“BELLE OF NEW YORK”

Dominion, Volume 24, Issue 63, 8 December 1930, Page 12

“BELLE OF NEW YORK”

A Notable Revival ENTHUSIASTIC AUDIENCE “The Belle of New York,” a musical play in two acts. Words and lyrics by Hugh Morton. Music by Gustave Kerker. Cast:— Ichabod Bronson Leslie Holland Harry Bronson Sidney Burchall The Polite Lunatic Don Nichol Doc. Sniffkins Sidney Wheeler Kenneth Mugg Bernard Manning Blinky Bill Jim Gerald Count Pats! Rattatoo .. Leslie Donaghey Count Katsi Kattatoo Roy Baxter Twiddles William Perryman Violet Gray Roraola Hansen Fifi Fricot Miriam Lester Mamie Clancy Connie Hobbs Kissy Fitzgarter Dulcie Davenport Mons. Fricot Herbert Browne Cora Angelique Amy Kochelle Happy memories of precious theatre nights were recalled at the Grand Opera House on Saturday when the Williamson Musical Comedy Company revived the evergreen musical play, “The Belle of New York,” before an audience that filled every seat in the theatre. While the play must have been very familiar to a good percentage of those present, there were many of a younger generation who made their first acquaintance with it—and were far from being disappointed. Indeed, “The Belle” wears very well, in spite of the fact that some of its fun hangs on the suppression of the cigarette, a nineteenth century menace which has since conquered the world. The play has been given a special cast, and is presented in a manner worthy of J. C. Williamson traditions. A feature of its performance is the fine chorus of ringing youthful voices, which make the grandiose finale to the first act something worth hearing. Indeed, so effective was this number on Saturday that it had to be repeated. The audience was pleased to see Mr. Leslie Holland back again, and gave him a fitting reception when he stalked on in the crazy clothes of Ichabed Bronson, in which he has figured for the last two or three revivals. With his admirable poise, his dry humour and his quaint attitudinising,. Mr. Holland endeared himself to all. True he is not quite equal to the vocal demands —and Ichabod was written for a singer—but he has sufficient art at his disposal to cover the demands of the eccentric character in every other way. Miss Romola Hansen, pretty in person and sunny in voice, made a very charming Violet Gray. In her Salvation Army lassie kit she looked modest and sweet, and when she whirls on as the gay leader of the white and gold Purity Brigade in the second act the contrast is startling, but none the less alluring. In her vocal numbers, hollow Ou,” “Tlie Purity Brigade,” and as the lead in the great choral finale to the first act, Miss Hansen was all sufficient. Another outstanding performance was the Cora Angelique of Miss Amy Rochelle, who is the exact type for the brazen Queen of Comic Opera, and whose splendidly robust soprano was of immense value, both in solo and ensemble. She made an immediate impression in her opening solo, “When I Was Born .the Stars Stood Still,” and her flirtatious scenes with Mr. Holland as Ichabod were as good as anything in tlie play. Also excellent was the Blinky Bill of Mr. Jim Gerald, who in pose and gesture was the exact type of the Bowery lad, who looks at everything from behind a pair of boxing gloves. Moreover, Mr. Gerald sang the theme song, “She is the Belle of New York,” with a simple sincerity that was quite appealing, and the wild larrikin waltz he and Miss Connie Hobbs (as Manne Clancy) executed at its conclusion .with a riotous success, as was also their tap dance in the second act. Miss Hobbs, a good dancer, was not exactly all there is to be said lor the character of Mamie; neither was Miss Miriam Lester the type for the tricky Fifi Fricot, who should be the sauciest of chic Parisiennes in song, speech, and looks. Mr. Sidney Burchall was quite sound as Harry Bronson (though the music? is written for a tenor), and his pianissimo effort in the finale is one or the funniest tilings in the show. A very vital character study was that of the Polite Lunatic of Mr. Don Nichol, who succeeds in making him almost too real, whereas the role is usually played on burlesque lines. Mr. Bernard Manning was an excellent Kenneth Mugg, Mr. Sidnev Wheeler a well-developed Doc. Sniffkins, while the dappei* Portuguese twin Counts were cleverly automatised bv Messrs. Donaghey and Roy Baxter. Mi«s Dulcie Davenport, as Kissy lutz"arter, was lively but incoherent, and Mr. Herbert Browne was obviously miscast as M. Fricot. The play was well mounted and prettily costumed, particularly in respect to the members of the Purity Brigade, the candv store girls and the miscellaneous people in fancy dress in the Narragansett tneijp. The nlay was reproduced by Mr. Frederick Blackman; the ballets and groupings were by. Miss Minnie Everett, and Mr. H. C. Nightingale was the stage manager. A capable orchestra did good work under the baton of Mr. W. Redstone.