J. C. WILLIAMSON’S COMPANY

Evening Star, Issue 22572, 13 February 1937, Page 12

J. C. WILLIAMSON’S COMPANY

SEASON COMMENCES NEXT SATURDAY

A largo amount of interest is being taken in the approaching season of the J. C. Williamson Ltd. Gilbert and Sullivan Company’s opera season, which will begin on Saturday evening next with a production of the .entertaining comic opera ‘ The Gondoliers,’ which will signalise the reappearance here of the brilliant operatic soprano, Miss Strella Wilson, and the popular comedian, Mr Ivan Menzies. Ever witty, delightfully melodious, and unfailingly popular, the Gilbert and Sullivan operas are just ns acceptable with the average playgoer to-day as they were many years ago. The coming season is to be limited to seven nights, but during that period seven operas are to be staged—‘Tie Gondoliers,’ * Princess Ida,’ ‘ The "Scorn an of the Guard,’ ‘ lolanthe,’ ‘ The Mikado, ‘ Fan} Jones,* find ‘ Lilac Tine. The Gondoliers,* which satirises; the socialistic ideal with such brilliant point and delicious humour, was originally produced at the Savoy Theatre, London, under the D’Oyly Carie management, close on 50 years ago That tact is deliberately mentioned is it helps to signify the remarkable vitality of the opera, which has maintained its place on the boards somewiere in the Empire throughout nearly half a century of time. However tr.te some of these operas inky he to those who play in them year' after year aid to those who, through familiarity, have learned music and words almost by heart, their charm is suffrient to enlist the enthusiasm of xew generations of playgoers as they come along. • Clever Ivan Mmzies, whose capacity in the comedy roles- of these operas is so familiar, wil once more create amusement with his perky and mincing conception of the impecunious Duke of Plazi-Tqro. He chortles rather than siigs his merry way through such numbers as In Enterprise of Martial Bind,’ Small Titles and aid the clever gavotte number, ' I’m a Courtier, in which his feet plai all sorts of tricks as the quartet issociated with him pace the stately measure with grace and decorum. : Miss Strella Wilson, who is probihly the best singer of light operntii soprano roles on the stage to-das adds great' strength to the comjany, as apart from her singing she is also a perfect actress, and sh< is enjoyed at her best in the role £ Casilda. Godfrey Stirling’s fine tnor voice will again be heard in tie pijnlar solo, ‘Take a Pair of Sparling Eyes,’ and Gregory Stroud will Tipcat his former success in the role of Giuseppe Miss Evelyn Hall, who is to take the important part of the luchess of PlazaToro, was a principa member of the last "Williamson Ltl. Grand Opera Company which tourid New Zealand, and the character <f the Grand Inquisitor will again beportrayed by the London basso, Mr Diehard Watson. The Misses Helen Lfligton and Eileen Kelly made themsefes popular with playgoers when tiny appeared here last year in the Gihert and Sullivan operas. The cast llso includes Clifford Cowley, Vinccit M'Murrny, and Bernard Manning. A feature of the operas is the work if the grand operatic chorus and ball't. The box plans for the season will ho opened at the D.I.C, on Wednesday morning next. ,