COMIC OPERA SEASON.

Auckland Star, Volume LXV, Issue 4, 5 January 1934, Page 3

COMIC OPERA SEASON.

To-night, tlie New Comic Opera Company will appear for the final occasion in IVanz Lehar's delightful opera, "The Merry Widow." To-morrow afternoon, and evening and following nights the company will present the charming musical comedy, "Wildflower," which attracted very large audiences when it was originally staged in Auckland. The book and lyrics are by Otto Harbach and Oscar Hammerstein, and the music by Herbert Stothart and Vincent Youmans. The story of "Wildflower" deals with the too warm nature of Nina, the wildflower (Romola Hansen), whose passionate love for the shy Guido (Herbert Browne) and hot temper provide much of the action. When she is forced under the terms of a bequest to keep her temper for six months in the luxury of a villa on the shores of Lake Como, there is plenty of room for movement, laughter and romance, and the music throughout the action of the opera is delicious. Miss Romola Hansen and Herbert Browne, in the soprano and tenor parts, both scored successes in Australia, and much amusement is created by Phil Smith, Don Nicol and Marie La Varre. A feature of the second act of "Wildflower" is the sensational specialty dance by Eric Bush and Mona Zeppel. Only four nights can be devoted to "Wildflower," and on Thursday and the following two evenings and on Saturday afternoon, the company will make their farewell appearances in the favourite musical comedy, "Florodora," which has not been staged in New Zealand for over 20 years.