BIG WILLIAMSON ATTRACTION.

Gisborne Times, Volume XLIX, Issue 4866, 11 May 1918, Page 3

BIG WILLIAMSON ATTRACTION.

an important musical seas ON.

KATINKA

Probably one of the most important musical events that has yet happened in Gisborne will be the production of the latest musical comedy success, “Katinka,” by the J. C.‘ Williamson Comi6 Opera Co., on Tuesda v next, Thi s will mark the first occasion qf the presentation of this work here. The music is said to be i surpassingly melodious, the dialogue clever, tlie situation whimsical, and ! the story unusually interesting. The • r ‘| usi 9 of “Katinka” is by Rudolf Trmu, the composer of both these I undeniable successes, “You’re in Love” and “High Jinks.” The book is by Otto Hauerbaeb, a well known French Canadian librettist. 7'he 1 scoge is already included in the lib- ; vary of up-to-date musical people. | '.’hie dialogue is, it is claimed, excep--1 tionally brilliant and original, and j the multitudinous situations which | the play abounds never fail to create ' roars of laughter. The cast has been j Selected with every care, and to enj sure the success of “Katinka” the J. O. WJliamson directorate have , brought from New York Mr George Highland for it's production. The play will be interpreted by the famous Royal Comic Opera Company. Principal parts to favorite artists have been allotted as follows: —Mr Phil Smith (Thaddeus T. Hooper), Mr Reginald Roberts (Ivan Dimitri), Boris Strogoff (John Ralston), Mr Oliver Peacock (Arif Bey), Miss Gladys Mon crieff (Katinka), Miss Addie Lennard (Tatiana), Miss Eva Webber (Olga), Miss Violet Yotke (Varenka) and Miss Florence Young (Mrs Helen Hopper). A leading New York critic writes of the play as follows: “Musical plays come in their myriads and go mostly without enduring remembrance. It must be admitted after seeing “Katinka,” she must be chronicled as a delightful and entirely satisfying little person, who will claim a long and tender recollection. The play is excellent from, end to end. This is mostly due to the fact that, more substantial, more durable, and superior materials have been used in the work of construction and it might be said, that more thought has been devoted to the writing. “Katinka” is a work that ought to stand the test of time.

THE RED WIDOW

■ Wednesday next the J. C. Willinmi son Royal Comic Opera • Company, | headed by Miss Florence Young, pro- ; mise a fine musical attraction in the | shape of the performance of “The I Red Widow,” a play entirely new here, but which lias been singularly succesful throughout Australasia. It is said that to entirely enter into the spirit of the piece, one must forget the abnormal conditions prevailing in Russia to-day, the revolution —and its aftermath —which has thrown the whole country into chaos. The fact that the great White Czar is no longer a power that counts. One must settle back to the pre-war clays, in which the plav is laid (1903) when St. Petersburgh was still St. Petersburg, when Nihilism' was .still Nihilism, and Siberia loomed dark and threatening as the destination of those who transgressed the law of the land. It will perhaps not be difficult to adjust the mental focus, in view of the recent tragic happenings, to the merriment of a play that is said to contain, besides much humor, a certain thrill, hut having done so the right setting and the gorgeous frocking, the undoubted beauty and majesty of the scene, will bold undivided attention. rr ke play has proved a big success everywhere. A lengthy cast includes Mr Phil Smith, Mr Reginald Roberts, Mr John Ralston, Mr Cyril Richards. Misses Gladys Mondrieff, Miss Nesta Barry Miss Addie Lennarcl and Miss IJoience Young. The Box Plans are now open at Miller's.