HIS MAJESTY’S THEATRE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 18761, 15 January 1923, Page 7

HIS MAJESTY’S THEATRE

Another delightful performance of “ Johnny, Get Your Gun." was given by the Louis Dennison Company in Ills Majesty’s Then!re on Saturday night, in the presence of a largo audience. As in the opening presentation of the comedy-, all the members of l lie company made the most of their opportunities, with the result that (lie audience was thoroughly' well pleased. •‘THE GREAT LOVER.” This evening J. (’. Williamson will present. Louis Bennison and the specially organised company iu an entirely different play, writ!on by Leo Uitrichstoin and Frederic and Fanny Hatton, and entitled " Tho Great Lover," which was first produced in New York at tho Longacre Theatre in 1915. H has been extremely difficult for J. G. Williamson (Ltd.) to secure tho rights, but with the engagement, of Mr Bennison the authors were agreeable to it being produced in Australasia, and since its first presentation in Melbourne it is said (hat it is one of tho biggest successes known to (he firm. Dealing us it does with the lives of opera artists," it is of unusual interest, and the personality of Jean Paurel played by Louis Bennison bus much in common with the life of the late Enrico Caruso, and tho whole story is woven round tho operatic life of a. famous baritone at tho Gotham Opera House, which is a thinly-voiled replica of tho Now York Metropolitan. The loves and ambitions, the squabbles and petty jealousies of an opera company are faithfully depicted, and the volatile Paurel, with his outbursts of passion and his many love affairs, give Mr Bennison every opportunity of displaying Iris histrionic ability. 'There aro many unique situations in this play-, and the music, both vocal and instrumental. is a feature of tho production. “The Great Lover” will be presented this evening and to-morrow evening, and the box plans are at tho Bristol.