OPERA HOUSE.

NZ Truth, 4 January 1908, Page 6

OPERA HOUSE.

"Lady Madcap." The "Blue Moon," with all its Oriental charm; its' beautiful sceniery, its love-making and its- humor, was i withdrawn from the .Opera House boards on Wednesday last, ■ and on Thursday evening the delicious and. exhilarating musical comedy "Lady Madcap." went on the rampage, or at least started 6ut on a raz'zle that will last till further notice. Naturally, the house was crowded, and well pleased were the audience with the performance,, 'a sure criterion of its success, an indication, too, that the "Lady" will have Wellington at her. feet , every night of the season." It is not comic opera, it is more of a . burlesque, and that really explains what Mr , Williamson 'has presented us with. The Madcap, Mademoiselle is Lady Betty Claridge, daughter of the Marquis of Framlingham. Out for a frolic and mischief bent, the East •Anglian Hussars are entertained at the castle, all. of course, 'unknown to her- dad, who wants her to ' become tied up , to. some wealthy husband, and a millionaire is accordingly advertised for. One of the Hussars, a wealthy trooper, who scored -. three figures m a cricket match, strikes the damsel's fancy, and rigged out as a housemaid she sets out to snare the unsuspecting* Jolintrooper, who looks quite aghast when 'it is suggested that he should Tjecome butler. He does so unwillv ingly. He is a. faithful butler, pro. •tern. v - The millionaire comes j on the scjene and starts . proposing all round to : everybody but. the right . person. The" millionaire is recognised as a / crook and gambler. , .Things got .tied up^in all ways. Lady Betty, m masquerading as an officer of the Hdssars comes to grief and is.court>martialled by the cfther officers. Naturally, m thejkmg run, the "but- • !er" falls m love with the Madcap and everybody becomes happy ever afterwards. Miss Daisie Wallace is fthe Madcap. / Bright Jand winsome, •with a style all her own, and none fthe less pleasing . tor v that, her characterisation is ■•■' faultless. Her ■ vocal numbers, "I Haven't any Patience with a Soldier," and "I'm a Little Maid," were rendered m an | inimitable manner, and the duet "The Two Graces," with Gwenny Holderi-i (Miss, Barber), was ■ sang faultlessly. Miss Dulcie Murphy, as the Madcap's maid, is another pleasin character, while ' Miss Celia Gb.iloni, as Mrs Lay ton, is not gdyen an opportunity of pleasing a Wellington audience with her sweet: notes. As Trooper Smyth, Mr Myles Clifton makes the hit* of the piece. He is . irresistibly, funny, the more ludicrous th« po^ition j ;th(? v mo):e tlever does h^s impersonation appear;' With Mr Victor Gouriet as Posh Jenkins and 'Harold Parkes, as Bill Stratford, ' providing much merriment, it can iruly be declared that right through the piece there is not' one dull moMrient; There are plenty of songs, the scenery is perfect and beautiful, the dresses charming and certainly expensive, and m fact nothing has fyaen- left undone to insure the success, Mr Williamson's efforts so eminently, deserve. "-Lady, Madcap" will run till further notice, and Wellington * theatre-goers should not miss the opportunity of witnessing a genuinely hilarious musical "comedy,,