J.C. WILLIAMSON OPERA COMPANY

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22391, 12 October 1934, Page 5

J.C. WILLIAMSON OPERA COMPANY

“THE DUBARRY” AND “WALTZES, FROM VIENNA” To-morrow night at His Majesty’s Theatre, beginning at 7.55, the J. C. Williamson, Ltd., management'will present for the first time to playgoers of Dunedin a gala performance of the gorgeously mounted musical play “The Dubarry,” which will introduce the brilliant London actress and singer, Miss Sylvia Welling, and a powerful supporting company of 120 artists. A large staff of mechanists and electricians from Australia have been busily engaged during the week preparing for to-morrow night’s production of “ The Dubarry.” Several structural alterations have had to be made to the theatre, and an amount of electrical appliances have been installed for the original lighting effects. Seats in central positions in the dress circle and reserved stalls for to-morrow night’s performance and for subsequent evenings may be selected from 9 o’clock this morning at the D.1.C., and tickets

for the ordinary stalls and pit may be purchased from 3 o’clock this afternoon at the JRialto confectionery shop. A matinee will be presented on Wednesday. During the season “Waltzes from Vienna” will also be staged, and a matinee will be given on Labour Day. Miss Sylvia Welling made a sensational triumph in London when she was called upon, at short notice, to play the leading role in “ The Dubarry.” Since then Miss Welling has appeared in a number of notable and successful productions, including “Waltzes from Vienna,” in which she has scored' one of her ; best triumphs.. She is said to be an aetress full of vitality. With her force and fire of personality she makes Dubarry something biger than the regular musical comedy heroine, and, one who might have captured the affection of a greater King than Louis XV. Her splendid soprano voice is, it is said, heard at its best in “I Give My Heart,” “Happy Little Jeanne,” and in the duet “ Without Your Love,” with her first lover, the poet) Eene. John Dudley, the now famous tenor singer, has a fine singing role as Rene Lavallery. His most impressive, number is “If I Am Dreaming,” one of the principal melodies, of the operetta to which a rich orchestral accompaniment is provided. Mr Dudley is also an accomplished actor. Comedy is one of the strong features of “ The Dubarry,” and Cecil Kellaway as an amorous Marquis creates much genuine laughter, and he has a good foil in Jean Gibson who, it is said, brings sparkling freshness to her acting and dancing. Miss Jean Duncan, Miss Lorna Forbes, Mr Eichard Parry (Louis XV), Lou Vernon,' Clifford Cowley, Hilton Porter, Les Donaghy, Douglas Herald and Cecil Pawley are others in the long cast. Miss Ivy Kirby’s dancing is an outstanding feature of the production of “The Dubarry.” The company includes a full grand opera chorus and orchestra and a very talented ballet. The magnificent scenery and the gorgeous costumes, and the spectacular lighting effects are other features of “ The Dubarry.”