"GONDOLIERS" TO-NIGHT.

Auckland Star, Volume LXXII, Issue 91, 18 April 1941, Page 4

"GONDOLIERS" TO-NIGHT.

SAVOY OPERA SEASON ENDS.

With a gala .presentation of "The Gondoliers^ , in His Majesty's Theatre this evening, the Gilbert and Sullivan Company, which has enjoyed a remarkably successful season throughout New Zeal.ind. will terminate ite Dominion tour. The "house full" sign will iprobalbly go up before the curtain rises, since capacity niidiencee have been the order all this week.

Last night tho company played the pvorpopul.il' ''Mikado" to an audience which crammed "gods," dress circle and stalls to fire regulation limits. Ivan Menzies, n« Ko Ko, the lord hfgh executioner, was in «n extraordinarily hard-working •mood, and created immensities of fun by his nntice iind drolleries, many of the best "f which were seen in repeated recalls. 10-night lie plays what is fiaid to .be his tiivoiuite role, tho Duke of Plaza Toro. J-.vHvn Gardiner will again be heard and et-eii in the t »iii-1 ot thp duchess. Gregory Strand ns Giuseppe. Richard Watson as the crraml, inquisitor, Viola Wilson as ( Hsildn. John Full.ii,l a s Marco, Maxwell (Hanker as Luiz. yarn Gregory ae Tessa. I'hyllis ('union- ns Gi.metta. and Vincent Mc-M'.in.iy as Antonio will comprise a r;i*t which in vocal ability has never br»rn surpasspd in any local presentation of Gilbert and. Sullivan.

'Die Savnv operas have an abiding place in the its oi music-loving Auckland, mid must be thousands, in these hard an J anxious days, when the fflorious music of Sullivan and the evergreen iiirinour of (jilbeit is tonic in its relief • i leality. who regret that the return ■i in the city could not b>; further i .: -iidrd.