ROYAL COMIC OPERA CO.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 491, 26 April 1909, Page 6

ROYAL COMIC OPERA CO.

"THE DAIRYMAIDS." "Tho Dairymaids," a musioal oomedy in two acts, by Paul Rubons. Cast— Lady Brudonoll Miss Qoorgio Musgrovo Sam. Brudonoll . Mr. Andrew Higginson Frank Brudonoll Mr. Reginald Roberta Capt. Prod. Lovorton ...... Mr. 1). li. O'Connor Dr. O'Byrno Mr. C. R. Bantock Joo Mivons Mr. W. S. Poroy Peggy Miss Fanny Dango Holono Miss Jossio Brown Miss Penelope Pyoohnse ,„ Miss Marietta Nash, Eliza . Miss Connio Milne Winifred Miso Floronoo Young "Tho Dairymaids," produced by the Royal Comio Opbra Company at tho Opera House on Saturday evening, is a delightful show,' Paul Rubons's musioal oomedy is exnotly fitted to tho gonorio term for, though there is no question as to its classification, it is, after qualifying as a musical oomedy in : simple, a really good "show." Much that Rubens has written has been medidcre, and.a good deal of the success' of his musioal plays has come simply through his luck in catohing the ear _of Mr. Geo. Edwardes, who has spent so muoh in their , presentation to the publio (both in regard tothe mounting and the olever people, whom he has at his beck and call), that the intrinsic quality .of .the work has been more or less enhanced by a veneer of glitter and dazzle. To such an extent is this true that some of this writer's least meritorious trifles have achieved the greatest success, as witness "Three Little Maids'—a musical comedy that was quite a dull':affair' without the electrical _G. P. .Huntlev in the cast. But,we are dealing now with "The. Dairymaids" one of the best things that: Mr. Rubens has done for Gaiety audiences. It is not that he and his collaborateurs have de-'veloped-.it hew strength'in oharacter-drawing, or that' the musio. is' superlatively good, but the; ensemble has a'freshness and charm .effluent from ' its locale, ; its . frolicsome action, the ' gay: novelty of idea that .illumines the action, and- the speoial attention . ■ that the 7 management'.has' paid* to. emphasising the effect of each detail. ' Tho musio is jolly and bright—it makes pretence to be nothing else. The plot: is reasonably unreasonable '.enough •to-be.amusing, and if; crude,hilarity ; takes the place of more subtle humour, on occasions, that is not to say' that ,it is unwelcome to the audience.: It is a: fine; show for... the girls—they are. high-toned dairymaids in Act I, proteges of the aristocratic Lady Brudenell, who, tired, of seeing her'sex Humiliated in'the search for husbands, is making an attempt to render them independent' by providing, them: with,;: farmwork—musical oomedy. farm-work. Her' ladyship has been called to town' .on Business, and in her absence a motor-car, bringing; (Lieutenant Brudenell, R.N., 1 Joe tMivens,' Aiß., ahd Dr. O'Byrne, a stout ship's surgeon, arrives on the scene,, and there are developments which progress; merrily until Lady Brudenell arrives back unexpectedly. * ; Explanation is _ obviously' fabrication, and.she packs, all the. girls off to 'Miss, Py«chase's : Seminary—Peggy, who ; loves the sportive Sam Brudenell, Winnie, who; dotes on the lieutenant,-Eliza, who loves fickle but funny Joo Miveh,v:and all''-the ' other nice . girls in' middle distance and background. Miss -Pyechase' is' strong on'... calisthenics and gymnastics, and the second; big ijcene—a study m pale blues—exhibits the' girls in smart gymnasium costume,-'fencing, boxing, club-swinging, .'dumb-bell-pushing, - ball-punch-ing, etc. This, situation is .the cue for : the most popular number of > the score-a waltz' song,- to a calisthenic. accompaniment,' entitled " The Sandow Girl,"' ahd brightly sung by Miss .Fanny Dango. '.'Love-.laughs at.'lock^-iiths,Vat' least' it ,does in' 'this case, for the naval contingent, which; has been .ordered abroad,' are in desperate straits to see their sweethearts before. leaving, so they plan, to deceive .Miss Pyo•ohaso. The lieutenant and Sam-Brudenell guise themsolves as frivolous '.young .things •from;.; the _country,. and' are .-submitted "to the care of , Miss : Pyechase by a portly , : father,' who is none other than; Dr. O'Byrne,, : Once in the school the humour of the situation grows; Miss Pyechase'has left for the railway station,; andin; her : absence the new. " girls "-grow hoydenish, and all: are engaged in' a .wild dance, when' Miss Pyechase returns, and in;her train Lady . BrudeneU; There is a gTand exposee, bit' "consequences" are averted: by .her ladyship, softening' .-to ' the - surgeon's ..blandishments—a .denouement'' .which leaves: everybody:'right in. itheXcentre'of-'the, right person's' affectidns.- , Miss Faniiy Dango, -who was 1 merely; : an interpolation in "The Merry Widow," assumed the principal.girl_part,. that Peggy, making her a winsome little "..lady, who'- dances with' snpplo grace, and acts -with.a'dainty .oharm. Her. vcico is not; strong,;' but. she,-is ; clever enough tp'gpt all'that is possible out of her two ohief numbers—the pretty , "Tinker Tailor" song and "The Sandow Girl,".; that is 'given so splendid a ; setting in the • gymnasium scene. Mock ' drama was; excellent, foolingi ', and , her : dancing throughout;.was,.the- finished. articlesMiss .Florence Young appeared as ■,Winnie (Peggy's : sister), ;into which part she infused plenty, of "go.". As usual her singing was a feature, though the voice was not at its best. Miss Young has the pick of- the ballads in : TVild , Rose" V:-and .. "Somebody," .. . whilst the. merry "Over, the Stile" ; number did much to brighten the earlier part of the comedy. , Mr. ! Andrew Higginson was in his element as Sam. Brudenell, and exhibited a' turn for; oomedy rare in-a baritorie.': 1 Neither he 'nor Mr: Reg. Roberts,-, who.;is: the. Lieut. Brudenell -of tho cast,;, are given any solo work, but tho former rattled; through ' a "couple.'of racy duets 'with Miss Dango, and was responsible for. a preponderating part.of the laughter in the last act. He, too, "made good" in; the'mock drama ■ and marionette interlude. "There was no better nor more' amusing - performance than the, Joe Mivens of ; Mr. W. S. Percy,/whose, wonderful ■ agility, -'clever, dancing and'.pbsing,-. and: telling lines kept the house in a ennraer of laugliter whenever ho was within view. '. He has a' . catohy' number, in, "The.Sea;Serpent," in,which - ~,1 3 assisted by. a deftly-arranged ballet.. Also with Mr. Higginson. he .caused a lot of? fun in ■ ™he Poachers" duet. There is' still another comedy part in Dr. O'Byrne, played with unction by Mr., C. R. Bantook. Miss Marietta -Na.sti was properly, dignified .as Miss 'Pyechase,* and Miss Comie' Milne romped through the part; of Eliza—Joe, Miven's -sweetheart. Their . love-scene on the stairs wa's: a comic idyll. Mr. D. O'Connor was rathei; 'stiff' as Captain : Leverton, but, musically, his;: song "Dreamland, sung to three golden-headed babies in the warm..glow, of. the fire,, was perhaps the best, of the ; evening. Lady Brudenelf was charmingly impersonated by Miss Georgie Musgrove,; and' Miss Jessie Brown-.was appropri-' ately demure as _ Helene:Peggie's- half-sister; :_/The-pairyinaids" is magnificently mounted. .. Tho.; foliage of the fruit .-frees, in. the -rustic scene,.is quite the, most-delicate and naturally- : designed: and painted cut-cloth - work' ever seen ■ "Wellington,, and the pale blue gymnasium of . Miss: Pyechase's , academy "; wks equipped : with almost everything needful for'the real thing. The production went with a swing and rush - from ~start to. finish,. and with comedy 'as its chief attribute, ■ kept the audience ; laughing throughout. "The Dairymaids'- can only'be played four mpre nights,/when it gives way to "The Girls of Gottenburg," the box plan for which opens . at tho Dresden at 9 a.m. to-morrow.' - ■ r "~ ■■