"CINDERELLA."

Marlborough Express, Volume LIV, Issue 185, 6 August 1920, Page 5

"CINDERELLA."

WllWfaw CONVENT? GHILx,>REN IN OPERA.

An audience that packed - 1S : Majesty's Theatre in every pan, witnessed the production of the pretty children's opera "Cinderella" last night. Miss Fanny Langley, the musical directress, had the assistance of Mr C Cimino's Soldiers' Orchestra, and many appreciative comments were passed on their playing throughout the evening. There are many musical settings of this evergreen fairy tale, and last night's production did not follow any particular composition, but was a combination of three or more, the eyes, as it were, being picked out of the best of them. The result was a showy, bright, and sparkling production, with every item, choral, concerted, or solo, well within the scope of the youthful voices. The judicious selection of choruses was manifested in the finished manner in which the choir—all girls by the way—attacked their work. The choruses were all sweetly sung, and a fair amount of volume was obtained, especially in "Hail to our Prince," and the finale. The children were well trained, a feature of this department of the opera being the orderly grouping and marching, the pretty and rich-look-ing dresses giving a kaleidoscopic effect to the ensemble. The appearance of the fairy ballet caused an admiring outburst from the audience, who were quite taken with the tiny little mites. They danced gracefully, and a number of them sang sweetly and distinctly short solos necessary to the action of the piece, but which usually are spoken lines. The manipulation of the spot light evidently was in the hands of an expert, who made a judicious, use of this aid to color effect. Taking the principals in their order on the programme, Miss Gleeson was the Baron. She made a god deal out of the character, speaking her lines distinctly and singing tunefully. Papa's lesson in deportment with its accompanying song, "When tt> the Prince you are presented," was quite good in its way, and Miss Gleeson also scored in "I will be master." Miss Ev. Barry, as the Baroness, had not much to do in a musical sense, but she was" quite the character of an overbearing, self-centred stepmother. Her acting, quiet and forcible, was one of the best things •of the night, "although not obtrusive. The Prince was in the capable hands of Miss J. Noble-Adams. She was a graceful Royalty and all her work was tastefully done. She also spoke her linos distinctly. Miss V. Revell was the "Cinderella" of the piece, and from the outset she pleased* the audience. She has a pure, 'sweet voice and sings beautifully in tune, without any distressful breaking on the upper notes. She was, in- fact, a soprano- artist in miniature. Her acting also showed no gaucheries. She knew how to control her hands and feet. Her best work was in the solos, "I have no dress" and "Oh, -weve I a lady," and the duet "When darkness veils." This latter was a splendid effort. Misses M. Ball and E. Mulloy were the heartless and selfish stepsisters, and they had a good deal to do and did it well. Miss Ball, in particular, has a voice that may bo heard of in future. Both sang well and gave a most creditable interpretation of the characters. Their due.t "At the Prince's ball to-night" would have earned for them an encore, but for the reason that apparently encores were .barred. Miss Nola Hammond made a splendid Fairy Queen. She chawed plenty of confidence in herself, and showed possession of an alto voice of great promise. Her songs, "Cinderella ' shall pc tc tlie ball" and "Go forth in beauty," were among the gems of , ' the evening, and her work all , through was good. Her solo dancing was fairy-like and earned for her a hearty round of app-"\use. Miss Burden, as the Herald, gives the key tr> the story, and she spoke her linei. so that everyone in the audience could hear them. She had evidently grasped the importance of her part in the production. During the action of the opera two old-fashioned dances were given, a graceful minuet to the music of "The Spinnet," and .the Casilda gavotte from "The Gondoliers." Both were prettily performed. ' ;__ At the conclusion of the opera, ,Mr L. Griffiths announced that it would be repeated on Monday evening, to assist in the campaign inaugurated by the Waterlea Park Committee. 'The curtain rose again, after the finale of "Cinderella," to a very pretty scene. The stage had been transformed into a throne-room, and the Cinderella Court were gathered round a throne raised upon a dais. From the body of the theatre came a procession of gaily-attired courtiers, in the midst of whom walked in reo-al splendor Miss K. Barry, who recently was elected by popular vote Queen of the Marlborough schools. The function had been well arranged and rehearsed, and went off without a hitch. The Queen, dressed in some shimmering silk creation, with flowin o- golden train, looked every inch a queen, and she kept her stately mien throughout the trying ordeal. She received something of an ovation when the ceremony of her crowning had been consummated.