GILBERT AND SULLIVAN OPERA

New Zealand Times, Volume LIII, Issue 12549, 11 September 1926, Page 13

GILBERT AND SULLIVAN OPERA

The J. C. Williamson, Ltd., Gilbert and Sullivan Coniio Opera Company succeeded in breaking all known records during their Auckland season. A queue was formed four days beforo the season started, and it was never broken during the whole of the three weeks run of the company there. No particular partiality waa shown by playgoers for any particular opera, as the house was packed to its capacity on every occasion. • • • •

During tho coming Wellington season, which begins on Saturday, September 3hth» tho company will stage “Xiio Gon-

doliere,” “The Yeomen of the Guard,” “The Pirates of Penzance,” “The Mikado," "H.M.S. Pinafore," “lolanthe," and "Princess Ida.” Features of all the operas is the work of a magnificent, chorus, which' is under the baton of Gustave Slapoffski. A full operatic orchestra also travels with the -company. All the productions will he staged with aaw and magnificent scenery and costumes. The operas were produced by Miss Minnie Everett. • • •

Included among the 80 members of the J. C. Williamson, Ltd., specially organised Gilbert and Sullivan Comic Opera Company are some of London's best known and most popular Gilbert and Sullivan artists, including Miss Winifred Williamson (contralto), who has made her name in the role of Katisba, the Duchess of Flaza-Toro, the Fairy Queen and Buttercup; Mr Sydney Granville, whose characterisations of the Inquisitor, the Sergeant of Police, etc., etc., have made him famous in London; Mr Leo Darnton is a brillaiant tenor, and Mr Bernard Manning and other well-known English artists. Playgoers will be glad to welcome that popuiiiiiiiiiiiiimimiiiimiiimiiiiiimiiiiiiiiiii

lar comedian, Charlie Walenn, and James Hay, whose brilliant rendering of "Take a Pair of Sparkling Eyes” is still lovingly remembered by playgoers. Miss StreJia Wilson is said to be the finest soprano that has appeared in Gilbert and Sullivan operas since the days of Miss Nellie Stewart and Violet Varley. Miss Patti Russell and Miss Mabel Gibson are other artists well spoken of. Mr Lance Fairfax, a Wellington boy, has achieved a great triumph as Giuseppe in “The Gondoliers.” ossa Margery Hieklin, leading lady with the "TeO Me More” Company at Melbourne, Bis Majesty's, who has been gathering material for a series' of short stories ebon? Australia, to be published when she returns to England, has commenced work ott tlfe first of them, and spends her “waits” writing and polishing up what she has already written. Several of Miss Hicklin's relations are wellknown in Etaglish literary circles, and Miss Hioklin herself has considerable ability as a teller of stories, her characterisations being particularly clever.