“THE CABARET GIRL.”

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19038, 7 December 1923, Page 6

“THE CABARET GIRL.”

This evening will witness the final performance of ‘“The Cabaret Girl,” the musical comedy which is generally regarded as the best of its kind staged in Dunedin for many years. The music is deliciously tuneful, the comedy is of the screamingly humorous kind, the ballets are beautiful, the dresses gorgeous, and the dance of Mias Madge Elliott and Cyril Ritohards in the second act is one of its greatest features. Alfred Frith has his audience in screams of laughter the whole time he is on the stage, and ho is capably supported in the comedy scenes by Mr Cyril Ritohards. It is unfortu nate that “The Cabaret Giri” season cannot be extended, as it could easily run successfully throughout the stay of the J. C. Williamson (Ltd.) New Musical Comedy Company, which is unquestionably one of the strongest organisations which has yet visited Dunedin. LEADING ARTISTS. Mr Alfred Frith, the clever comedian of the J. C. Williamson (Ltd.) New Musical Comedy Company, chatting to a Times reporter yesterday, stated that he looked upon his visits to New Zealand in the light of a holiday, and the dominion has never disappointed him. Since the opening night in Wellington, in the early part of November, Mr Frith has enjoyed every minute of his tour. The popular comedian is an enthusiastic goiter, and he makes almost daily visits to the various links, to which the members of tho company have been made very welcome. Mr Frith returned from England only a few months ago. Ho undertook the trip to look up his relations and to enjoy a long holiday. He was offered several very lucrative engagements, but the desire to return to Australia, backed up by the offer from J. C. Williamson (Ltd.) of the highest salary ever paid to a musical comedy artist in this part of the world, made him turn down the English offers. At the termination of his present engagement with tha “firm,” which, by tho way, is a very extended one, Mr Frith has promised to accept an engagement in London. Asked which is his favourite part, Mr i" rit,i stated that he has no particular favourite, but he is quite happv as Mr Gripps in ‘‘The Cabaret Girl” and as Bi Bi St. Pol in ‘‘Kissing Time.” Air Frith is accompanied by his wife, who is also a principal member of the present company. Like Mr Frith, Miss Madge Elliott, the principal lady member of the J. C. Williamson (Ltd.) company, looks upon her visits to New Zealand as her yearly holiday, and to an interviewer yesterday she stated that she .dearly loved Dunedin because of the hospitality of its people and because she can enjoy the surf a t St. Clair. Miss Elhott always snakes her headquarters at St. Clair, which reminds her of her favourite resort in Sydney. Asked which is her favourite part, Miss Elliott declares strongly for "Ihe Cabaret Girl,” in which she has scored her greatest success to dale. Miss Elliott went on to sav that she and her comrades adore New Zealand, and she, and they are sorry that the centres are not large enough to permit of longer seasons. ’T 2-°hW just lifce .to spend two months at ot. Clair, for which I have always the very pleasantest memories.”

Mr Harold Pearce, who has made a successful debut in Dunedin as the princgi al baritone in “The Cabaret Girl/’ has always promised himself a visit to New Zealand, and he readily accepted the splendid offer made to him by the J. C. Williamson (Ltd.) management to leave his London engagement to come to Australia and New Zcaland. Mrs Pearce (Mabie Munro) is a New Zealander. She is the daughter of Mr G. &. Munro, who will be remembered as the director of the 1806 Christchurch Exhibition Mrs Pearce was born in Dunedin, so she is, naturally, sorry that the present season is such a brief one. Mr Pearce will make his final appearance here this evening, as he is not in the cast of “Kissing Time.’’ He is an enthusiastic golfer, and b e recently won the theatrical championship in Sydney

“KISSING TIME.’’ r. ol ! w & tarda y- and MoncJa >’ next the J. C. V\ tlliamson (Ltd.) company will stage tor the first time in Dunedin the exquisite and very humorous comic opera “Ki=sing lime,” which attracted record audiences in Christchurch recently. “Kissing Time’’ is a mirtnful opera, in which P. G. Wodehouse nad a main finger, is founded on a French p ay, and it is a succession of bright scenes, pleasant melodies, and bright humour. Essentially a war-time production, in its determined onslaught on dull care, it has the philosopher’s stone for changing all things into mirth, and if there remains .a frowning brow 10 minutes after curtain rise it will k®. a 1 Idtle short of a miracle. Mnd<m Elliott, ns chief enchantress, and cheerfully absurd Alfred Frith have the support of one of the best companies of singers dancers, and comedians the J. C. Williamson (Ltd) management has ever sent to Novv .Zealand. The story of “Kissing Time’’ is a merry muclde of mixed identities ’’ ahe scene is laid in France—to an Englishman the land of flirtation. A critic \vfio saw the London production of “Kissing lime’ declared recently in a Christchurch paper that Alfred Frith achieves as great a success as did Leslie Henson in the comedy part. “Apart from the good, dean comedy, ’ said the same critic, “the show has in abundance tuneful musical numbers which delight the ear and linger i n the memory. Indeed, the musical score of Kissing Time will bo sought after eagerly by very many who have enjoyed its melodies. It is human nature to recall only the pleasant memories. The producing dressing and orchestral work is just what overs of music expect from the J. C. Williamson (Ltd.) mangemeiit—the best—and in the case of ‘Kissing Time’ they are not disappointed. As an absolute antidote for workaday cares it can be strongly recommended. ’ Unfortunately, the brevity of the season will permit of only two performances of “Kissing Time’’ being staged, tor which tiie plans are now onen at. the Bristol.