COMIC OPERA TO-HIGHT

Evening Star, Issue 19924, 21 July 1928, Page 6

COMIC OPERA TO-HIGHT

■MADAME POMPADOUR ’ This evening at His Majesty’s Theatre J. C. Williamson, Ltd., management will stage for the first time hero the successful musical comedy, ! M.adarao Pompadour,’ which recently created a furore in Auckland and Wellington. Musical comedy scarcely describes the music. It is more than that. There is a freshness of treatment and a breadth of melody which places it almost in the mounds of comic opera. The pretty page from the Justor,y of the beautiful mistress of King Louis XV. is true historically. _ Thi* period frocking lends itself to brilliant scenes. The humour is plentiful and legitimately wedded to the story of the mistress, the lover, and the poet. Miss Beppio do Vries, in the title role, has achieved a great success. The talented European artist revels in a part for which she is entirely suited, and with versatility she brilliantly intorprotes every mood of the magnetic figure which dominates the story. Her soprano voice is heard to the fullest advantage in the music allotted her role. Air .Arthur Sligant, a favourite comedian, has never achieved a greater_ success than in the part of Joseph Calieot, the self-styled poet Associated with him is the charming comedienne, Miss Vera Span 11. Mr Frank Webster, the young English tenor, has scored success as Comio (FEslrados. Miss A dole Crane, who last visited New Zealand in the leading part in * Lilac Time,’ will appear as Madeline. Two artists who will make their first appearance here arc Mr Tledley Hall and Air P. Cory, and others in the case are Herbert Browne and Mason Wood. The chorus of fifty voices is a feature of the performance. A. full operatic orchestra is under the baton of Air Harry Burton. A special matinee of ‘Madame Pompadour’ will he given next Wednesday afiernoon. Box plans arc now open. ‘ The Student Prince,’ another big musical success, will ho produced on Thursday, with Beppio do Vries and .las. Liddy, ihc noted tenor, in the leading roles.