HIS MAJESTY’S THEATRE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21598, 19 March 1932, Page 16

HIS MAJESTY’S THEATRE

GILBERT AND SULLIVAN OPERAS ’ Playgoers are looking forward eagerly , to the approaching season of the Gilbert and Sullivan operas, which will bo inaugurated on Saturday night next by J. C. Williamson's new company in a ■; ■brilliant production of everybody’* favourite opera, “ The Gondoliers.” -The: box plan will be opened for the whqle |f season ; inbrning next. The company, which includes a number of artists who have never, previously a'p- \ peared in New Zealand, some of' them hailing from the D’Oyly Carte London Company, is said , to comprise the strongest aggregation of comic opera artists which has presented the works of Gilbert and Sullivan to playgoers of Australia and’New Zealand. It was in “The Gondoliers ” that the company made its initial appearance in Sydney, and the critics and playgoers alike agreed that, never before had this delightful opera , been sung, acted and danced to better advantage. Ivan Menzies, the' principal comedian of the ; company,' achieved an outstanding triumph, in Australia in the role of the whimsical Duke of Plaza Toro, and Miss Evelyn Gardiner, as,the Duchess, sang her way into the hearts of playgoers at the first, performance. Gregory Stroud, as .Guiseppe, will appear in a part in which he has delighted London audiences on numerous occasions, and Mr Leo Darnton is said to have achieved his best success as Marco."’ His singing of “Take a Pair of Sparkling".Eyes” is a feature of. the production. Miss Marie Brexnner,. who is well known to theatregoers, toy her . excellent portrayal of the part of Gianetta in Sydney gave further proof of the fact that she is one of the most talented singers and artists the ■ Australian stage has produced. Miss Mary Hotham and Miss Maine Ramsay, vtwo Melbourne _ Conservatorium students, have good singing parts in Tessa and Casilda,. and Mr John Ralston will repeat his successful • impersonation of the Grand Inquisitor. ,Mr Bernard Manning will give an excellent rendering of Luiz. A feature of all the operas is’ this toutstanding work of the grand operatic. chorus and the y ballet. A full orchestra of specially.-', selected players will be under the baton of Gustave Slapoffski, “ The Gondoliers ” will be presented on Saturday and Monday afternoop and evening. “ The Mikado” will follow bn Tuesday and Wednesday. “lolanthe,” “ Yeoman of the Guard,” • “ The Pirates,” " Pinafore” and “Patience,” will be stagedin the order named. 1 • ;