"MAYTIME"

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 176, 21 April 1919, Page 7

"MAYTIME"

ROMANTIC PLAY WU'H MUSIC "Maylime," a play with music in four episodes. Book and lyrics by 1!. J. Wing; music by Sigmiind Komljcrg. Cast;--- | ' John Wayne John. Fordo Ooloncl van Zanilt C. li. Jlantock Ottillo : Oladya Jloncricll' Kichard Wavnn Itegsnald lloborta Matilda van Zandt Addie Leiinanl Alice Tremaino hva Weober Matthew van Kiwutt Lcfllie Holland Claude van 'Zandl l'croy Claridge Jtai-ia ■ Violet l'oriie Kudolfo (iorilon Itamwiy Ulpny dancers: Jlaie Uttird and Itobcn ilackinuon Madame Delphiuo'-' Olive Godwin V. T. Surnum John italston Kstrclla Amorita Wyonne Hnybittls Sigaor Vivulla t..... Oliver Peacock Lizzie .' Florence Young Mr. JlleJiu ;..: I'liil. Smith Krmintvude -JVAlbert Maie Uaird Wmifrwl at. Albans Dorothy Drew Good theatrical performances have been so occasional of Into that it was small wonder, thai the. JJnyal .Comic Opera Company, in special strength, drew a record house for New Zealand at the opening of tlio season at the Grand Opera limit! on Saturday evening. Better, too* it is to record that the play and its performance were worthy of the record. In "Alayiime" one sees with no little pleasure Ihe trend departing from the buoyantly irresponsible musical comedy-cum-revue form of entertainment 'backto the substantial and legitimate. "M-ay-timo'' is really a serious and very charming romantic play with music, tlio bit-' Ver bqing quilu subsidiary to the mntter of the piny,, and yet 'investing i.t with, a glamour train which there is no escaping. The play is ingeniously conceived iua'n ultra-romantic vein. Its course covers aperiod of 77 years, with at least (iniio of"Voc: characters.running through,. and the golden chain' of romance holds right through to a delightful conclusion. The' skeleton musical score is light and melodious, and no effort has been spared by the producer (Mr. George ■•''Highland) to add to aud elaborate tlio inherent gracos of tlio play. It should tie added that tlio changes of period givo wonderful chances for vaiiation in costume, which is' taken the utmost advantage: of, witli bewildering results. "M'aytimo"' concerns the fortunes of the van Zaudt family, of "Mayflower" ancestry, the locale -throughout being New l'ork. There is 1840 Ottillo van Zandt falls in love with Dick Wayne, ■her father's handsome apprentice, and, .though,rudely parted by old Cobmel van Zandt, they swear to be true to each other, and plant pledges to that end tindor the roots of a> young ap-plo tree in the garden of the van -Zandts in Washington Square. The ring aud thfl lock 'of hair which they plant aro wrapped in a piece of blue paper they find in the garden, really an acknowledgment of a debt by Dick Wayne's father to, Colonnl van Zandt concerning a small farm'on Manhattan Island.. The first episode ends with tho parting of the young lovers amidst the breath of mayumo flowers in the old garden-. When the curtain ascends again fifteen years have passed. The scene i 6 the playrooms of Madame Delphine, where wealthy New Yorkers repair to fling a free heel of an evening. Ottillo is now the wretched wife of her besotted cousin Claude van Zandt, and that whimsical roue Matthew van Zandt (another cousin) hns married a second time. Dick Wayne returns a millionaire from South Africa to find his dreams of happiness shattered. At Delphine's he meets the unhappy Otille, and whilst together her drunken husband comes upon the two, places' on their meeting the worst con-' ■struction, and is making a hideous scene when the tactful Matthew intervenss to tiave Otillo by announcing that Dick ■ has returned- to marry Alice Tremaino (Ottille's friend and Dick's constant admirer).' Dick accepts the situation to 'save tlio \voniun he really loves, and the highly dramatic scene ends with the dancing'of "Jump, Jim Crow,' during which Otlilio faints dead away. The third epiiode (in 1885) sees Otillo a white-haired old lauy, selling cverytiiuig in tlio old Washington Square house to pay her debts. Tnere is .an amusing auction sale, followed by u scene or ■ tuuciung suuueis, lor into the room vrttei'ii a tremulous- old man with thm white'locks, xl is the' Dick 'Wayne.of the urst episode ct-mo to rwciw his uiay•timo sweeiaeatt from poverty and despair. He calls the auction off by uttering a lump sum for the property as it sianua. i,astiy, tne year l!)t(, wun uie uiu place in tne bquare transtorhied into i, . flambuoya'nt .costumier's establishment, whica old uiclc Wayne's grandson is financing, for Mdlie. Brown,, because Mdile. Brown is none other thuu Utilie's granduaugater, and the old lea-veu-is ao work. (And there young Dicx makes surer oi his Heart's desire than'-tiid his grandtatlier, and there, through the open doord at tne back of tlio showroom, u workmuh roots up the dead apple tree to find a quaint oIU box, and within it a faded blue paper enclosing a ring and a lock ot auburn hair. One can imagine the rest. There is a line aroma of lavender and old lace about the-story. There are gay references to the Battery on a windy day when crinolines are iho vogue. At Delphine's, the audience \s introduced to the one and only P. T. Barnum, with his breezy disquisition on advertising. ',■',, The performance was a particularly ! good one in almost every respect, "good ! fits" being available throughout the long cast of characters. 'Miss Gladys Moncrieff, who succeeded so well last year in "Katinka," carried oif higher honours on Saturday as Ottille, which makes considerable demands on the actress' apart from the singer. Her change from the bright, winsome girl of fixteen to the hard, cynical distraught "creature of thirty, was a striking metamorphosis, but the change again to the quiet, lowspoken, broken-hearted old lady of the third episode places Miss Moncrieff as an actress of very special histrionic capacity Her Otille is a performance that will bo long remembered. Miss Moncrieff ia Binging as sweetly as ever. The duets (with Mr. Reginald Roberts) in the first act, "In Our Little Home," and "Will You Eemember," were charmingly sung. The second act duet, "The Eoad to Paradise," was hardly so attractive. There were''at least two other notably good performances. Mr. Leslie Holland lent a fascinating savoir faire lo the role of Matthew van Zandt, a slave to the ladies, but ever the gentleman. His dry humour combined with that touch of breeding lent much charm to this character. Mr. Holland marked the periods well. His nonagenarian of the final act was the best bit of character work he has yet done in Wellington. His quavery, quaking,' old gentleman, true to his amorous instincts to the end, was a superlatively able bit of polished acting. Mr. Reginald Roberts was also well placed as Richard Wayne. 1 He looked the robust youth.of the first act to the life, and was quite effective as the tremulous octagennrian of the third act. He also sang well when the occasion demand-* ed. Mr. Percy Claridge hardly made tho most of his excellent chances as Claude van Zandt. Mr. Claude Banloelc was Colonel van Zandt, and Miss Acidic Lennard wos nmusing as the giddy old maid, Matilda van Zandt. Miss I'lorenee Young was a screaming success in the broad character part of Lizzie (Matthew's third), but it was (be ono utterly incongruous character in-the Way. l One could not but regret that Miss Yonng has no music to sing. Neither bad Miss Olive Godwin, as Madame Delnliine, or Mr. Johr-. Ralslou. as P. T. Barnnm. Mr. Phil Smith makes merry as the h-loss auctioneer 'of the third act. Mr. Gordon Ramsay, sang well as a gipsy, but Miss Violet Ynrke's. voice was so high-pitched, and her enunciation such that it was difficult to follow her lines. Miss Wyonne Hnybilllo (a Wellington product) danced well at Delphine's, and Mr. Oliver Peacock was admirable ns Vivalla. the hungry Itnlian tenor. Miss Eva Webber was Alice Trelimine, am' Miss Maie Baird danced well and played the role of the Winter Garden chorus girl in search of notoriety. The play is lavishly mounted, nnd exquisitely dressed in each episode. The "Jump Jim Crow" nolka of 1855 was considered as scandalous as the tango wn« six years ngrt. As danced in tlio second episode under the direction of Mr. Leslie Holland it was as innocent n little jump mid skin round as one could imagine. The mnzii.vka in the same act was charniimrly danced, ns were several sprightly bullets specially arranged by Miss Minnie Everett. "Maylime" will bo played (ill Friday next " inrlii=ivo. On Saturday next "Oh! Oh! Delphine" will be staged. There will be a matinee.this afternoon.