“THE MERRY WIDOW”

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22204, 6 March 1934, Page 14

“THE MERRY WIDOW”

ROMOLA HANSEN AND HER GOWNS. A wife for only a week, and then a widow with her aged husband’s millions as her inheritance—such is the case of the merry widow in the popular and attractive musical comedy, “ The Merry Widow.” at present running at His Majesty’s Theatre. Brown-eyed, dark-haired, with a charm and witchery all her own, Romola Hansen is a delightful figure as she coquettes her way from heart to heart, her mind, however, really set on obtaining only one heart in return, that of Prince Danilo, who is so provokingly stubborn and perverse about her. She looks sweet enough to cause the sourest soul to succumb, but finds, when it comes to piercing her prince’s armour, that her femininity is a weak weapon! In the first act she is a lady in white—white lace gown with a square-cut neck and a train, white velvet coatee with large puffed sleeves above tight elbow cuffs, and huge upstanding white fur collar against which the tiara on her hair gleams and sparkles. How she revels in this gown which so well matches the mood of wit and sarcasm in which she finds herself under the prince’s influence! Cold and aloof, she is nevertheless piquant and desirable. (“ A very stimulating act! ” Miss Hansen says, describing it in her own words.) In Act II she is in Marsovian costume —black satin frock with a heavy gold embroidered hem, gold embroid-

ered loose, sleeveless jacket, gold chain girdle, and little gold lame hat with osprey feather—a hostess in her own arbour. Here are brightness, dash, and verve, mood ringing against mood, subtlety calling forth subtlety. How she teases! What a dance she leads him, that strong-willed Danilo who refuses to unbend to her! How she coaxes and allures in the evening light! Hut her prince is a man of mettle and will not be cajoled. (“ I revel in this act," Miss Hansen says. “It is such fun to play! ”) But in Act 111 the merry widow is merry with a difference. Under her laughter and gaiety a new note is detected. Is she not just a trifle anxious as she enters Maxim’s with its song and glitter? Is there not an under-current of tremulousness as she makes her final effort to break down the high-handed resistance of her prince? But, whether or not, she is more appealing than ever in this new mood, and, wearing a gown of gold lame so closely moulded to her slim form thht it seems to be part of her, she is Eve herself as she plays her last card.’ The music strikes up. It is a waits:. Strange, haunting melody—-it is “ The Merry Widow ” waltz itself. What will happen now? But, despite its unusual setting, the story is an old story from an old book, and when it ends, it ends on an old familiar note.

“It is a lovely piece to play in," Miss Hausen gays. “1 love it all! It has such power and character. And no matter if I am feeling tired—for the life

of an actress allows plenty of room for fatigue—as soon us 1 am made up in my part, and the music sounds, and 1 advance towards the stage—nothing matters but the piece itself, and the fact that I am a merry widow in love with a prince who disdains me because I have so much money! . “ And, no—l don't wear a merry widow hat. If you saw me in one, in the traditional black dress that goes with it, you would dislike it just as much as the company disliked it when I wore such an ensemble w’heu the piece was .first revived, It looks all wrong, so dark and sombre. Ahd. it feels, so depressing! So,' as we have modernised the wardrobe in other ways, we have modernised it ini that, and the merry widow hat baa no place in it. But it is not missed.” . I No. it is not missed. When one is young and pretty with charm and elegance to one’s credit, a merry widow hat even for a merry widow becomes t mere trifle! LEARN TO KNIT. Get “ Woolcraft,” which gives simple and practical instructions for making all, kinds of woollen garments men's, women’s, children’s. All beet-knhwn and new stitches explained; 98 garments illustrated. Send lOd stamps to Patous' and Baldwins, Ltd., Box 1441 P, Wellington.— Advt. ' ■’