WILLIAMSON’S OPERA COMPANY

Evening Star, Issue 21655, 26 February 1934, Page 11

WILLIAMSON’S OPERA COMPANY

‘THE, MERRY WIDOW’ The ■ appearance at His : Majesty's Theatre on - Saturday • afternoon, and - evening next of r the JiV.C. Williamson .’Ltd. -New,' Comic. Opera Company Iftl- al. • gala : 'performance of ‘ The ;J; Merry, Widow,’ .is being ‘ looked forward, toj eagerly by playgoers of Dunedin, and there is. likely to bo a very largo demand for seats when, the s box plans are opened . at .the. D.I.C. . 0n... Thursday, morning next. The present season in Christchurch, is proving an .unqualified success; in, fact, the- best., known there since- ‘ The Desert Song ’ was . staged., The booking has- been, very .large.on every- occasion,- and on ...each morning since the first night the; tickets for; the ordinary ■ stalls ; and- the gallery , have been-; sold out before midday, ~ ‘ The Merry Widow ’ will be staged for four; nights, and there will be' two matinee performances, on next Saturday and the following Wednesday. On Thursday, March 8, ‘ The Arcadians ’ will ho • staged, . and it will be followed by, ‘ Floradora ’ (three nights: and Saturday - matinee), ■ ‘Wildflower ’ (two nights and Wednesday matinee), ‘ The Country Girl ’ (two nights), the season' closing with -two; representations, ofi -* Katinka ’ dn-Saturday. afternoon and evening, March 17. Miss Roinola Hansen, who will make her reappearance here in the title role in ‘.Thl.Merry • Widow,’ comes of a musical familyj Her father was the late Professor Ej H. Hansen, ,at one time a teaching member of the staff of. the Melbourne University Conservatorium. ’ He was . her only teacher in the art of singing* Her stage career began four years ago ,in the leading '.role in ‘ Wildflower.’ After a.further success; in ‘Katja ’ her, .career was interrupted by a mishap in, her. last ride with the Melbourne hounds, where the result of. a fall kept her . ip. bed for twelve months. Shq then went;for;a rest'.curo to England* and on her return to Aiistfalia was engaged by - the J. C; Williamson Xtdmanagement.’to play the leading parts in ‘ The Desert' Song,’ ‘ The New, Moon,’ and ‘ The Belle of New York,’' in which she appeared successfully in New Zealand three years ago. Since then Miss Hansen has achieved further, successes in the operas to be stagbd here during the approaching season.. Miss Hansen has filled the place in the world of comic opera in’ Australia and New Zealand formerly held by the late Miss Florence Young, and the critics have gone so far as to state that her performances 'of the principal soprano roles ' in ' ‘ The Merry Widow,’ ‘ The Arcadians,’ and other operas compare more than favourably; with any previously given of them in New Zealand.Mr Herbert Browne (the tenor of the company), too, is regarded as the best in his line at present on the Australian stage. ' Playgoers will be glad to welcome in his old parts Mr Phil Smithy who was the creator of the comedy role of Tonio in the original production fc( re of ‘ The; Maid of the Mountains.’ Although quite young, Mr Don Nicol: is one of the funniest comedians .who- has ever toured with a J. C. Williamson Ltd. musical company, a reputation be has won in the role of Nische in ‘ The Merry Widow ’ and as Peter Doody* the whimsical jockey, in ‘ The Arcadians.-’ Another popular artist who-will make- her reappearance hero during the approaching' season is Miss Mane la Varre, and other principals are • the brilliant young baritone Mr Eric Bush,who has achieved an outstanding success; as Prince Danilo in ‘ The Merry, Widow-’; Lois Green, a charming icung soubrette; Stella Collier (soprano), Charles. Albert (comedian), Oliver Peacock (tenor), Doris. - Hopkins, -Dora Lightfoot, David , Graham, - and Leah Miller- - The work of the full operatic chorus and orchestra is. a .feature of the: productions, and the company includes a.-yery tajented,ballet.- The production will- be staged: with new -and ■magnificent costumes ,_and dresseS; and with picturesque scenic features, The box plansnvill lie opened at the D.I.C. on Thursday morning next at 9 o'clock* A queue will be formed from S a.m.