HIS MAJESTY’S

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 152, 17 September 1927, Page 14

HIS MAJESTY’S

“LA MASCOTTE’ “La Mascotte* to be produced at H s Majesty’s Theatre this evening: by the Amateur Operatic Society, is the story of the life of Bettina a turkey-herd, who, on account of her wonderful powers as a luck-bringer, has been nicknamed “La Mascotte.” She is sent by her wealthy employer to his brother Rocco in answer to his request for financial assistance. Rocco is a singularly unfortunate farmer, who belittles what he considers is an insult by his brother, but immediately La Mascotte enters upon his farm his luck changes for the better. The extraordinary powers of Bettina become known to the impecunious and exceedingly superstitious monarch Laurent XVII., who, while out hunting, comes upon Rocco and his Mascotte and quietly annexes the latter, to the intense disgust of her lover, a peasant named Pippo. She is taken to Laurent’s court and has a number of startling and exceedingly humorous adventures. Meanwhile Pippo, in order to be near her, has joined a trooop of Bohemians to dance and sing at court. The result is a complication in the love affairs of both nobles of the court and the once lowly Bettina and her Pippo, around which is written a great deal of sparkling comedy. The complications lead to war between Laurent and a neighbouring prince called Fritellini. who was in love with Fiametta, Laurent's daughter, but has been jilted in favour of Pippo. The possession of “La Mascotte” sways the success of the armies, but as the legend is that — “If she loves whom she shall wed, “Then the Mascotte’s power is fled. ’ and Pippo eventually annexes her for himself, the war ends farcically, the Mascotte’s power vanishes intc thin air and all the lovers marry in the way that is expected of thorn.