighted tho audienoo, and which is comically burlesqued by Mr. Hopper's female choir. Mr. Keginald Roberts found bis motier as tho sinart, soldierly Ivan Dimitri, which ho acted with fine spirit. Ho was in admirablo voice, and scored a highly artistic success in "My Paradise," a well-written solo, in tho last act. Mr. Phil Smith found the rolo of Mr. Hopper as comfortable and i well-fitting as that chirpy little comedian could covet. As tho central comedy pin, he was most satisfying, and .oven,his gags had a springtime freshness.''_ Mr. John llalston waa heavy as Strogoff; Mr. Oliver Peacock was dramatically vohemont as Arif Bey; and Mr. Alfred Andrew made Knopf an amusing fellow. Messrs. H. Rftdcliffe and Stanley Odgers were also effective in minor parts. There is somo excellent dancing in "Katinka;" Miss Kitty Downes and Mr. C. Kitchard execute a Russian dance, and a very pretty Circassian ballet is danced in the middle act by a team of filinily-clad ladies, and anoth'or languorous Turkish dance goes to tho musical drone of "Allohn Hobday," nicely sung by Miss Eva Webbor (as Olga). The opera wanders in its geography, and thereby gains variety'in scenic expression. The Slainbotil Street scene is very picturesque, and tho Parisian cni'u scene was an enlivening bit of stage colouring. Tho orchestra, under Mr. Adrian Ainadio, did their work excellently. ■ At the conclusion of tho opera there word four or five uurlnin-calls; Mr. Highland wa9 brought into the limnlight to receive tho hearty congratulations of the company and the audience, and n wealth of beautiful floral tributes wero handed lo tho lady principals during a sccni' of stimulating enthusiasm. "Katinka" will be played for the remainder of the week.