AMUSEMENTS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 109, 5 June 1909, Page 5

AMUSEMENTS.

.ME. J. C. WILLIAMSON'S ROYAL COMIC OPERA COMPANY. "THE MERRY WIDOW.' Local theatre-goers are looking forward with pleasurable anticipation to Monday night's production of this remarkably popular comic opera by Mr. J. C. Williamson's Royal Comic Opera Company, and the demand for reserved seats bids fair to establish a record in our city. There is said to be no difficulty in accounting for the popularity of this opera: the story has been compiled with an abundance of dramatic interest, and the composer's inusie ifi always charming—an unceasing How uf rich metody, haunting refrains, and ravishing harmonies. To interpret such music satisfactorily artists of more than the average calibre are requisite, and that Mr. Williamson is fully cognisant of this fact is shown by the remarkable array of talent revealed by a glance through the cast. Miss Florence i'oung's glorious voice should do full justice to the sparkling music allotted to Soma, (the Merry Widow). Auckland and Wellington critics are unanimous in their enthusiastic praise of her rendering of the part, while Mr. Reginald Roberts, the tenor, earned Mime very superlative expressions of approval, and the new baritone, Mr. Andrew Higginson, created a profound impression as the fortunate possessor of a line stage presence, an excellent baritone voice, and remarkable talent as an actor. Mr. Victor Gouriet, Mr. W. S. Percy, and Mr. Arthur Hunter also win unstinted praise for their fun-making, which is said to be of the brightest order, keeping the audience in a simmer of hilarity throughout the performance. Miss Nellie Wilson is also praised most highly for her singing and fascinating acting, while Miss Fanny Dango, ,who made her first New Zealand appearance, is silid to he a fairy-like daiisense, and | lias established herself a strong favorite in New .Zealand. In speaking of the production of "The Merry Widow," the New Zealand Times says: "In all respects she was found to be an agreeable disappointment, for it is not always that realisation equals anticipation. In this case the actuality is infinitely superior to anything that could have been looked forward to. The opera—for it is <|Uite worthy of the name—is worthy to lie classed with t|je works of Offenbach, Leeocq. Von Suppe, and others of the school of opera-boufle whose works will live when most of the inimical comedies (if not all of them) are completely forgotten. The piece is mounted in Mr. J, C. best >tyle: the rich and jdaborate dressing i- an outstanding feature of t|je production, which lias rarely, jf ever, been equalled in New Zealand."