"OH! OH! DELPHINE"

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 247, 12 July 1919, Page 10

"OH! OH! DELPHINE"

A BRIGHT MUSICAL COMEDY As only a few weeks have sped their course since "Oh! Oh! Delphine" was played in Wellington' by the lfoyal Comic Opera Company, last evening's entirely enjoyable performance of this spicy and musically delightful comedy need not bo touched upon analytically. Jl is one of those musical farces which is redolent of the gay spirit of the entente cor> diale as it is understood by writers for the musical comedy stage. Ivan Caryll, eood Englishman, and a melodist of outstanding ability, has wedded some of his most entrancing and buoyant music to a frivolous i'nitc wholly Parisian in Havour, typified, in a nutshell, by Victor Joli.beau's perambulations round the counlry wilh six models in search of an ideal left shoulder for his conception of Venus. Jolibeau being married, and his wife, chancing to be a human being there are ridiculous complications between the couple mentioned and Monsieur and Madame Bouch'otte, who become mixed and muddled and are not in the least degree, assisted by the aggressive amours of one Colonel Pompoiinet, whose proclivities are such that the girl in charge of the telephone at ilies hotel warns newcomers by siii'm" nonchalantly, "Look up your wife when the Colonel comes around." Eventually the conflicting parties find that there is no love like the old love, and all ends in a whirl of happiness.

Miss Gladys Moncrieff as Delphine is given an opportunity of showing her versatility. She is the gayest of the gay butterflies, anil flirts adorably with anyone who happens to be on the spot, quite without: disturbing her grand passion for her original husband. There were no outstanding solos for her (which was a matter for regret, as Miss Moncrieff is singing well at present), but-uh such concerted numbers as "Oh! Oh! Delphine," "Why Shouldn't You Tell Me That," and "Can we Forgot" (with Mr. Roberts), Miss Moncrieff sang most appealingly. Miss Florence Young was a splash of vivid colour as Bimbonla, a Turkish carpet seller, who cannot speak English, but can sing it fluently. Her humour was .infectious, and her voice rang out "sweet and true in the duet "Allaballa Googoo." Miss Olive Godwin was satisfactory as Simone, and the "Cats" duct she sings with Miss Moncrieff was a faithful vocal apostrophe on women's inhumanity to women',' even if it were presented in farcical form. Mr, Phil Smith 'gives a capital portrait of Phil Smith in the role of M. Bouchotte. True, the audience do not wish him to bo anybody else—so the laughter ripnles on. Miss Atldic Lcnnard, on the other hand, gets right "inlo the skin" of the acrimonious duenna Madame Bax. Mr. Reginald Roberts is bright and debonnair as Jol'beau, and Mr. Leslie Holland's Colonel Poinponnctt is a polished bit of sound character work which-the big/audience delighted in. One had to regret that as the comedy progressed Pomponnet faded, as does, indeed, the general interest, the first act being immeasur--iblv sunerior to (he oMier two from every rjoiiit of,view. Miss Maic Baird's dancin» was a thing of ioy, and the ballets, designed by Mi?s Minnie Hooper, were marked by originality in scheme and grace in' execution. Mr. 15. .T. Roberts conducted a most efficient orchestra. "Oh! Oh! Delphine" will be played again this evening, and on Monday "The Pink Tiiuly" will be revived for two nights only. , It was as La Comtcsse that Miss Ilorence Young scored her best triumph in recent years, her splendid rendering of the star musical number of the piece, "Donny Did, Donny Didn't," always being greeted with tho greatest enthusiasm. Playgoers will be glad to witness Mi=s Gladys Moncrieff in the role of tho Pink Lady. Miss Olive Godwin (will -take the part of Angele (Miss Moncrieffs original character), and Mr. Phil Smith, Mr. Leslie Holland, Mr. Reginald Roberts, and Mr. Jack Ralston will appear in the parts which they, played very successfully during the original tour through the Dominion. The dancing, .which is a feature of the opera, will be undertaken by Mr., Robert M'Kinnon and Miss Maie Baird.