"A COUNTRY GIRL"

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 63, 8 December 1920, Page 9

"A COUNTRY GIRL"

BY THE AMATEUR OPERATIC SOCIETY "A Country Girl!" a musical comedy in two acts, by Lionel Monckton, J. T. .Tanner, and Adrian Ross. Cast:— Geoffrey Challoner Mr. P. O. Twiss Tho Eajak of BhW Mr. K. E. Luke Sir Joseph Verity Mr. Zante Wood Douglas Verity Mr. Lionel Inch Granfor Mummery : Dr. D. N. Isaacs Lord Anchester ......... Mr. P. J. Flemlns Lord Gransmere Mr. J. Elliott Major Vicat Mr. H. Poole Bubo Fairway Mr. B. Simmu Barry '..■ Mr. Allan Fuller Mar.l'orle Joy Mlbb Anne Sullivan Princess Meholaneh of Bhone Miss Rennie M'Lellan Madame Sophie ...... Miss Eileen Clifford /Mrs. Quinton Raikea ...Mrs. H. D. Bridge NurßO MiBS Doris Stevens Lady Anchester ... Miss Marjorlo Saunders Mrs. Powyscourt .. iWs Jessie O'Su'lJivan Ladv Arnott ....: Miss Thea. Malcolm Mias Oourtlands ... Miss Kathleen Benftett Miss Ecrovd Miss Kathleen Oracrdi't Nan -MiBS G.- Helen Gard'ner With a quarter of a century gone over Its. head since it was first produced in London, "A Country Girl" is not so fresh and youthful as she was, and. here and there ,she shows it, not'perhaps in the quality of the musio or humour so much as in fche style. Still it always has been a favourite with audiences everywhere, and the laudablo effort of the "Wellington. Amajieur Operatic. .Society b"'s fan* to mnkeft so during the season that was initiated at the Grand Opera House last ovening. The public are so accustomed now to speed and 1 .action in musical comedy and its lighter sister, revue, that a. good <leal of the action and music seemed' to need "gingering up," but such weaknesses are only to be expected'on first, nights, and the curtain ' should '-descend at least half-an-hour earlier than it did last evening if the management' wishes to keep on good terras with tho public. "A Country Girl," which employed Eric Green, Hadyn Coffin, Huntley Wright,' and" Rutland Batrington when originally performed at the London Gaiety, has been played on several occasions in Wellington, and al.ways with success. The music is light and frothy, and tho humour is often farcical, but when brisklv played the comedy is full of futt and'frolic of a topical character. Tho story in brief deals with, the love affair of Commander Jebffrev ,Challoner, R.N., who arrives home from sea in time to contest a seat.in Parliament his father had held before him, being pushed into tho contest by his man Barry. Challoner hopes to 'win Marjorie Joy, but the course of. true lovo is impeded by misunderstanding by that lady of Geoffrey's association with Nan, and the Princess of Bhong, who, with the Rajah, has come on a visit to England in Uialloner's ship. At the ball in the second act the Princess declares her passion for Challoner, but ho turns to Ma'riorie, and is finally accepted by his boyhood sweetheart. A healthv. vigorous comedy vein is supplied oy'tlie adventures of Barry in pursuing his beloved Sophy, a designing little' minx of a dressmaker, who worms her way into society on tho strength of unpaid' bills. Great fun is caused at the fancy dress ball' (act II), where BaTry cavorts os a buxom, dame who is no end of.a heart-smasher, even imposing on his own sweethenrt. The performance was marked by some sterling individual performancrs. Mr. Ainu Fuller's Barry proves that the society is resourceful in comedians. Mr; Fuller haß an abundance of robust natural humour, added to whioli is rather remarkable vigour and lifting power, and a talent'for "comic attitudinising. His success ,'last evening wos never in doubt from' tho (,'"■(■ ],_ glinivml n-T!<rhf pa l '-" of heels in 'To, Ho, Little Girls, To, Ho." until he scored so heavily in the clever qnarrelling dnet near the end. Another successful performance wag the Sophy of Miss Eileen Clifford, who is dainty aua vital, and withal has the' natural stago snnse. There wero occasions when her voice.was too light to bo hoard, but this she only needs to know to rectify. Sho made a hit in "My Partners," her gift formimicry was admirably displayed, and she was never nt fault in tho laughable duets and dialogues with her irrepressible admirer. The vocal and pictorial "hit" was made'by Miss Rennie M'Lellan as. the Princess. Swathed in the clineing red-gold garb of the East, Misg M'Lellan was a figure to admire, and her acting and manner were, redolent of the languor and passion of the Orient. Misn Al'Lellan has a rich full-bodied soprano voice, powerful and music-laden, end in "Under the Deodars" and in. the dramatic finale of the first act, it was' particularly effective.. Hiss Helen Gard'ner is too petite in figure and manner .to make an ideal Nan, who should be a robust, apple-cheeked Devonshire lass, but her performance was distinctly clever, especially in tho first act, whero she sings "Try Again, Johnny," and "Molly the Marchioness." Her voice was better suited to tho demands of "My Crinoline'" (where she looked very sweet) than to tho florid solo, "I Can Laugh" Misß Gardner's acting is always bright, but her Devonshire dialect was puzzling at times. -Marjorio was quietly and earnestly played by Miss Annie Sullivan, whoso musical mezzo was well suited to the music of.that important tolo. Mrs. D. Bridge looked and noted well .as Mrs. Quinton Raikes, and the bes'; speaker of dialogue on the stage wis Miss Doris Stevens as the Nurse. Mr. F. G. TVfes mads a trim-built navhl officer, who is. being maUte a butt Dan Cupid, and sang the musio with fair credit. The Rajah of Bhong was quitc"-admirably.play-ed by Mr. Ken. Luke, whose dignity and impassivity in tho first act were qualities in his favour. Mr. Luke has a serviceable voice, which was well suited to tho music. He "loosened'up" n little in the second act quite unnecessarily.' jUr. Kante Wood made Sir Joseph Verity.-a fussy little fellow of dwarfed mentality but never failed to amuso. Dr. D. In. Isaacs wa'a oaoital as old Mummery, 3Tr. Lionel Inch sufficed as Douglas Verity, and Mr. P. J. Fleming was in the picture as Lord Anchester. Tho comedy, which went very smoothly, if somewhat slowly, is beautifully dressed, ami adequately mounted. The minuet at the opening of the secoT" act is far too long, but the country dance, was rollicking fun. Tho chorus" as usual, was admirable, and the orchestra, savo for a weakness here and there in accompaniment, was good. Mr. Tom Pollard .desorves credit as the producer, and Mr. Bernard Page was' the musical director. ' '.'A Country Girl" will be played until Tuesday evening next. ■