ROYAL COMIC OPERA CO.

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 350, 10 May 1928, Page 14

ROYAL COMIC OPERA CO.

COMING TO AUCKLAND Beginning on Wednesday, May 23, for an extended season. J. C. Williamson’s Royal Comic Opera Company will present at His Majesty’s Theatre two of the most successful musical plays of recent years, “The Student Prince” and “Madame Pompadour.” The opening production, “The Student Prince,” is an exquisite comic opera of superb music, an appealing love story, and fascinating romance. It is adapted to music from the romance of “Old Heidelberg,” and it has just concluded a record season of 20 weeks in Melbourne, breaking the record run of “Rose Marie.” “The Student Prince” is staged by what the critics of Sydney and Melbourne describe as “the best J. C. Williamson comic opera company seen in the last decade.” The leading lady, Beppie de Vries, is imported from Holland, and is billed as the sweetheart of the Continent. She appears as Kathie, a role she played in “Old Heidelberg,” all over Europe. James Liddy is Prince Karl, a part he has appeared in over 1,000 times in England and America. Other prominent people in the cast are Frank Webster, Arthur Stigant, Hedley Hall, Leslie Holland, Adele Crane, Vera Spaull, Noel Darnton, Peg Desmond, William Perryman, Conrad Charlton, and the famous 40 singing students. Of the second production, “Madame Pompadour,” nothing but the best has been said. It is a comic opera founded on the romance of the love affair of King Louis of France and Madame de Pompadour, who ruled the king, and also the kingdom, by her charm and beauty. Beppie de Vries as Madame Pompadour has everywhere completely captivated theatregoers. The preferential box plan for both productions opens on Monday next at Lewis Eady’s, Ltd.