MR GEORGE STEPHENSON'S ENGLISH MUSICAL COMEDY COMPANY.

Gisborne Times, Volume XVII, Issue 1357, 18 January 1905, Page 2

MR GEORGE STEPHENSON'S ENGLISH MUSICAL COMEDY COMPANY.

0 Q “ THE ROSE OF THE RIVIERA.” o ■ ■- r HIS MAJESTY’S THEATRE, a , t . _ j The above company appear to-night at His Majesty’s in ” Tho Roeo of Riviera,” q a piece which has oojoyod most successful runs wherever it has been produced. “ The j Rose ”is an exceedingly good specimen of tho kind of play whioh has become so a popular of late yeara and whioh for want 0 of a better namo is called “ musical comedy.” It is bright and full of go, and i has plenty of tuneful and oatohing music 1 scattered throughout. The author do--5 scibos it as “ a musical something to laugh 3 at,” a description which those who :• patronise tho show to night will fiud to fit i. very well. Tho combination of artistes J which Mr Stephenson has got together is - described by critics as a very well balanced i olio, all the members being good, while both the musical and dancing ability of 3 the company is said to be much above the 1 average. Miss May Boatty as Millie • Davontry acts and sings with brightness I and success. Among her best songs dur- > iDg the piece are “ The Rose of Riviera," 1 “ Egypti” sod “ Cosy Corner,” the latter i being an especially pretty melody. Miss i Garsoang, who plays the part of a

\ young French lady, has a cultivated voice, which she uses woll, and she is also a graceful dancer. “Gold” and “Pansy Facos ” aro twosongß in which she hits the mark woll. Miss Alice Nison, as Miss Hammond has a comic part of which she makes the most. She both sings and dances well, and her song, “ Yollow Bird,” is one of the prettiest of the many charming melodies in the pieco. Of Mr Edward Lauri there is no need to say much, as he is woll known in New Zealand as a firstclass comedian and dancer. As Brisket, the Cockney tradesman on tour, ho has a part that gives ample scope for the play of his powers of comedy. In the duet with Miss Nixon “ Mingle Your Eyebrows,” Mr Lauri is especially amusing. The Gibson girls dance both quaintly and gracefully, introducing novel and quite unique business, especially in the " Champagne Ballet ” and in the quintette with Mr McNaughton, “Four Pretty Little maidens,” Other characters are well sustained by the Bovis brothers, Mr Twitchin and others. The pieco is finely staged and mounted, and the dressing is done in a very handsome manner. The large chorus and capable orchestra contribute an important share to the evening’s entertainment. The booking shows that a large audience will greet the company jto-night, am? those who want a good seat should “ come early and avoid the crush,” To morrow (Thursday evening} Trotero's great musical success “ The Skirt Dancors ” will be presented. On Friday “ The Dandy Doctor,” and on Saturday “The Duel in ho SnoWi” and " None But the Brave.”