“RUDDIGORE” TO-NIGHT

Dominion, Volume 25, Issue 169, 13 April 1932, Page 2

“RUDDIGORE” TO-NIGHT

To-night the favourite J. C. Williamson Gilbert and Sullivan Comic Opera Co., which lias just completed a most wonderfully successful tour of the South Island, returns to the Grand Opera House for a short farewell season. It is a long time since a company touring the Dominion have been such pronounced favourites. They have been greeted with packed audiences in every town visited, and it is indeed fortunate for Wellington patrons that J. C. Williamson Company has been enabled to play a short return season in this city. The opening piece, which will be plaved for two performances only, is that melodious mid subtle “Ruddigore.” Sir Arthur Sullivan never wrote more bcauti ful or appealing music than that to which many of the vocal numbers are set, and Gilbert: has rarely provided wittier lines and lyrics. The ensemble singing is a special feature of the performance, and the fine finale of the first act. with its bcuutitul gnvottc and madrigal is wonderfully conceived. The opera is beautifully dressed and mounted, the famous -Picture Gallery scene of the second act. being very finely and impressively staged. The cast includes all (lie artists of the company who were so well received on their last visit, and includes Ivan Menzies, Dlario Brcmncr, Leo Darnton. Evelyn Gardiner. John Ralston, Mary Hotham, Bernard Manning.