‘THE GONDOLIERS’

Evening Star, Issue 22577, 19 February 1937, Page 6

‘THE GONDOLIERS’

: G. AHO 8. SEASON OPEKB TO-MORROW NIGHT ' To-morrow night, beginning at 8 o’clock at His Majesty’s Theatre, the J. C. Williamson Ltd. Gilbert and Sullivan Comic Opera Company, comprising 100 artists,' headed by Miss Strella Wilson and Mr Ivan Menzies, will begin a season of seven nights in a gala production of the picturesque, tuneful, and humorous comic opera, ‘ The Gondoliers.’ With its joyous melodies, its numerous musical numbers, its stage settings, its dresses, and its clean and comic situations, ‘ The Gondoliers ’ will always prove a great attraction for playgoers, no matter when or how frequently it is staged. Seats in central positions in either the dress circle or stalls for the first performance of ‘ The Gondoliers ’ may be selected at the D.I.C. from 9 o’clock this morning until 9 o’clock this evening, and tickets for the early door pit may be purchased to-day at the Rialto confectionery shop. In view of the big audiences which were attracted to the Williamson Ltd. theatres in Auckland and Wellington during seasons of three weeks in each of them, efforts were made to extend the company’s stay. This, however, it was impossible to effect, and this will also apply to Dunedin. ‘ The Gondoliers ’ can only be staged for- one performance, and on Monday evening next the musical and entertaining comic opera ‘ Yeoman of the Guard ’ is to be staged, in which opera both' Strella Wilson and Ivan Menzies achieved outstanding triumphs in the North Island. On Tuesday evening and the following Saturday afternoon the Japanese comic opera, ‘ The Mikado,’ will be revived, and on Wednesday afternoon ‘ lolanthe,’ the entrancing fairy opera, will be presented. On Wednesday night Planquette’s tuneful and humorous comic opera, ‘ Paul Jones,’ is to be staged, and the booking already indicates that it will be witnessed by a full house. On Thursday, Friday, and Saturday nights Franz Schubert’s beautiful musical romance ‘ Lilac Time,’ with Ivan Menzies in the role of the famous composer, will be presented. In to-morrow night’s performance of ‘ The Gondoliers ’ the talented operatic singer, Miss Strella Wilson, will make her reappearance, after an absence of several years, in the singing role of Casilda, in which she has on former occasions delighted local playgoers. In no city or town is Ivan Menzies more popular than he is in Dunedin, and once again he is to lead his forces through the extravagances of the favourite Venetian fantasy. He plays the _ part of the Duke of Plaza-Toro with as much gusto in each performance of ‘ The Gondoliers,’ as if he were playing the role for the first time instead of something like the 500th. Richard Watson’s droll representation of the Grand Inquisitor is a groat foil for the mumming of Ivan Menzies. The quartet of juvenile singers are Gregory Stroud, baritone, Godfrey Stirling (the hero of ‘Sparkling Eyes’), Eileen Kelly (mezzo-soprano), and Helen Langton (soprano), all of whom will again delight in the parts they portrayed last year. Miss Evelyn Hall, who will appear as the Duchess of Plaza-Toro, has proved an outstanding addition to the company, and she is now one of its most prominent and most popular members. Other _ principal artists are Bernard Manning. Vincent M‘Murray. Clifford Cowley, and Tommy Jay. The operatic chorus and orchestra are under the direction of Mr Leo. Packer.