"SYBIL."

Auckland Star, Volume LV, Issue 307, 27 December 1924, Page 9

"SYBIL."

A HOLIDAY ATTRACTION. "Sybil" is a musical play eminently suited to the spirit of the holiday season. As produced at Hia Majesty's Theatre on Friday it proved an entertaining enough piece—a comic opera of the very light order, with a sufficient if slender plot to carry some pleasing lyrics and magnificent staging and dressing. The dialogue in the main is by no means clever, but has occasional bright spots. However, as already indicated, there are some charming lyrics, amid a varied assortment of musical nothings, and the play is dressed in gorgeous style. Also, there are one or two tender love scenes, which are in the hands of very clever artistes. Conceding its faults, there is much light and sparkle in the piece, and it certainly appealed to last night's audience, for the applause was frequent and generous. Sybil is an opera singer with whom a certain Captain Petroff, of the Russian army, is so infatuated that he deserts his regiment in order to elope with her. The suspicious Governor of Bomsk is on the point of ordering the officer's arrest, wKen Sybil, whose regal presence causes her to be mistaken for the Grand Duchess Constantine, takes advantage of the mistake to declare that Petrott is her equerry. It is a deception that has to be maintained even to the extent of a great ball in the "Duchess'" honour until exposed by the untimely arrival of the Grand Duke. But his Highness is a "sport." He teases Sybil to the point of distraction by pretending to regard 'her as being really his wife, but in the end lie relents, even to the point of forgiving the deserter and placing the pseudo duchess in his arms. Then he turns to his real duchess, who has been rendered jealous by his love-making to Sybil, to be in turn forgiven, because he is "only a man"—and to make love to Sybil seems the natural thing for any man to do. The bulk of the works falls on Mies Gladys Moncrieff, who. much more mature than on her last visit here, played the part of Sybil with dash and charm, singing very nicely and making the most of her spoken lines. It was a different Gladys Moncrieff to the Gladys of the "Maid of the Mountains/ but that she would be popular in any leading Tole in light opera is apparent, despite the fact that the opportunities of the part of Sybil are ! limited. Mr. Claude Fleming, as the , Grand Duke, made a robust and convincing character, his fine presence and good voice filling the part to perfection. Mr. Arthur Stigant provided most of the humour as Otto Spreckles, an impreeario of poor qualities and rich foolishness, and he was offset by Miss Xellie Payne, dainty, pouting and pleasing, who sang " charmingly and acted equally well. Further fun was furnished by an old favourite, Leslie Holland, whose quaint, drawling voice suited the humour of the hour. Other characters were- well sustained by John Ralston (with a good voice), as Cuptain Petroff; Missßyrl Walkcley, as tho Grand Duchess; Harry Rateliffe, as Bortschakov, an hotel manager; and others, whilst the chorus, most beautifully dressed, was bright and vivacious. Best among the many musical ltoms are the "Letter Duef' (Gladys Moncrieff and John Ralston). "Good Advice" (Gladys Moncrieff and Arthur Stigant), "The Colonel of the Crimson Hussars" (Gladys Moncrieff and Officers), "Love May Be a Mystery" (Gladys Moncrieff and Claude Fleming). "I Like the Boys" (Gladys MoncriefF and male chorus), "Girls. You are Such Wonderful Things" and "When Cupid Calls (Gladys Monrrieff, Arthur Stigant and Claude Fleming). "Sybil" will continue to entertain ■holiday audiences for several nights.