"THE PRINCE OF PILSEN."

Press, Volume LXV, Issue 13342, 6 February 1909, Page 11

"THE PRINCE OF PILSEN."

"Tne li ijiio of written by the wtw autiiar as •'j i.c Dc-lle ot New l<trk.' i-iMufTii. ir.usvicaiiy spc-aking, a i-'t'.\'x way br'.iind tuiat liijjciul proauctiou. yoD a of ;i.r:js.iLne-.a and tpirit. U has some pretty niimbi.'rs, notably, tor instance, tho waltz iiu.:(iy waie.il is Heard somewhat liauntiii'jiy ihroug-iiout the piece,

ui:c; i;it> foncei u.-ti music in _"lkar Hci-ci<-i'3c-rj: J'ii.-:o ;uc some pretty c-hcnu numU-rn. Cciiiiderabte opportunity ;., iifiiji-.lcd to tho cit'Vt-r trio, .Miw;:--. Lrjd. r. i<:r;l. ami Li!-J.ie, u> <iiaI'l.iv iiiv.r ■(!;•'::>• alike i;.-, comedians ;uul n.> «-_rim:ie •'] ho l'rince <>i I'U.si-ij," ii ::;..>,- Ijo nounl, is woak in the lomaie ihc author and <:oiii]>;iw>r or tm- lyrics having doiio i/\'.t- i:tCi>- lor them, 'ijiis inakvo mo p.tvo p:ay someivjiat, uii-ovfiKy. Iho ciiaracto:- ot Hojja Wu^incr —tiliolv plaveti t.hioni;hr,ut liy Mr L dor —is "one of thoxj v. lih h are indigenous to America, Ji:id r..-v ii-.t tnhy uiitifioLo-otl ill tile colon io?.. iioiito it was that Mr L odor's cu'vor c-.liar:.ci.iT impersonal ion, full t>l liu-iii though it undoubtedly was, hurdiy a n mseh recognition as> it <ieservtd. Mr Loder was also iiclinirubli,ifl his .singing and dancing. Thii was liotieaWy m> in the. aung in the lirst act, ••l'ho Widow," and that most remurkiibio dance in the fountain &cc.no in the bctond act. Mks Olivo Godwia made a yt-od deal ot tin; somewhat disappointing purt —fio:n a constructive point of vit v—vi' Mrs docker. Miss Godwin both sang tho music and acted the character very finely throughout. iShe iviii particularly μ-cod iv "The Ta!e of t.he Cities," a delightful and excellently worked out number. Mlas Eaton was bftmwvliat over-weighted as Nellie Wngner. and at times her use of the vibrato effect entirely erwilt her singing. Her b(v>t efforts w-ere tho solo, i- Tho Ca>tlo of Dreams," and the- duet with Mr -Sherras, -Tho Tale of tho Sea KIipII, ,7 in tho second act. 'Miss Jvy Scott mjule p. piquant French maid, and both sung and danced excellently. She «a.s particularly good in tho solo, "In tho Zoo," her dance in this number being excellent. GMise Scott was good, also, iv the duct, '"Keep it Dark." Mi.se Alice Mitchell was fairly good as Edith, and sang tho pretty waltz song with a good deal ai 'success. Mr Ford displayed wonderful eceontric dancing ability in tho ohara-ct-er of the hell boy. It is difficult to say which of his many remarkable feats of dancing was the best, all be-ins so exceedingly qunint and humorous. He wns very amusing indeed in the fiong, "Dear Old Dad," and throughout tho piece achieved o good doal of success. As in "Tho Re<l Mill," Mr Leslie was an able assistant in fun-making. His make-up wae capital, and his dancing and singing eJso were good. Mr Slier- \ ms mr.do (x ll 'to a hit in the part of tho real Princo, his fine voice- being heard , to great advantage in tho numbers allotted, to tho part. He was specially good iv the. introduction , to tho concerted number "Dear Heidelberg" and in "Tho Violets" and "Tlie Smoke Song." In the oonoertedi numbers also Mr Sherras was excellent. Mr Harolc. Parker madie-a very successful debut in the "oha-ppio ,, part of tho Earl of Shrimpton, Woioh. he played well throughout. Mr Hague hardly infused enough daeh and life into his interpretation of Lieut. Wngner, his acting being somewhat forced. The choruses were woll dono throughout, especially in "The Tale of tfa© Cities," where Miss Christohurch wa» wcluotned appropriately with a cliai-ectorietio dance. In the concerted number, "Dear Htrnk-lberg," tho male membors of the chorus sang splendidly. This was decidedly one of tho most successful numbers of the evening, tho light and shade of the harmony being excellently given. Miss Nellie Wilson danced a clever solo dance in the eecond act with much grace end deftness. Tho orchestra, tinder Mr Alfred Moulton, played well throughout. The piece was prettily mounted, there being some beautiful contrasts of colour in the dresses. "The Prince of Pilsen" will be repeated tonight.