MADAME POMPADOUR”

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 371, 4 June 1928, Page 15

MADAME POMPADOUR”

MELODY AND SIGNIFICANCE BEPPY DE VRIES AT HER BEST ‘‘Madam© Pompadour,” a musical comedy in three acts. Lyrics by Harry Graham, book by Frederick Lonsdale, music by Leo Fall. Presented at His Majesty’s Theatre by J. C. Williamson, Ltd. CAST: Joseph Calicot - - - - Arthur Stigant Landlord ------ -Fred Bonner Rene - -- -- -- -- Frank Webster Marie tte - -- -- -- -- Vera Spaull Madame Pompadour - - Beppie De Vries Maurepas - -- -- -- -- Hedley Hall Poulard - -- -- -- - Mason Wood Collin - -- -- -- - Herbert Browne Boucher ------- Conrad Charlton Ambassador ------ Andrew McGhie Madeleine - -- -- -- -- Adele Crane Louis XV. - -- -- -- -- - p. Cory “Madame Pompadour” is the most delightful musical dish which has been set before an Auckland audience for many a long day. It has light and colour, movement and melody. The lyrics, delightfully amusing things by Harry Graham, are part of the story. We have grown so used to the lights being turned oft on a sunny afternoon so that a chorus in Chinese costume can sing “My Eskimo Moon,” that" this charming and welcome return to real musical comedy is almost unbelievable. Leo Fall’s music may not reach the standard of “The Student Prince,” but for all that it is excellent fare. Genuine melody predominates, and only once, in a near-burlesque number, is the general excellence lowered. The subject is perfect for stage production. From the rising of the curtain the audience is wafted to the times of Louis XV. of France. True, it is an inn where a drunken poet lampoons the King’s mistress, but the scene is so full of life and movement that it carries conviction.

Next to the Court at Versailles, where loves are light and intrigues the breath of life. Pompadour, lovely, naughty Pompadour, has taken advantage of the King’s absence to make free with a new lover, only to find that he is the husband of an unknown sister. Stately courtiers and graceful coquettish ladies idle through the gilded salons of one of the loveliest women of France. This period frocking lends itself to brilliant scenes and the 17th century uniforms of the soldiers make gallant splashes of colour. The humour is plentiful and legitimately wedded to the story of the mistress, the lover and the poet. For once everything seems to be pleasantly free from the commonplace. This pretty page from the past may err historically, but from the point of view of stage production it is unrivalled. After reading the life of the witty lady we feel sure that she was far too clever to be caught in an inn listening to the impassioned speeches of a courtly tenor. Musical comedy scarcely describes the music. It is more than that. There is a freshness of treatment and a breadth of melody -which places it almost in the bounds of comic opera. Without doubt, “Madame Pompadour” is an entertainment which is worthy of a second visit, and there are few musical productions to-day which are worth that. Miss De Vries has a role which gives her greater scope than “The Student Prince,” and an accent which one expects from a Frenchwoman. With every lift of the eyebrows, every swish of her frock, she expresses vivacity and suggests intrigue. It was an admirable performance and showed the audience that she has possibilities as

a soubrette far beyond the scope of the play. Mr. Webster came into his own on Saturday evening. He is a good actor as well as a good singer, a pleasant change from so many musical comedy tenors who warble like automatons. Both he and Miss De' Vries act together splendidly. Those who imagined that Mr. Stigant could play only one kind of comedy role were unexpectedly surprised. He provided the humour with a generous hand and established for himself a reputation which will be difficult to sustain. True the part is a “fat” one, but Mr. Stigant imbued it with surprising life and vigour. Miss Spaull was more vivacious and ingenious than we have e~ er seen her. She gave a spirited performance and acted with intelligence. Mr. Cory lent dignity to a small role. Mr. Hall played an excellent character part. Mr. Browne had only a fleeting appearance and Miss Crane buried herself under a weight of sentiment as usual. The supporting cast was all that could be desired, and the chorus wore its clothes of yesterday as though they really belonged to them. “Madame Pompadour” will intrigue Auckland for another week.