AMUSEMENTS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 8108, 12 May 1906, Page 3

AMUSEMENTS.

MR J. C. WILLIAMSON'S COMIC OPERA COMPANY. " UTOPIA, LIMITED," As might have been expected, the Theatre Royal was packed for the first production in New Plymouth of "Utopia, Limited." This is Gilbert and Sullivan's latest opera, teeming with brilliant satire on English customs and institutions. The scene is in the island of Utopta,a Topically situated isle, whose King and people havo an almost unsatiable longing for everything English. The King has throe daughters, all pretty, too, and these play no unimportant part in the niece. The eldest, after a term at Girton, returns to her island home very much Anglicised, and brings back with her some important" Flowers of Progress," in the person of Life Guardsmen and their captain, a British Lord Chamberlain, a captain in tho navy, a company promoter, a Q.C., and a County Councillor. They proceed to remodel the society'and government of Utopia to their own satisfaction, aud to tall in love with the princesses. The youngest of these is guarded by a superb and majestic English governess, a dominating force. The principal successes were, perhaps, the proper and demure princesses, impersonated by Misses Aggie Thorn and Vinia de Loitte. Equally brilliant was Miss Ghiloni, the governess and meutor aforesaid. Cheir trio, in which the latter describes the process of love, marriage and divorce was a gem. Another character deserving of the highest enconiums is " Zara," as played by Miss Olive Godwin, a charming personality, with a beautiful soprano voice. Her most attractive number was " Sweet and Low," a seductive duet with Mr Chas. Kenningham in the character made by him in the Savoy Theatre, London, as Captain Fitzbattleaxe. Me was very correct in his acting, but his singing was not quite up to his standard. All the other players seemed to have caught the true intention of the authors, and played their parts well. The staging •ind dressing were magnificent. The chorus work, and the music generally deserves especial prai c e. 10-night " The Gondoliers " will be staged.