ROYAL COMIC OPERA CO.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 78, 22 September 1911, Page 4

ROYAL COMIC OPERA CO.

our miss ornns. This morning at Collier's Piano Depot the >box plans for the two-nights' season of Mr. J. C. Williamson's Royal Comic Opera Company, who will appear in (he famous musical comedy, "Our Mis» flibbs," will be opened at the usual time. The new musical play, "Our Miss Gibbs," which will commence to entertain playgoers hcroat the Theatre Royal on Monday next at a quarter to eight, is described as being an exceptionally amusing and mirthful piece of irresponsible humor, scintillating with gay music and clever numbers, wedded to a libretto that for brightness is considerably above the ordinary. The' production has been described as a carnival of music and merriment. Probably from u, scenic point "Our Miss fiibbs" is easily the most elaborate of any of the later musical plays. The set in the first net is exceptionally heavy, and necessitates Ihe labor of a special staff of men to work upon it a whole week previous to the production. The scenes are so elaborate that in the programmes of the. London production there is inserted n note to the effect that a 20 minutes* interval occurs after the lowering of the curtain on the first act. It is said that the Australian production, to bo seen here, is even more extensive anil striking in scenic effect than the London representation. 'Miss Blanche Browne, who is to make her first appearance here as ".Mary Gibbs," is said to have » charming stage manner, and a pretty impulsive note of pathos in addition to a highly cultivated mezzo-soprano voice, besides being an accomplished dancer. Mr. Bertie Wright, the other principal new-comer, is a comedian of high reputation, with n copious fund of dry humor. He will appear in the part of Timothy Gibbs, a vole in which he has been eminently successful both in England and Australia. It would appear that tlio personnel of the Royal Comic Opera Company has never been of higher artistic value as on the occasion of the forthcoming visit. Besides the principals already mentioned are Mr. Leslie Holland, an English artist of high reputation; Messrs Andrew Higginson, Fred. Leslie, C. R. Bantock, Colin Campbell, Frank Stirling, Ton Maxwell, Misses Connie Milne, Nellie Wilson, Fitzmaurice Gill, Nellie Cnlvin and Ivy Schilling, all of whom will play the same parts here in which they were seen in the Australian production. The music, will be under the direction of Mr. Fritz Hart, the eminent operatic conductor, and the direction of the stage in the bands of Mr. Fred Young.