THE SIGHTS OF SYDNEY. By Cigarette. "THE GEISHA."

Otago Witness, Issue 2358, 4 May 1899, Page 58

THE SIGHTS OF SYDNEY.

By Cigarette. "THE GEISHA."

The secret of success in theatrical management as in most other matters is to know what will hit the public taste. This secret Messrs Williamson and Musgrove have mastered without doubt. '" The Geisha " being an example of their latest Sydney triumph. Doubtless you all know the music by heart, so a peep at the play itself, if only by proxy, will not be amiss. Come, then, with me to-night, and sojourn for a. few hours in the flowery land. You have only to step across the threshold of Her Majesty's theatre and there you are. The vestibule is transformed into a glowing patch of colour a promise of still brighter things to come. Hanging Chinese lanterns in quaint shapes throw a soft radiance over the brigjit screens and rugs which adorn the entrance. A flood of light pours out on to the pavement, and every passer-by pauses and looks for a moment into this glimpse of fairyland, the entrance to Japan. No wonder you are in a hurry to get upstairs and see what comes next. Although "The Geisha" has been running ever since February the theatre ii still crowded. Lady'Ranfurly is here with a, large party, and as this i=s the last week of the opera many have come to have a final peep ere the curtain falls on Japan. Perhaps' the great charm of "The Geisha"is its novelty. We have not as yet been surfeited with Japan, and the scenery even has special features of its own. The curtain rises "on a tea-house, of which Wun Hi (Lauri) is the proprietor. A more picturesque place it would be hard to find. A bridge crosses a winding river and ends at this Japanese paradise. The verandahs are smothered 'in wisteria ; rustic tables are scattered about ; and soft-eyed little houris in gorgeous Japanese silks nit about with cups of tea, and talk and sing artlessly to the English officers who strole in. " O Mimosa San" (Miss Florence Perry), the favourite singing girl, in fact the Geisha, then comes on tho scene, and pings "The Amorous Goldfish," and greatly delights a young English officer (Paull), who sits entranced. Some pretty love-making follows, and he instructs her in the art of kissing. Biit he is engaged to an English girl^ Molly Seamore (Dorothy Vane), who hoars of his infatuation for the Geisha, and presently arrives ut the tea-house to" see what ' is going on. Charming as is Florence Perry in the character of the Geisha, she is totally eclipsed by Dorothy Vane. There is :<. sprightliness about this little aclress that takes the house by storm. She runs in dragging a rickbhaw behind her, and her presence acts like a glass of champagne on each individual present. Paull and phe sing a pretty duet together, and he wheels her about in the rickshaw and protends tc upset her, and they both seem to be enjoying- Ahemselyes immensely. After the exit of Keginaicl Fairfax (Paull), dragging his fiancee out in the rickshaw we are introduced to the Marquis Truari (Vernon), who wishes to marry O Mimosa San, the Geisha, and threatens^ 'to cancel tho license of the tea-house if flic lcfuces. The Marquis, the chief of police, is a powerful man in the land, =o Wim Hi, tho Chinaman and proprietor of the tea-house, h " velly, velly sad " about it. Lauri, as the Chinaman, is the backbone of "The Gei?ha." Nobody ever saw a funny or witty Chinaman, so that he may really be said to have created the part. He jabbers away in quaint pigeon English, and makes absurd remarks, rings) and dances, and keeps everyone alive. Even the performers themselves never seem to know what ho. i 3 going to do next, and appear as much interested a3 the audience. Mrs Henry Bracy is excellent as the chaperone of the yachting party, of which Molly fteamore is a member. As Lady Constance Wynne she takes Reginald Fairfax to task fov^ his going-s on with O Miinopa San, the Geisha. Her cle;\r cm'iiei.ition i^ one of her greatest charms. Miss liose Musgrove-, too, as a French girl, Juliette Drainaut, is good. She makes up her mind to marry the Marquis, who has set his heart on the Geipha, and she does her part remarkably well. One cf the most fascinating scenes of ths play is the auction sale of tho tea-house and nil its contents hy order of the Marquis, who liiinks by thin mexns he will be able to purchase the Geisha. .Molly Seamore in a mad freak _ ho s dre-sfed up in a 'Kimona to play at being a Geisha, and she, too, is sold by auction. To show off her accomplishments ■the pings "Chow Kina," tho quaintest song of tho opera, which with its chcius has a re.'lly healhen'&li fround. The effect of " Chow Kina " on the M.irquis is f-uch a.i to cause him to bitl for the singer, so Molly finds herself ''cold" in her character of a Geisha and destined to be the bride of the Marquis in place of O Mimosa San.

Tho scene now changes, and we find ourpolves outride the palace of the Marquis?.- The Erit;li=h officers jmd Lady Constances Wynne with her parly of English giils uvo bidden aa giiec-ls to the wedding. Tho fcenery here, too, Id exquisite. Nothing i.s omitted to make everything as realistic as possible. The Marquis's chry&anthemum-bcd is gay with flowers, tho trees have assumed autumn tints, and leaves lie scattered about on the pathway. Amid these picturesque surroundings Dorothy \ ane, dressed for her wedding in a white satin Japanese costume, looks her best. Like a beam of sunshine .she dances about the boards singing "A -uoukcy on a Stick;" her soft golden hair (all her own) tos-sep up and clown all hanging loose" about her shoulders; the limelight follows her tripping in and out, and sliows her childlike face framed in its sunny lockp. A more fairy-liko, fascinating elf it would be hard to find. But she is not doomed to, be the bride of the Marquis, foi to tho great relief of her English friends the French girl reveale a plot which she has concocted whereby she herself will lake Molly's place and become the Marchioness. Thus Molly X restored to her English officer, and all ends well.

Perhaps the plot strikes you as thin, but if, is simply a peg to hang tho music on. The staging is magnificent, the dressing artistic in the extreme, and there is a spontai.eity about the whole performance that goes far towards making it a success. It is easy to imagine it a dead failure with a different caste of characters. Many people declare there is nothing in it ; nevertheless it is these airy trifles that hit the public taste. Theatregoers as a rule are not serious minded; they pay to be amused, and the more amusing a play is the oftener they will go to see it. Tho serious minded who sit through a whole performance with an air of martyrdom, who i.ever smile at a joke, and who analyse every sreech in hope of finding a double entendre— these are fortunately in the minority, and very likely would be happier in church or at a funeral than in the atmosphere of "The Geisha."

Glasgow charities will benefit by upwards of £50,000 by the will of Mr James On-, Harvieston .Castle, and of Blythswood, Glasgow.