HIS MAJESTY’S

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 369, 1 June 1928, Page 15

HIS MAJESTY’S

“POMPADOUR” TO-MORROW The colourful musical play, “The Student Prince,” will be presented at His Majesty’s Theatre for the last time this evening. A return to the old melodious light operas, it has been greatly appreciated by Auckland theatregoers. To-morrow “The Prince” gives waj before the pomp and pageantry of “Madame Pompadour.” Mis .Beppie de Vries is likely to be accorded a big reception when she appears in the name part of “Madame Pompadour,” which is to be staged for the first time in New Zealand by the Royal Comic Opera Company at His Majesty’s Theatre to-morrow night. It was as Madame Pompadour that Miss de Vries established herself in the affections of Australian plas'goers. The main features of the plot of “Madame Pompadour,” which was adapted by Frederick Lonsdale and Harry Graham, exhibits Madame Pompadour vivaciously joining the people in their carnival revels in the courtyard of the Tavern of the Nine Muses during the absence of Louis from Paris. There, where she is unknown, she becomes the object of ardent professions of love from d’Estrades, while Maurepas, the minister of police, and his minion, Poulard, craftily spy upon her adventure in the hope of gaining power over the king’s favourite. Since the marquise was no less celebrated for her shrewdness than for her vivacity and wit, it is not likely that she would walk unthinkingly into the peril, but the librettists have contrived an interesting story from the incident, and the consequences arising from it at Versailles, where the angry Louis,

enexpectedly returning. discovers d’Estrades concealed in the palace and orders his execution. More than an ordinary glimpse is given of Madame Pompadour’s imperious sway in politics, and the interest which, for the sake of her fierce ambition, __ e cultivated in art and

letters, particularly her readiness in the first act to meet Calicot, the shabby and wine-bibbing poet, who by his lampoons, is exciting the hatred of the people against her. In the lighter scenes, the emotional situations and the dramatic moments. Miss de Vries is equally at home, and her delicious soprano voice is distinctly suited to the music of the opera. Mr. Frank Webster, the new English tenor, is said to be fine as Rene, Mr. Stigant at his best as Joseph Calicot, and Miss Vera Spaull, Miss Adele Crane, Hedley Hall, Herbert Browne, Mason Wood, P. Cory are others who appeared successfully in "The Student Prince.” s