WILLIAMSON'S MUSICAL COMEDY COMPANY.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 90, 9 January 1908, Page 6

WILLIAMSON'S MUSICAL COMEDY COMPANY.

" THE LITTLE MICHUS." • The nuances of the lighter'class of modern opora are so fine that even-the constant playgoer often finds himself in a quandary as to the, genus of a particular' production. The term musical comedy has been confidently applied to musical performances 'that range from works solid enough in their musical'consequence to bo called'comic'opera to that' geared down to the. most irresponsible ejxtrav&gania —a more 'guise' which .cloaks.:a more or less entertaining array of vaude-ville-"turns." : But comic oppra is a .strictly generic • term, laid down- on . cleariy-definod • lines that cannot be. violated without losing or gaining something .in, operatic value.' During the present season of the' acceptable company. now .filling the stago, also the auditorium; .of the Opera ..Housej' theatre-goers have' had a substantial portion of'; musical comedy in its broadest sense, but'delightful as both " The Bluo Moon " and " Lady Madcap '.' . Have been in. tlieir merry' .methods, they must, among those who place music beforo its 'attendant superficialities, step 'back-before-the charms of ; Andre Messager'.s comic opera, "The Little/ 'Michus," staged for the • first time- in the Dominion last. evening:' 'Making .allowances for 'a first and /the. loss that must have, been sustained in its translation ' from the Trench original, the opera is altogether a delightful work,.:that.is, is quite up to the;standard of tho. same composer's "Veronique," of which playgoers will have memories lingeringly, sweet. : Musically, ."Tho Little Michus" reaches a fine ideal, for Messager does not content himself with playing, .up to tho story merely, but scores ..his work , with -tho diligence and,;iiituitive genius of an'old master, l and the orchestra is. working full time ,on material worthy of its best- efforts. '. The vocal parts •are, indeed, only part of a complete.- whole, for repeatedly. last opening- .beautifully coloured themes. could. be distinguished • in the band that had no reflection, on the'stage, and yet adding 1 ah infinite, grace, to . the gon.oral effcct. - Wood, string, brass (tlie jattoij in a subdued;'position); all _had - soDie intricate work to do, and they did it well, .thanks to' the able generalship , of. Mr. Alfred MoUlton, .Tyhose '.conducting is. ai feature; of the present'season.. It is'.imperativovthat.a comic opera must 'havo a, story—an'; amusing /'book," and in this respect '.'The Lit'tlo Michus" is again fortunate.' It all comospf General des lfs,(formerly a marqujs) having to' quit France hurriedly to escape 'thekqen .embraces of Mdlle. Guillotine at that' sanguinary, period of French/history whon" a noble hamo meant "an- ignoble . end. His wife ;dyirig in childbirth, ho}ieaves. tho 'i,n> farit' girl'to the care ..of tKd' Michus' pore and ' more, and ,;disappears. ■ Madahio lUicliu also has a baby, girl, and on, a certain occasion' Michu ;pero"" bathes 'tho. two babies while his' wife is having a nap, and; thoroby loses all; traces of; identity.' • Tho Vtwo girls grow ■ lip together arid arc : taughVto. regard each, other as twins, until; one day .a comic soldier' breaks : in "upon .thorn' .while .the Michus are visiting .their children; BlancheMarie : and Marie-Blanchp, at Blanchedemands the general's long-forgotten,.'but not-neglected, child..- A .fine commotion follows, because , the general has promised , his child 'in-marriage to. Captain Gastoii Rigaiid, who ' has ' saved the..general's' life'/dri ; "tKe field. . Before.he meets her,':however, he accidentally, meets the little' Michus.; at. the school. (when ..'visiting his:aunt; "who : is., the mistress), ; and promptly falls in -love, wjtli Blanche?Mario. The matured Michus,'being commanded .suddenly; to produce the , general's, child, are in a bad way,/so l send , both to the peppery general' to take his choice: The humour 'of such : a situation 'can .'be imagined, but not-realised unless withessod. The general apparently .'leaves it to chance, and eventually . the bolder of the .two girls, 1 Marie-Blanche, is .declared, to be the military man's property and Gaston's fiancee. But Nature works quietly, and effectively. Blanche-Marie, the modest,- ! goes back to tho shop' of, the Michus, and doubtfully accepts the love of Aristides (the susceptiblo. assistant) while pining for the gallant captain of Hussars, whilo Blancho finds hor aristocratic .environment, irksome to a degreo. -~ The-, latter settles tho .'question by a study of; a portrait of-tho. General's doad wife, decides thero. has boon a mistake, drossos her : " twiri " 1 exactly ,as the portrait, and declaros' .that' : -MarieBlanciip is .really the aristocrat. ' Tho (i.endral accepts tho.'now daughtor, tho Captain gots tho bride., ho. desires, < and,-Marie-Blancho returns .'to tho, Miolvus, their dear •old .shop,' Aristides,. anil l\appiness'.:„; j. v It is a. pretty ' scheme to work out, : and the' little, 'Michus are' 'two 'of '' the jmost '.dfr sirabio characters to operatically ' c'onceivo. Miss ;Airiy' Murphy • as Marie-Blanche .mows than enhances the good regard- sho has been held in. Sho is the brighter and; moro daring of tho ; 'dear twins," and throws intothe part a soupcon of abandon'that delighted her admirers.-."As• a first performance for.'a girl who has only, been in the.;business,a. few months- it VaS a. surprisingly complete performance, both from an acting, as well, as tho vocal view-point./ in, the dainty "Michu, Michu' trio with"G'astpn (Mr:. Reginald Konneth) and; Blanche-Marie (Miss Alma Barber),- and tho .twin- duet "Two Little Maids." Her solos "A Grand Lady" arid tho '"Toilet Song;",S/rer.o sung with a gay abandon that was'delightful. In the prettily-harmonised' orchestrated " St Valfintine" duet with' Miss Barber the Voices didiiot blend as perfectly as - thoy might, but' vocal timbre cannot be governed.. Nevertheless, it' was a, ploasurable effort,' and its worth produced an .encore.. Another bright trio was '■'.When' You aro Married," in which both she arid Miss' Barber wero alluringly arcli. Miss Barber was at her best as BlancheMarip, looking and acting tho part perfectly ; shy', reserved, lovingly tendor, slio captured all' hearts. 11l addition' to the concerted numbers, she sang- tho solo, "Dearest Sister,"'with a simple charm, tho effectiveness of which was enhanced by an harmonious accompanimont of' subdued' wood, winds and strings. .'The chief merryrmaker was Mr.' Victor Gouriet as General dos .Ifs, an eccentric military personage, with a great riiake-up and clevcr gags. His scones with tho Twins, Mere Micnu, /and his encoiinters with his funny man-at-arms (Bagnolct)' wero exquisitely funny. . Tho.! lastmentioried charkcter was played with a lot- of' quiet humour by that excellent .comedian, Mr. Mylcs Clifton, whoso fooling is always good for a fit ,of the-blues. He was to tho t'pro vocally ■in " The Regiment of Frocks arid Frills "' and in' tho " Rat-a-Plari,'-'' solo and chorus, without which no French opora is complete. Mr. Reginald Kenneth cut a dashing figuro as, Gaston, and after a 'little 'uncertainty in the first 1 act settled, down into what was an 'acceptable performanco. He has a good song in " Life is a Riddlo Indeed," and 'sang it well enough to bp oncoretl. Miss Celia Gliiloni was quite delightful as Madame Michu, looked the happy old party to the life, arid gained her every point by the spontaneous gaiety ' sho threw into her clevcr work. Air. P. Bathurst lacked the natural humour of Pern Michu, which seemed rather out of his line.-.His oxcellent make-up deserves favourable mention. ' Mr. Roland Hogue was Aristides, but has not humour onougli to got the most that is in the part: His solo, "It's a Capital Plan," was woll sung—on straight lines. Two excellontl.v-drawn' characters wore the customers at tlib Michus's shop, played by. Miss Ada Pac,c and" Mr. Arthur Lissaut, who had an excellent conception of what can bo made of small parts. Miss Jessica. Deano ■as Madame "du Tertre exhibited a- pleasing nierr.o' voice in the song " Miss Nobody,'.' and Miss Mollie Wilson's clever solo dancing was electrical in its deftness and originality,- and was one of the ''hits" of tho performanco. Tho opora is'in three acts, and cach has a scenic setting worthy of tlio pieco. The completeness of the Michus's stock-in-trade in the last act was a featu.ro. "The Little Michus " will he played until further notice. "Three Little Maids," by Paul Reubens, is in course of preparation.