HIS MAJESTY'S THEATRE.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19785, 10 May 1926, Page 7

HIS MAJESTY'S THEATRE.

MUSICAL COMEDY “ PRIMROSE,” A COLOURFUL PRODUCTION. There is no more attractive form of amusement at the present time than musicai comedy, which has practically superseJeci comic opera during recent years. Though the two are fairly nearly related, the former is of a more fnvolou s type than the latter. , "Primrose'’ consists of three acts ot mirth and music, and is the production of George Grossinith, Guy Bolton, Desmond Carter, and George Gershwin, the lastnamed being the composer of some very charming music. Here it may be said that the music of a musical comedy is not always musical- That musical comedy of * good type represents a safe investment trom a financial point of view was demonstrated on Saturday night, when a company, under the tegis of Messrs J. C. Williamson. Ltd. placed ••Primrose before the public for the first time. Musical comedies as a rule cannot lay claim to more than one or two compositions that would prove universally attractive, but that feature has been pretty well excluded from the music of "Primrose.” Some of the numbers are better than others, but they are to all intents and purposes all elevated above what is ordinarily heard on the stage in productions of the kind under notice. It would bo difficult to find a prettier ballad than "AH Alone, sung by Miss Hicklin with excellent effect m the second act. But "All Alone is not all alone, for there are many other attractive airs in the comedy, and even the humorous Jingles sung by other members of the company are well able to hold their own in their particular class. Some of thorn, indeed, are irresistibly amusing. Of story there is not much. Love and jealousy bring about certain denouements and very nearly separate a loving couple, who give a very satisfactory exposition of the saying that love is blind. An old gentleman of the irascible school is bent on marrying his ward Joan (Primrose) to his son Freddie, one of those stage youths in “plus fours," beneath which appear a pair of stockings of marvellous pattern. Eliminating what covers the remaining part his actual body, and coming to his head, nothing remains to be said, because out of nothing can come nothing. Freddie is, however, perfectly good-natured, if he is rather a weak type. Joan meets, a novelist named Vane, and it is a case of love at first fight. How it is they cannot see the condition of each other’s heart is surprising, and it is Just here that the poetic statement that love is blind applies. They are, however, soon making the present-nay rapid progress towards a complete understanding when the young lady discovers another young person (who follows the calling of those who attempt to paint the lily—that is to say, with cosmetics) being hold in the tight embraces of her hero The reason for this is that the damsel who beautifies her own sex by artifice has, like Mrs Bardell in “Pickvyick, ’ been seized with an imaginary fainting fit when the right time came. It has to be admitted that the novelist did hold Pinkie sufficiently tightly to arouse the jealousy of any woman, but matters' have got to be made very plain to a fair proportion of an audience, and it would not have done for the situation to have missed fire. Primrose becomes affianced to Freddie at this unfortunate development in the couples budding love, and it takes some trouble to bring about the reconci .iation which is eventually effected- . • ' The staging of the comedy is all that could be looked for. The costumes are handsome in design, and there is a harmonious blending of rich colour whenever there is an ensemble. Of course, the dressing is on the usual lines —not necessarily for the sake of economy. The ladies of the ballet and chorus present a very attractive spectacle, and dance well and gracefully. The beauty of the opening scene could not fail to strike the observant. The background represented a lake, the back of the stage a landing place for pleasure boats and barges, while the stage itself included the residence of Sir Benjamin Falls (the irascible old gentleman before mentioned) on the one side, and a houseboat on the other. The picture presented was greatly added to by the passing of pleasure craft, notably when a brilliantly-lighted barge containing about a dozen persons slowly crossed the back of the stage, and afterwards reappeared in the middle of the lake. The spectacular effect was extremely fine. This was, however, only one instance where the stage mechanician was prominently and sucessfully in evidence. The lighting of the stage throughout the evening was brilliant, and in the last act some marvellous results were obtained. The-act was really exclusively for the purpose of introducing some statuesque posing and dancing, the reconciliation of the lovers being presented in very brief form. The principal scene was the Vatixhall Night Club, but before this was presented, Mr Fred Mackay, Miss Mavis Sayer (premier dancer). Misses May .Harris and Rene Murphy appeared in tlie Fawn’ ballet, which opened with some very artistic posing, and finished with some exceptionally fine dancing on the part of the four principals, assisted by the Corps de Ballet. Later some curious and unique results were obtained, presumably through the medium of the lighting. In one instance a company of about 20 persons clad in white engaged in singing and dancing, and by the manipulation of th- spotlight the whole complexion of matters was changed. Those engaged in the jollification were no longer white in face or in apparel. They had been converted for the time being into a party of negroes having a merry time a la the old plantation. Then came the Night Club, and the reconciliation of the lovers during what appeared to be a fancy dress ball.

Much of the success of the comedy depends upon who lakes the part of Toby Meopham, the son of Lady Sophia Meopham. The part was played by Mr George Gee and it could scarcely have been placed in better hands. Seldom off the stage for long, he was the chief creator of the fun which flowed with very little interruption during the whole of the evening. An intensely funny scene in which Mr Gee was the centre was where Toby, who is always hard up, is struck with a brilliant idea as to how to make money. The scene is the Hotel Splendide, and perched on a chair he invites bets as to the kind of hat the first person to enter would wear. There \vas a ready response. The specially amusing portion is where Mr Gee stoops to communicate. to a small French clerk in laboured and questionable French, the nature of the bet. The point of the joke is that he has arranged with a waiting man who wears a fez to enter nt a signal from him and. of course, no one has backed a fez. Mr Gee was also very amusing as the Professor in spiritualistic manifestations; as the elderly “Phyllis,” and in other instances. He had a great deal to do and did it all well, in addition to singing all his comic ditties to the entire satisfaction of his audience. Next to Mr Gee in providing humour, according to opportunity, came Mr Hugh Steyne in the part of Freddie Falls. Mr Steyne contributed very extensively to the merriment of the evening, and made the most of his opportunities. He was very amusing in the duet with'Mr Gee, '“Mary Queen of Scots,” and also in a most laughable scene in which throe of the company are engaged on the problem as to who shall bo called from the spirit world Mr Jack Cannot was cast ns a chauffeur, and was amusing in all he did. Mr Leyland Hodgson played the part of Hilary Vane, the novelist, commendnbly. He sang his music satisfactorily and his vo’ce blended welt with that of Miss Margery 11 iclt 1 i 11 . Miss Hicklin, in the chief feminine role, that of Joan (Primrose) sang exceedingly well ; more especially outside anything with an element of comedy about it. Perhaps a little more vivacity might have improved the part. Miss Hicklin had to do some dancing on the course of the comedy, and was not always conspicuously successful in this direction. A great deal of praise lias to ho given to Miss Dorothy T.ena for her clever impersonation of Pinkie Peach (Mdme. Frazeline). She was as lively nnrl vivneious ns could bo desired, but owimr to her sufferin'? from a cold, ber g was open to improvement at tiniess. Miss Lena bad a ratber heavy part to fdl and was one of one of the most supce c;i f ,, l member of the conmnny appearing. Mr Tinny Wofton. n« Sbr Fernando Falls, rdavrd fbe old man yi-b (bo irritable disnosifien, vorv well. Tb rt remaining '•baraHer* wore «ma!l, and r.ll were satisfactorily presented Patrons will be afforded a further onpnvt’inity of witnessing “Primrose” this evening.