AMUSEMENTS.

NZ Truth, Issue 132, 28 December 1907, Page 4

AMUSEMENTS.

OPERA: HOUSE. r ■■ w <^The Blue M<iori;» { ; ■?' i ' ■ ■ , ' ' Glorious glimpses, of. the golden East, two intense choral and orchestral' ensembles that delight the ear,. r sonie popular ditties that were paiv 'lily, encored, arid a^ vast' q'uajrtity of frivolity, . formed . the . sum total of "The Blue Moon* on Boxing Night. In one word, "The Blue Moon" is article fof which there is a sure 1 demand, 'when the baritone hero sang - the . praises .of "The ; Burmali CJirl.'.J' whilst a bevy' of. beauties, m sarongs ,'aes,iled' round him, th'e, crowded audience. \at the Opera Mouse "applauded .with ;erithusiasm. "The explanation ■:'. consists paftly.ih tie loy^', 6f the" famiUat : as something requiting no effort, to understand, partly ; m the 'adroit . invention' of new 1 , for a, particularly animated chorus by Mr" "(Jerai'd Coyeritry,.\and' partly m a stagembuntihg .which "can only be described^ as exquisite. .Mr J. .0. : Williamson has secured two or three clever artists,; who have been newly engaged, "and special' mention must be- made- of Mr Harold Parkes, whose manners and make-up as a Gockney . "Tommy Atkins" wer^ perfect ; and of; the new soubrette, Mjiss Daisie Wallace, who possesses individuality. Mr Victor Grpuriet'.s performance wa? like, chanw pagiifr-fizzing ale, -the v irime full- of quick, height 'humor, and m the Crocodile: song aitd "Make a Fuss of Me" he made ', a .decided hit. ..._ ; . „./Pho'., musical side" of "The Blue Moon/ is .allied -^ith the, spectacular. Theres. are two 'great tableaux by dif-, ferent .artists, which exhibit "the same liind , 'of':. Seductive, laiigorpus. beauty. Mr W. Bi. Obleman has painted v the bungalow at Naga, the scene roofed-in withY, tropical " foliage bearing long pendent/ blossoms, a melting view of the, riVer with its. thousand islands beyprid^ and a qrow'd ' of J Brijiish soldiers |n witite, /English ladies, native giris f '.arid Burmese m; crimson, turbans, occupying the foreground.' ' . JVTjiss Amy Murphy, the- "New Zealand soprano, mfade a highly favor-.. able" injpression ; as Ohandra- Jvfih The newcomer, looked .the character, did the acting that. was required satisfactorily, and displayed a-typical light •soprano voice that was. both tuneful and fluent. Her solo.work all through showed refinement, and the btrilliant ; readering of the, florid air m ; the last'i act, also encored, proved her- an accomiplished vocalist. The part of the English lover fell to Mr Reginald K|enneth, a light baritone, who possessed a 'fine stage appearance, and an easy manner. During theevening he fairly shared .with Miss Murphy m the honors of a tenderly effective rendering of the duet, "Out of the Radiant Bast," the. orchestral, scoring o which was marked by delicacy and charm. As regards the comic aspect of the piece, Mr Myles Clifton, m depicting, as Major Vivian Callabone, a sunburnt, tlderly swell with an exaggerated military swagger and a hot temper, was on familiar ground. But Mr Clifton is evidently a comedian of talent and resource. Mr Harold Parlces's faithful portrait ("after 'Rudyard Kipling") of Private Charlie; Taylor, crude, .confident and com'mpn, was ! 'p;ienuineiy funny, and the iduet "Pit^a-Pat" With the spriffhtlv tartips'' m'aiid, Millioonil T.'cvoiv, wias one of t\)r n>?>;hv cvcnrrti numbers, r^iss .'H-.-iißv V'-il a f e (l-v!M'<--i1 fi-.vniy ht I his duet, eKjually won success m

the coon serenade, and eccentric dance that, followed, and was thrice encored for ;"She Didnlt Know." Assumed simplicity, insistent emphasis upon- the ingredients m a piquancy which took the house by'storm. Mr Gouriet, a? the, Maie-ender, disguised as a shar^-no^ed, attenuated native f , was the hit of the evening. Mr J. R. IJogue .has made; a rapid; adyance since he'first ivrerit on the stage last year, and played lightly and brightly the S!omieW(h!at : . I .invportfa i nt comedy, part of Bob)bie Scott, .. m love with Evelyn Ormsby. iSss Jessica Deane proved picturedqoie m the scarlet attire of the juggler's assistant. "Tbe Blue Moon" will be repeated -this evening and following nights.;