COMIC OPERA SEASON

Otago Daily Times, Issue 17657, 21 June 1919, Page 10

COMIC OPERA SEASON

"MAYTIME." In' the mass of modern musical comedy, musical burlesque, and their various branches—generally having but little substantiability.—"Maytimo" mast be accorded a position very rarely reached in late years. It is distinctly superior to the ordinary run of musical plays in two most important respects—first, that there is a decidedly interesting and most attractive story told, and, second, the musio is unquestionably of the better order. The fact that "Maytimo" ranks anions the v.orv best works of its kind was fairly well known in Dunedin before its first presentation last evening in His Majesty's Theatre, and that is accountable to a great extent for the very full house that .assembled. Both the writer of the book and lyrics and the composer of the music—Rida Johnson Young and Sigmurid Romberg respectively—have produced something that will bear comparison with very much of what has been given to the world by persons of note engaged in the writing of comic opera, oven dating back many years. "Maytime" is a clever conception, and contains quite, an original idea, being evidently designed" to illustrate tho radical changes in the methods of lifo and habit within the last century. With this object in view, the opera has been divided into four acts covering a cortesponding number of periods, starting with 1840, when class distinction was very much more pronounced than now. Tho second act starts in 1855, the third in 1885, and the fourth and last in 1917; and the distictive styles, manners, methods of costumes of each period are very cleverly presented. There is one character—that of Matthew Van Zandt, who is a very gay young man in 1840, and who, even in his enfeebled condition in 1917, still has a strong jpredjlection for the fair sex. Notwithstanding his free and "fast" method of living, and the fact that when the curtain falls on tho last act, he has had three wives and is on the point of marrying his fourth, ho has reached the ago of 97 according to the rule of addition. His last venture in a matrimonial direction is a present-day young woman of bold v type. One amusing point brought out towards the close of the play is that, although such a "back number," he is still able to give some valuable hints to the smart young man of 1917. He is the only character that lasts the play through, and is probably the most interesting of them all. though ho does not always appear in a very favourable light. Incidentally, all the ladies to whom he gives his name are \'ery rich—a circumstance which' he mentions with airy lightness. "Maytime" is one of those rare plays that might bo entirely divested of music and would still bo well worth seeing. .Humour and pathos alternate, and the play is strong in both directions. The former is provided by several persons; the latter issues from a love that miscarries, and ends disastrously for the man and woman concerned. Some of the later scenes between this twain aro very aflecting. But "Maytime" is the reverse of dismal. It is very bright and lively, and its lightness is only intensified by the sad interludes between Richard Wayne (at first an apprentice, and later a very wealthy man —wealthy too late) and Ottille Van Zandt.- The music is exceedingly pretty, and as a class is much above the ordinary level. Included in it are a few comedy items, but as a rule it belongs to a different order. There is a capital gipsy song and a very pretty duet, "Wiill You tftc-Miembcr?'-' but these are only two of many good vocal items. There aro several exceedingly graceful ballets, in which a party of seven young ladies, with Miss Maie Baird at their head, take part. The dressing is quite a feature 'of the production, the different periods to be represented calling for an immense variety of female costume and male attire. So far as scenery is concerned both tho interiors and exteriors of the Van Zandt home, the Delphine Night Club, and the dressmaking establishment of Mdlle Brown are admirably placed before the spectators. Miss Gladys Moncrieff played Ottille, as a young girl, as a young married woman, as the old lady, and finally again as a young woman —a descendant of the original Ottille —most successfully. It was a test of her versatility to present in fairly rapid succession these various stages of life, and in no instance can it bo said that she failed. In addition Miss Moncrieff had to present the lively and the sad; appearing as she did as tho bright happy girl of 18, as tho unhappy and reckless woman, and as tho old lady bent with years and suffering. It was an exceedingly clever performance. Theso remarks apply largely to several other members of tho company. Mr Reginald Roberts, as Richard Wayne, was one of these, for Wayne is seen in the springtime of youth, the man whose hopes are all wrecked, and finally a man nearing tho end of life's journey; supplemented by a return to juvenility as Dicky Wayne, who, as a descendant of the Wayne family, marries Ottille, a daughter of the house of Van Zandt. Mr Roberts, like Miss Moncerifr, made the best of his parts, of which he gave a very satisfactory exposition. There was no better filled character than that of Matthew Van Zandt, in which Mr Lesb'e Holland had to cover a lot of ground. His was, however, a merry part, and even as the feeble old gentleman at the end, who easily succumbed to the wiles of the modern young lady of fast ways and flippant speech, this was maintained. These were the three principal characters, though Mr C. R.. Bantock, Miss Addie Lennard, Miss Eva Webber, Miss Percy Claridge, Miss QJive Godr win, Mr Jack Ralston, and Miss Maie Baird had some demands made upon them they readily met. >The remaining characters were of a minor kind, but manor though the part of Mr Hicks, the auctioneer, was Mr Phil Smith deserves special mention for the way he played it. Tho singing of Miss Moncrieff and Mr Roberts was generally admirable, and tho others to whom songs fell acquitted themselves quite satisfactorily. The orchestra lent valuable assistance throughout, and played the short overture, and the preludes to the various acts were commendable. Miss Florence Young was unable to appear last night, and her place was filled by Miss Lennard. Miss Young will appear to-night. "Maytime" will be again presented this c-vening.