ENTERTAINMENTS.

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XIII, Issue 301, 6 December 1923, Page 3

ENTERTAINMENTS.

“THE BEGGAR’S OPERA.” it has been well said that there is no other play in English of clear kin to •‘The Beggar’s Opera,” which is to be produced by J.. U. Williamson at the Hastings Alunicipal Theatre on Tuesday 4 December 11th. The central figure. Captain Alacheath, is a dashing, rascally fellow of tho Turpin type, who narrowly misses the rope, because ‘there must be a happy ending to the play,” whilst the others are more or less of like kidney. The one exception is Polly Peachum, whose love for the outlaw is a bright spot in the sordid tale. Polly’s father is a tricky old cutthroat, whose had points are only eclipsed by the doings of a wicked paramour. And all the friends and associates of the principals are cutpurses, footpads, fences, pimps, and ladies of the lower social order. Strange as it may appear, it is on this very material that a most charming play lias been written by John Gay. The lyrics are short, but the music is exquisite. The orchestra, unlike modern orchestras, comprises eight instrunents only, hut they are the instruments of 200 years ago in England, when the characters of the play lived and moved. Old English £ongs, many if them plaintive little melodies, and occasional rousing choruses, suggest that, 'after all. the bad old days had some “good old patches” that men of i.o-day would gladly participate in. Nowadays we have ceased to employ the old tunes in our dances, preferring the jazz, and have allowed them to be jostled aside in our concert rooms in favour of the modern group of discord makers. In “The Beggar’s Opera” the orchestra stimulate the eager curiosity of the hour, and the ear soon becomes accustomed to the absence of brass and cymbal, and admires the delicacy of the tone colour and beautiful accompaniment, in partial independence of singers. “The Beggar’s Opera” is produced by Air. George Highland. Air. Slapoffski has charge of the orchestra. The box plans open at Riddell’s on Friday.