"MADAME POMPADOUR"

Evening Post, Volume CV, Issue 150, 29 June 1928, Page 5

"MADAME POMPADOUR"

Lavish production A large audience at the-Grand Opera House last night greeted the first production in 'Wellington of "Madame.Pomadour," and there was not the smallest doubt about its appreciation. The .Royal Coiuie Opera Company, under the J. 0. Williamson, Ltd., management, made a huge -access of "Madame Pompadour" in Australia, a success which is likely to be repeated throughout Now Zealand. To start with, "Madame Pompadour" is on a distinctly higher plane than the average musical comedy in that it lias an historical plot. Not that the majority of theatre goers will -worry their heads about the historical accuracy of the production—that is' beside the point. What does signify is that the plot -deaJ3 with that fascinating and picturesque period of French history when Louis XV. reigned in all the magnificence* of his'day. With that background the producers nad admirable material for a lavish and spectacular show and full advantage has.been taken of it. From this incident of history, the ruling of the King by Madame Pompadour, who exercised such a disastrous influence on French history, making and unmaking Ministers, Frederick Lonsdale and Harry Graham have evolved and adapted, a coherent story, the lyrics being by Harry Graham and the music by Leo Fall. Briefly stated, the plot centres around the love of the handsome ' cavalier, Eene^ Cornte d'Estrades/ for the fascinating lady. He meets her at an inn.outside Paris, whither has gone Madame Pompadour din-ing the temporary absence of the King. There.Madame'hears what the common-people think of her, which'is not quite what the King thinks, the mouthpiece of the people being. Calicot, the poet. Madame, discovered in the inn by the Prefect of the Police, with great cunning arranges matters to suit herself\'and to save a scandal. Ecne is enlisted as one of her .bodyguard, and the poet is commissioned to write a birthday play. The second act is in Madame's apartments, and there the plot unfolds with rapidity, the climax being reached with the unexpected return of ,the King. Renv-.is there and Calicot is there, and the "infatuated King is -lighly suspicious. But the woman's ready wit, aided by a convenient sister who providentially turns out to bo Rene's wife, saves the situation, and Madame Pompadour is left -in supreme command of. the situation. • ,In the title role as Madamo Pompadour Miss Beppio do Vries proves herself to be an actress and a singer of. tlr: very first rank. The part of the French' King's roguish mistress is one that, to present adequately calls for great ability, ,and never once, whether in moments of comedy or of romance, and the play is .a curious mixture of both, docs Miss de/Vries fail. Inclined at times to speak a little too fast, she soon impresses by her histrionic ability, stage presence, and voice, the musical score of the-play providing her with .■very opportunity. With her Mr. Frank Webster, the lady's lover,, shares the musical honours, his beautiful tenor voice blending admirably in the several duets, "By the Light of the Moon" being one of the most charming of those. The musical,score contains many gems, practically all the work in this direction falling on this pair's shoulders. The maker or manor of the opera is the derelict. ballad-monger, Joseph Calicot. Mr. Arthur. Stigant is well laiown. in many roles of -humour, but' here he is 'given-a part worthy'of his steel and not once doe's he fail. He; is illimitable, being ably supported by Miss Vcra Spa-ulI,- who as Madame Pompadour's vivacious little maid fairly bubbles over with-I' joio do'wic. .Mr. Hedley Hall makes aii ■imposing Prefect of the Police, and Mr. P. Cory looks every inch a king as Louis XV As Madame's unknown sister Miss Adelo Crane was charming. ■; . . : . ; The whole setting of "Madamo Pompadour is lavish in the extreme, the scenery gorgeous, and the f rocking most picturesque. The grouping and singing of the chorus at the, opening of the second act was one of the choicest items of a prolonged feast of colour and movc.ment, but then 'how much, moro picturesque and more abundant were the clothes of both men and women in the eighteenth century than- they are today? The chorus was a tuneful and' .ornamental background, but much more besides, being animated participants in the opera itself. Altogether "Madame Pompadour," which is to be repeated nightly with a matinee to-morrow, thoroughly justifies.the claims made for it's excellence. •