ENTERTAINMENTS.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 496, 1 May 1909, Page 7

ENTERTAINMENTS.

"THE GIRLS OF GOTTENBERG." "The Girls of Gottenberg:" a musica comedy ill two acts. Music by Ivan Caryil .lad Lionel ■ Monckton; libretto, by Geo (•rossmitih, and L. E. Berman; lyrics, . bj Adrian Boss and Basil Hood. Cast: I •••• Miss Fanny Dango 1 Cloraontino Miss Marietta Nash 1 Minna. Miss"Nellie Wilson i t .."J" 1 •'•••• Miss Georgie MusgroTo I Jjucille Hiss Jessie Brown - — .. Miss-Plorence Yonng ' «... Mr. O'Connor Colonel Finkhauscn Mr. J-aroos Hughes Kaaneirbier Mr. Arthur Hunter Mt. Reginald Roberts , ' ?[,i Hlb ° tU Mr. W. S. Percy Albrecht Mr. Aodrew Hieginson Bmpmaster Jfr. C. R. Bantoclc Mr. Middlin Max Moddtlkopf Mr. Victor Gotirict • When that bold individual conceived th< lUeaot raising money by advancing on the uiwffendrng German town of Kopenick. anc mvested w j a enornwos authority (by him«w) tookcharge of the city treasury, and ?inr 1° triUes,- in the name of Eaisei tVillia.m, he little knew the far-reaching of- • tect of bis frantic frolic. Had ho kiowi. . that, the incident would meander for a considerable distance down tho lane of posteritj through the medium of a : modern musical comcily,' even lie, brave as bo must have been, would have hesitated before attempting such a Hun.* One can only assume thai He seen an English musical comfitfy, and was therefore entirely unaware oi the straits their writers- are often pnfc tc in order • to find something, resembling . Horo was , one : «?ady to naodr-comic opera in reß l . life—and 'J* mtfh-aridity by a combination of pooplo who h'e in wait for such golden opportunities as, the' Eopenick incident presented. They have undoubtedly ; succeeded m. concocting a highly entertaining aid, in .spots, clevor comedy, but. in last evening's performance at tho Opera House by the Royal Comic Opera Company \ prag was noticcd here and there, caused ■ it should be stated, in fairness to ithe management, by it being the first,performance of .the piece as far as two.or three of the fvnncipals were concerned. T This was only noticeable -in the second scene of. the first: act, where the action lost animation. This .was ; redeemed in the second act, where tho comedy moved briskly, and tho music brightened porccptiWy: -Right through tarylrs gift of melody, stood out as the principal asset of "Tho Girls of Gottenberg," and several numbers, viz., "Otto," '"Tne Mitzi Girl,' 'Lovo my.- Love," "Come and dance a "Two Little Sausages," and '! Berlin on, the ' Spree!" were guite up to the • lx>st standard oi mtiswoi comedy numbers. 'Bio libretto is not by any moans inspired, but here and there'the lyrics of Adrian Ross stood, out in. pleasant rehef. The orchestral work was not.so sure,as perhaps it'should have been, t but; first; nights''are-: sometimes the worst re S"*®»; aiwtho littJo. roughnesses e&ould <fcivppcar this 'jho gay dresses of ; 'T* , Blt io Hussom, and ! the ' frocks of tho Gottenberg Girls formed a fine feast of colour, and was ln-harmowous accord with 'Y* -K- Goloman's . magnificent. scenery, flioro are two scenes worthy of' mention —a square in Gottenberg,': , with - its warib-tirfted, quaintly-designed 'Stone - buildings "snd the broaid market. square—and the gardens of the "Kcd Hen," a, conifortablo ara picturesque hostelry, with a background of river' 3iid red, roofs. '-. Spaco and' atmosphere ap ckv-cdy caught ami hold 'by' tho artsst;, whose' satisfying,Work.iehould be seen wjOTS-of stage'.scenery at its'best. ■: ~ .GirJp of Gotienborg "/are famed fqr rhtar beauty,, and it is with tho greatest ,inaignation 'thai, the, Blue Hussars, champing in . girUoss Roiienberg,' learn. that the. Red Dragoons havo. been ordered to' the favoured spot. This do?s not suit Prince Obto .(who has ]HSt ]ome(] the Blue-Hu&sars) a littio bit, his.-comic.'valct, : ,one Max Jloddelkopf a,dispatdi is faked ,and delivored to .the Colone-l-of,t-]ie Blues by Max, masan'.envoy.of the,Kaiser.V So . ® entrain for Gottenterg,;. outsitripping the Reds, Avho are- roufe-marching ;to Max, gliUering .in one' of Prince Otto s nnifonns, a)K?(vd in a motor-car, takes charge of the town, makes love to the Burgomaster's daughter, borrows raojiey all round, ' and is about to .elope with and. marry her, • when Mitzi, recognising liim as her old lover by, the quantity of beer he r.ia able to dririk at a draft-, • gives tho show I away. : In -th« -meonixmo Otto has arrived, I and is looking about for his mums Elsa, to whom he is betrothfed. (who, fo' have somo I fun, has changed places with Mitzi. and become a beer., -girl, insteadof • entering the yeung. c ollege). He | meets:, the'; fair-, idispenser! .-..ofliquid joy ' only ; to fall;,, in; ;i_lqve ; with her' after 'singing: arid.'.dancing'- merrily to that | end. . Eventually the General (Elsa's,father) tym: npi. nercsly,. indignant at the. chaotic state-or the; Army .;in Gottenberg, but is I .cleverly, stroked-down by Elsa'. and Otto, and having fonnd out the captain of the Reds in , «>missnc«s, orders thorn to stay ! Jj old.'Rottcnberg.for three-years:whilst tlie Blues are, given over' to the , girls of | Gottenberg. - : , . ' .. Gouriet got .a good deal of funaX)■ i there is more-m the part than; extracted, last evening, i Mr,. Reginald -Roberts put plenty of vim and l,go _into lively ;yoimg Princo, ,"tto, -and* *Como and Daaico a Two|,Step . were sung with plenty of life;' Miss llJUorenco Young made a' itfce, healthy, likecibloi Iwsa, and,to her lot felll a number of good songs, induding "Tho Old Red. Hen," „ I . Lwe My Love/' . and : "Littlo Maiden jame. . She danced* Hghtlyj;.acted brightly, and sang welL throughout.- Miss' -Fanny I tJango m®do a-chamving Mitzi. Siie breathes | the very spint of Terpsichore. There was | muoh charm about liar acting, and : her demure oomedy; in "Two Lifctie Sausages" I an d Berlin on tho Spree" was as gooa as I anything in the piece. Mr. Andrew TiigginI ?< U d w W oHj ]ltUo to do wefl, Ind I t {'n B, l au glis whenever he wanted them. Mr. 0. R.' Baatock was a very dull and uninteresting Burgomaster, and Mr. Sf"A,n n 17as oni y-f a,r 'y good as Adolf.- Mr I). ,0 Connor sang ."Tb„ Only Girl," a catchy |. waltz song, well, and aooeptaWo sketch^ , Ztu gIVO T?J y Wilson as the | Mraa Marietta .Nash as aDd JaS ' ' Eushes as Colonel „"® 1 ? l P Irl3 of Gottenberg'' will be played ( again4msMiveningj wben-'the season^condudes. MEVNELI/ AND GCNN'COMPANY. ' , that Meynoll and Gunn s Dramatic Company will 6 • a at the Opera Souse on tho evening of Monday, May 3. The orenmr "f: the^at-anfmost r o -i ~ ran ??,?'~ tho being "Two Little Sailor-Boys. The pieco -has-'been sented .all over Australia . with wonderful success, and, during its :run .in Auckland; it nf 0 It h ?'- I3C8 '~ Ifc provides pleaty of scope far. tho diversified talents of the vwious well-known artiste. .The author.of ttio drama is Mr. Walter .Howard, one of England's , most successful' dramatists The r K ry T^ rong r, and one, ™d >t beaded . by Miss' Beatrice Holloway Miss Lillian Meyers, and Mr. Herbert J Bontley. .The company mil arrive this evenrng f rom, the i»rth. Miss "Beafeiob Holloway l W S ] P'7 th « "mio fwrrfcs, , Two Little Sailor Boys." Mr. Alec Voroe wi,th° business manager, ajid Mr. •V- A' ■ sta ™ onl , gocral -manager and stajro director. The: box plan is now open at"fo | presdoi.- .Early door tickets may be-obtained-j from Abel s, tobacconist, opposHe-the Theatre. i HIS, MAJESTY'S THEATRE. . l'ho series of Royal Pictures has much to commend it. Last night they were witnessed by a iarge and appreciative auchence. .Nono attracted more interest than that depicting collision m tho Atlantic,; which is well worth seeing. Other pictures worthy of special mention are: Moscow," "River Thames in M ? inti>r '' "A Messina Orphan," "The Cabman's Good O'airy," and "The Polite Pai'son." a 6 -usual,--there-, will be a matineo this afterr.oon. ROLLER SKATING. Pleasure lovers and amusement seekers will shortly have aiiothor bow to their string in tho shape of roller skating. - Tho wonderful manner in which this delightfol pastime has liauaht oa in England this season is evidenced-

by tho rivalry between American and English manufacturers to supply the unprecedented demand for skates, l'ho Wellington season ' promises to b<j well patronised, and the fact that the world-famous "Richardson" will be a portion of the rink equipment should add to tho attractiveness of the fascinating art. Tho opening session takes place on Monday ovening. GEACH DRAMATIC COMPANY. A highly successful season at the Theatre Royal was concluded by the Edwin Geaoh Dramatic Company last night, when "East Lynne" was again prodnced. Tho wellknown play was followed with keen interest by the audience, which filled' the building in all parts. KDIiLKKS' SINGING PICTURES. To-night, -at the Theatre Royal, Mr. Harry Lauder, the famous Scotch comedian, wDI bo introduced to a Wellington audienco, through the cinephone. The items to be giren will be Mr. Lauder singing "L Lovo a Lassie," and "She's Ma Daisy," so that intending patrons can look forward to witnessing a great novelty in connection, with -Messrs. Fulien' splendid picture cntortaini monts. To-night's programme will abound in the latest kinematograph gems just imported from Enghtml aiid Paris,,so that this popular Wellington playhouse's seating capacity should be taxed to its utmost. MADAME MELBA'S' "PEOPLE'S CONCERT." Before saying good-bye to tho capital of the Dominion, Madame Melba has decided to give a _ people's concert on Tuesday next. For this oon>>rt populir prices will, be charged. Seafc may be reserved for 55., and unreserved scats will be sold at 3s. and 2s. Madame Melba is, particularly dosirous thht all who are fond'; of music should have an o'pjwrtunity of hearing her glorious voice ' while it is at its zenith, hence Eer determinagive this conoert, to which she is looking forward with : keen anticipation. Already there has been a very heavy booking of reserved seats. The management has made arrangements for extra rows of seats in the body of the ball and baloony, which will be available for booking this morning. TOWN lIAI/L ORGAN. A popular programme: has been arranged for to-night's organ recital at the' Town Hall. Mr. Maughan Barnctt will play tho popular fastasia on Bizet's Carmen, Mozart's Minuet in D, two well-known pieces by Schubert, and Mendelssohn's Second Sonata. SUNDAY CHARITY CONCERT. ' • The Wellington Professional Orchestra ha 6. decided to-give a 'benefit concert in the Town Ball on. Sunday/evening in aid of St. John Ambulance' Nursing Guild Fund for orosing the sick poor in their own homes. The orohestra on this occasion will play "Zampa" (Heroldi, "Largo"' (Eaiidcl); "Moraima" (Espinosa), "Sizelleeta" and "Borsagleri." Mrs. Woodward (nee Miss Amy Hyde) will sing Liza Lehmann's "Unfoldhig" and "Rosa Resurget." ;Mr. Ghas. Read, the well-known CKristehurch ; tenor, will' sing "Cujus Animam" (Rossini) and "Coming of the King," accompaned ; on tho organ by Mr. D. A. Keuny.