"SNOW-WHITE"

Otago Daily Times, Issue 17686, 25 July 1919, Page 6

"SNOW-WHITE"

o SUCCESSFUL FAIRY OPERA. After an interval of about 12 months the pupils of Miss G. Helen Gard'ner made a very successful reappearance last night, I when the delightful thiee-act fah-y opera "Snow-White" was staged in His Majesty's Theatre. Very little of the seating accommodatiop was unoccupied, and the quality of the entertainment certainly merited the large attendance. "Snow-White" is an exceedingly pretty little fairy tale which was very prettily told by a host of pretty girls. The dresses also were pretty, and the settings were quaint and appropriate, and the whole atmosphere of the opera was charming. Of the story itself little need bo eaid. It was essentially one which captivates the child mind, but it was none the leas pleasing from the adult point of view. Tho cast of characters was strong numerically, and tho performers had attained a degree of excellence that reflected the highest credit on their tutor. The first act opens in the Queen's apartments in the palace in Poppyland, the .stage arrangements being effective and appropriate. Miss Bessie Thomson, as Queen Isobel, achieved a very distinct success, and surrounded by her retinue of maids-in-.waiting and other court ladies, pages, courtiers, etc., who go to m-ake up the Royal house-hold, the scene was as novel as it wae striking. The choruses by the maids-in-wa-iting were tunefully rendered, and the solo by Miss M. Lemon, as tho "Spirit of the Mirror," was a pleasing contribution, while the Rose Dance by the maids-in-waiting was graceful and pretty. A very effectively arranged forest scene is disclosed as the curtain goes up for the second act. Several numbers appropriate to the scene are introduced, including the ballet of the Forest Queen (Miss May Brown); sprites and bats; a sweetly rendered duct by the "Two Brown Owls" (Misses Flo and Jean Lennox); and a novel and entertaining Butterfly dance by Miss N. Low. Tho feature of the act was tho dancing of the Forest Queen (Miss May Brown), while the antics of the seven little dwarfs created a bi£ fund of amusement. A solo Eastern dance by' Miss N. Keate evoked hearty applause, and Miss Doreeu H-anlon protrayed the character of Prince Ferdinand cleverly. Miss Winnie Bock further enhanced her reputation by her clever characterisation of the part of "SnowWhite," and Mrs A. R. Gard'ner achieved inuch success in a dual capacity—as King Alphonso of Poppyland, and as the bad but beautiful Queen disguised as a pedlar. Tho third act. while bringing a pretty little story to a fitting finale, in reality served as an excellent vehicle tq introduce several additional choruses, solos, and dances, and some very pretty and appropriate scenery. Special praise is due to the juvenile section of tho cast. Then- work was chaxactxTised by marked' naturalness, and there was absent that self-consciousness eo frequently associated with the work of adult amateur performers. Clarence Paine, Clive Lambert, Alfie Wilson, Grant Clark, and Hazel Johnson might be complimented for the clover discharge of the parts allotted to them. Miss Eva Scott's interpretation of the part of the "Spirit of Dawn" was a

finished effort, while her rendering- of her two solos earned applause. The waiting between the acts was somewhat prolonged, but this was due to the fact that a large quantity of the scenery, which was shipped from Wellington, did not arrive in Dunedin from tho Rosamond until 7 p-ni., and great credit is due to Mr Marshall and his capablo staff and Mr Walters in arranging it in time for the performance. The orchestral musio under the direction of Miss Queeiße Foster was imich appreciated. "Snow-White" will be stag-ad again to-night and to-morrow night, and also at a special matinee on Saturday.