“The Mikado” At Its Worst

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 329, 14 April 1928, Page 22

“The Mikado” At Its Worst

Germans Make it a Jazz Operetta CHORUS DOES THE CHARLESTON “The Mikado” (Gilbert and Sullivan,” has been played in some part of the British Empire without cessation since its first production in 1885. It has been staged in every part ol' the world, even in Japan itself. But unpardonable liberties have at times been taken. American producers are looked upon as the worst offenders, but presentations by Winthrop Ames in New York of late are said to be true to tradition. Even the worst productions in America of former years were apparently not comparable with a recent presentation. This was merely a modern jazz operetta, with reminiscent music by Fitelberg, the arranger, and a somewhat less than mediocre libretto by Bernauer and Oestarreicher, the adapters. The “up-to-date” humour which they forcibly inflicted was so feeble I that even Germany’s finest comedian, Max Pallenberg, could not. get a laugh except when he sang "Tit Willow,” which was left exactly as Gilbert wrote I ih ’ i In this production Nanki Poo, bei came Jack Clifford, the son of an Ohio ! sugar king; Katisha, the widow of a ! California fruit millionaire; Koko was made dictator of Titipu because he had saved the Mikado from an assassination which he himself (the tailor) had planned. Why? Because nowadays, as an article in the programme 1 stated, it would be impossible to believe that the Mikado could order an execution for the amusement of the j villagers! Of Sullivan’s music more was inj tact, say between two-thirds and i three-fourths. It had been rescored j for an orchestra which contained saxophone, banjo, piano and the jazz : traps. % When the original orchestration was j approximated it proved more effective | because it was better suited to Sullivan's themes. And when the rhythms i were syncopated the melodies lost ! their former charm and made only second-rate jazz. But by far the most annoying thing was that many splendid concerted I numbers and arias for bass, baritone i and contralto were cut and others re- • arranged into different keys with new word 8. Erik CharelFs staging v*as also quite depressing. He looked on the operetta as a revue and continually rushed Charlestoning maidens on and off the stage. DuriDg Nanki Poo’s minstrel song he even had the bad taste to bring on a group of acrobats dressed in sailor coatumes. Moreover, the scenery was continually shifted. Curtains rose and fell. Such distractions are necessary when, as is usually The case in revues, the music is not worth listening to.

Louis Bennison, the well-known actor has forfeited a step in his action against J. C. Williamson, Ltd. He has failed to comply with the order to provide as a preliminary to the hearing of the case security for £l5O for the defendants’ costs. Bennison’s action was for £1,130, the amount which he alleged he had been short paid by the firm, under contract with whom he was appearing in “The Road to Rome” and other productions. In addition to denying liability, the defence suggested that the actor was too realistic in parts of his work. For instance, a kiss he gave to Daphne Bairn, playing tlie senator’s wife in “The Road to Rome,” was considered to be much too enthusiastic. Louis Bennison, who is now in America, was given until March 31 to lodge security. Failure to do this enabled Mr. A. G. Hill to move successfully for leave to sign judgment.

“Madame Pampadour,” which is scheduled for presentation at Auckland on May 23, is described as one of the most beautiful and spectacular musical plays ever seen in this part of the world. Madame de Pompadour was a beautiful but wicked woman, and portrayers of the character manage to clothe her with a charm that the original Pompadour never ' possessed. The music is described as “glorious,” and the scene in the apartments of King Louis at Versailles Palace, with the wildly-lavish and costly gowns of the period, is one of the most beautiful ever staged.

An interesting production, due in Auckland shortly by the players of the Little Theatre Society, is “Lilies of the Field,” a delightful play by Hastings Turner. It was such a success in London as a comed3 r that it was rewritten and set to music as a musical comedy, in which Dorothy Dickson played the lead. Following is the cast which will interpret the comedy in Auckland: The Rev. John Head . . W. H. Graham. Ann, his wife . . Constance Clark Katherine . . Margot Finlaysort Elizabeth Joy Bartley Mrs Rooke-Walter . . . . Susan McCallum. Barnaby Haddon Montagu Steele Bryan Ropes . . John X. Gordon The Hon. Monica Flarre . . Cieely Russell. Lady Susan Rocker . . Ysolinde McVeagli. Wither . . . . Robert Finlayson The play will be. produced bj r Miss Una Dysart Buddie, Miss Peggy Hovey will stage manage and Mr. Fred McCallum will attend to the organisation.