WILLIAMSON'S MUSICAL COMEDY COMPANY.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXXXV, Issue 38, 12 February 1903, Page 2

WILLIAMSON'S MUSICAL COMEDY COMPANY.

t " THE RUNAWAY GIBL." Tgg audiea:e that assembled at the Theatre Royal on Wedn«s<lay w«iii| wai in every way worthy of the oeoasion, It waa evident that great expectations had fceon indtlged in by thost preheat, equally so that tha treat afforded was, if anything, greater than that anticipated. There waa an exoepI tienal " go " about the piece that waa producsd by nil the performers eaterjmg iuto tha spirit of their parte with refreshing heartiness, and the audienoe caught the infaotion, their enthuiiasm ,at tim*s beiug immsns*. Laughter and a pplause wascootinuous throughout. The scenery, dresses and aocessiriee were on a scale of splendour that waa a revelation to mtny present. The plot, as is mostly the oasi in these musioal comedies, is only a means to an end, and r. quires no special m 'ntion. The piece praotically resolves itself into a series of highly diverting situations, lei up to by sparkling dialogue, pretty songs, pleasing choruses, clever danoing and acting, accentuated by tit* drollery of the leading character*, and eochanced by the music from an excellent orchestra. To attempt to describe a tithe of the most attractive points of the pieoe would be impoadMe j within the limited spaos at our di»* ' pos tl. From first to last it was a feast jof fun and good music. A. mar* quaint and humorous perform inoe ; mat ef Mr. F. H. Graham, as Flipper, would be harl to conceivs. His staging, dancing, and acting were of an exceptionally high order. He waa noai ably assisted by Miss Miy Musgrove, who took the part of Alioe, and tlala clever pair were the life and soul of the comedy. Miss Musgrove dainty piquancy, clever dauciog and pleasing vrnoe charmed the audience completely. The cbaracur danoing of tris couple waa applauded again and again, the Dutch duet beiug marvellously effective. Mr F. Leslie as Sir William Hake waa enother ''star" performance, his pi'ter singing and eccentric danoing fairly astonishing the audience. Mr Ernest Moztr made a capi ftl Quy Stanley, his fine tenor voice being heard to great advantage. Brother Tamarind, in the hands of Mjr Ban wok, waa one of the moat amusing sketches that cin be imagined, his love making being irresistibly droll. Another unique character was that of "Mr Creel" (Sir Dudley) an ancient angler, whose eccentricities created roan of laughter, especially when daring the song and chorus of '* Listen to the band" he appeared es Eruger, b iug !el by a ropj like a monkey, the teth r being held by a fan timile of Lord R)beita (Mr Leslie). This was one of the greatest hits ef the evening. The members of the troupe of minstrels, headed by Mr Crane did capital strvios and caused considerable fun. Mids Elsie Moore, as Dorothy Stanley, quite fascinated the audience, her sieging bsing exoellent, especially in the item already referred to " Listen to the Band," for wbich there weie recalls. The cockneyisms of Oarminita (Mus Eelton) were very realistic, and tier noting and sioging e.'okcd much applaust and laughtr. As Wioifred Gray, the Runaway Git], Miss Lilian Diggea scered a great success, her singing, dancing and acting meeting with the warmtst approval of the audienoe. AU tha other members of the ocmpany did tbeir work in a spirited and very efficient manner, and aided materially in stcutiog that complete sucoeu which attended the performance.

J "BAN TOY." , To night the Company will produee, for the first time in New Plymouth, the new musical comedy " Sab Tot " whioh has recently been pltyed with great success in Melbourne and Sydney also Auckland, Wellington, Obrittohurcb, Dunedin, and various other cities throughout New Zealand. The plot is a simple one. San Toy, the heroine, is the daughter of theMaudarin of PyDka Pong, by n*me Yea How, and tha fame of her beauty hiving spread to Pekic, the seat of the Imperial Court, ber attendance before the Ojurfc is commanded. In order to circumvent - his, Yeu How inferme the Emperor than bis child is a boy and not a giil, and she therefo:e appears ab<ut Pjnka Pong in boys clo'bee. Tna m .chiuations of a OhioeM howev.r, who loves San Toy result in " the disclosure «f Ueu Ho*' 4 little trick and San Toy has to go to Pekia whither she is followed by ber English lover Oap'ain Bibby Preston. In the s 10nod act Sin Toy is seen at the Provincial P.,1,06, among the Kmp< ror'a and toaoy * humorous incidents take b lon 1 he £mperor appear* and bent ficuntly hinds San Toy to the g<llant captain. The cast is a very strong one among f whom will appaarMr 0. B. Bantok (Maudarin of Pynkft Pong), Mr Fi«i 4 H. Graham (Li his ecOrutary), Mr J Arthur Orane (Oapr, Bobby Pre* on), m Mr Maurice Dudley (Sir Bin|o Am* 1

ton), Mr E. Mozar (Lieutenant Harry Tuckor). Miss Ross Musgrove will play the nmo part " San Toy," Miss Elsie Moore " Poppy," and Mis 3 Lillian D : gge=, Duiley, the ladies maid. The tiox plan is now open at the Colonial Piano Com p my.