"FLOBODORA"

Evening Post, Volume CXIII, Issue 136, 13 June 1927, Page 5

"FLOBODORA"

AMATEURS DO WELL

The Wellington Amateur Theatrical Society's presentation of "Florodora" at the - Grand Opera House on Saturday evening was generally above amateur level, and was an some respects conspicuously above it. Mrs. J. F. Woodward was in particularly good voice as Dolores, and her "Star ot Love" and "Queen of the Philippine j Islands' solos carried the memory back over the long span of years that have passWeK? 10™? 0"11; Was first Produced in wSi ot only carried back but A ™« 8 =onlPar'son with the original ft "tSTvT^T^ number ' "Sh^c tW L , \ "'eluding the charming air a rTpSsfc- air,,-j1 £ Tfi *U} althou Sl' "these solos will fZt,, f^f S out in al'i' standard per- j sumed that the Wellington Amateur Thearoiu «n? Ci lety S Claim t0 success this J'ear tests solely or even mainly on the principal. Ilie choruses also were strong at any rate on the female side; some of the dancing was more than usually good; and the dressing and mounting were really fine, making up a colour scheme such as is essentially necessary to whispering palms, dusky belles, and the other tropiial attributes that belong to dream islands like the eilloretcent Florodora. More than quarter of a century old, this fragrant- musical comedy includes in its plot a secret method of perfume manufacture, recalling the secret liqueur that fi~™les m °ne of its pre-war contemporaries A Yankee millionaire, Cyrus W. Gilfain has stolen the secret of the Eastern isle (lUorodora) on which the perfume is manufactured, and is anxious to mainDolores the daughter of the man whom he has robbed. Dolores, in love with ibercoed, spurns Gilfain, and the tuft-hnntin" American has another fall when his plot to marry his daughter Angela (Miss Cretta btaik) and Abercoed is denounced by both these young people. Thus Gilfain's double design to protect his title to Florodora isle by wedding the rightful owner, and to ally Ins child to a British coronet, is defeated; and the result brings discomfiture not only to the millionaire but to the phrenologist Tweedtepunch (Mr. \lf Mazengarb) who has been hired to hitch up Dolores with Gilfain and Angela with Abercoed by the novel process of reading then- bumps and then declaring each one to be the affinity arid soul-mate of the other After the young people have kicked over the traces, Tweedlepunch retires from the soul-mating business, and, turning the tables on Gilfain, brings such "spookological pressure to bear on the guilty and superstitious millionaire that the latter coniesses and makes restitution. Then the whole affair ends in marriage bells, which on the stage—if not in real life—are a synonym for happiness ever afterwards. _ It js a long time since the birth oE the joke which spelt the "Peerage" with an initial B, but the gibe at the brewer element in the House of Lords, and at the crowned heads of Europe and the halfcrowned heads of America," has lost little ot its bite with the lapse of time The acidity of the society widow. Lady Holyl,A IS, well Preserved by Miss 'Pauline bhotlander, who puts a new edge upon her social epigrams and sings "Tact" with an archness and charm of her own. Miss bretta Stark's vocal equipment is neither wide nor deep but she is dainty and pleasing as Angela, and she owet a good deal to the support of the stalwart and dashhi" Mr. Lionel Inch, who, as Captain Donegal, looks the part and sings his numbers blithely. A great deal of the success achieved is due to the energy of Mr. Mazengarb and the restraint of Mr. A. Morris Dunkley m the two comedy roles. Tweedlepunch and Uilfain. Vocally, as well as in broad comedy like the bump-reading scene, Mr. Mazengarb was always in the forefront of the fun. An excellent counterfoil was the dry humour of Mr. Dunkley, his drollery and his quaint dignity. In the popular ""The Millionaire" he made one of the hits of the evening.. Another hit, of course, was the double sextette, "Tell Me, Pretty Maiden."

A special word of praise is due to the dancing. The first ballet was not perfectly performed, but Miss Florence -Heyworth danced so charmingly, v.-ith her partner, Mr. Phillip Low, that the audience was at once won over by the terpsichorean appeal of the production; and when these two appeared again in the second act, with another and still more youthful solo dancer, Miss Gladys Smyth, it had to be admitted that the society's dancers are both skilful and charming. The ballet leaders, Misses Leah Beadnall, Beryl Hunter, Frances Muter, and Gina Pedder, also included some promising talent. Among the many fine choruses may be mentioned the "Welcome" in the first act", and the opening chorus in the second. Miss Ngairo Coster made a pert typewriter, and Mr.' Dudley Alexander, a more than pert overseer. The orchestra fulfilled its important duties efficiently.. The producer is Mr. liarisou Cook; musical director, Mr. Leu Barnes; hon. pianist. Miss Gwen Wing; ballet master. Mr. David Devitt. "Florodorn" will be repented this evening.