WILLIAMSON COMIC OPERA

Otago Daily Times, Issue 18322, 12 August 1921, Page 7

WILLIAMSON COMIC OPERA

GILBERT AND SULLIVAN Sfi4SO®fr To-m<?rrow night, at Hia MftleaHy'i Theatre, J. C. Williamson (Ltd.f wflf ‘botnb menee a seven nights’ season of coirifo : with “The Gondoliers.” Of the big ■'piibfia 1 interest m the coining J. C. Williamson re- , rivals of the Gilbert and Sullivan ooqija operas there can be no doubt. Writing Pf this fine organisation and the able interpretation of the operas, the critic of the Sydney Sun expresses his opinion as follows:—“The season of Gilbert and SuUivan ; opetfO has been fruitful in many things, .lit- hltf shown that there yet remains a laatge pnfafis for real comedy opera, with its nicelyturned witticisms and its delightful gearing of song garlands. Sullivan is out pf and- Gilbert's jokes are stale, declare the wise know-alls. Yet, after all these yea;* ‘ of hearing and rehearing Gilbert and Sulliuan, people continue to flock to retinal seasons, and no doubt for the great majority of those who have the musical eensb, even in a small degree, these operas remaiii de- * lightfully fresh. Perhaps they are all the . more appreciated because of sent musical comedy of the prb&ii&'oSj, > with its elaborate staging and 'sbecta&lte. jts absence of plot and story, broad comedy, and ifs glittering away* 3 ?® ditties—the ‘tunes,’ un blush in gly ouUpd from various sou foes,, that take the 'place of the real music of former days. ' For many tWs season has revived delightful memories. It has also served as an object lesson, showing us what amount of real talent we possess in stage vocalists. Young singers like Thelma Carter and Patti Russell have achieved remarkable success itt flte Gilbert and Sullivan roles. And' not be forgotten that these roleS'cafl'fSt the very highest histrionic abilities. ■ Nor should the experienced direction of Mr Slapoffski be left unrecognised.” “The Gondoliers” will be presented to-morrow and on Monday, and “The Mikado,” “Tlhe Yeomen of the Guard,” “lolanthe,” “Pirates of Penzance,” and “H.M.S. Pinafore” and “Trial by .Tury” each succeeding evening afterwards.