HIS MAJESTY’S

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 864, 7 January 1930, Page 14

HIS MAJESTY’S

“LILAC TIME”—A TRIUMPH It is extremely doubtful if any other musical comedy enjoys such an entertaining sequence of pretty and altogether delightful tunes as “Lilac Time,” staged so effectively by the J. C. Williamson Company at His Majesty's last evening. Such musical and vocal numbers as “Flower Dust,” “When the Lilac Blossom Uncloses,” “When Skies Are Blue,” “Serenade,” “We’re Four Jolly Brothers,” “Underneath the Lilac Bow,” and “A Kiss in the Rhyme of It,” to mention but a few, revive most pleasant memories of one of the prettiest and tuneful plays ever brought to the Dominion by the firm. The vivacity of Miss Lilian Crisp (as “Lili”) does much to carry the piece through, while lier captivating soprr.no voice makes the most of the many opportunities vouchsafed her by r.he music of Franz Schubert. The part of Schubert was admirably taken by John Ralston, whose stage presence and sympathetic rendering of the difficult part of the shy composer, together with his appealing baritone voice, was an outstanding feature, and he scored heavily when combining with Miss Crisp in the duet “Flower Dust.” This was one of the hits of the evening. William Perryman took the singing honours outside of the two principals, liis “Serenade” being effectively rendered in a picturesque setting. Although encores were not encouraged on account of the strain it imposed on the principals, who have a strenuous season to get through, the action of the play was held up frequently until the apparently insatiable demands of the enthusiastic audience were at last satisfied. Particularly was this so at the conclusion of most of the musical numbers. The “Crinoline Dance,” presented by Pat and Terry Kendall, showed that these fine artists are nothing if not versatile, and they had to make numerous acknowledgements to the appreciation of the audience. “Lilac Time” can be recommended as a most delightful entertainment, lull of all the good things that one can expect in the best of light opera or musical comedy, and the indications are that His Majesty’s Theatre will be a popular rendezvous with, playgoers for the remainder of the season.