PRINCESS THEATRE. "THE GEISHA."

Otago Witness, Issue 2399, 22 February 1900, Page 51

PRINCESS THEATRE. "THE GEIS HA."

Not for years has airy musical production been so much talked about before we have had an opportunity of seeing it here as " The G-eisha " has been. It is nearly two years since it was first presented in Australia, and ever since then theatre-goers in this city have been looking foiward to its being played here. At last, thanks to the enterprise of Mr Pollard in making the necessary airangements with the holders of the colonial rights, we have seen it. When expectation is pitched high concerning a piece it frequently happens that its production arouses a feeling of disappointment, and one of the impressions that one carries away from witnessing a first representation of " The Geisha " is that of the slightness of the piece and of the tenuity of the plot. That is not, however, a fatal defect. If it were regarded as such there is hardly one of the Gilbert and Sullivan operas that would not be liable to condemnation. On the other hand, the music of "' The Geisha " is exceedingly pretty and quaint, the action is brisk, there is a constant movement and an abundance of colour that is pleasing to the eye, the diessing is excellent, and the scenery is quite admirable. The ear is charmed and the eye is feasted. The entertainment in which these conditions are fulfilled cannot be other than enjoyable. And thai the overflowing house, standing- room bemg at a premium, with which Mr Pollard's Opera Company was greeted on Thmsday night when it introduced '" The Geisha " to the notice of the Dunedin public, found in the opera a n csi enjoyable production was freely evidenced b/ the reception that was given to it. A great deal of interest attached to the performance as well from the first sppeaiance here of several new artists as from the production of the piece itself. Unfortunately the new members o f ihe company appeared under disadvantageous ciitiimstanoes. Mi=s Florence Perry, who filled a principal role, to impersonate- which she was engaged in England by Messrs Williamson and Mu&giove, was suffering from a relaxed throat, but tins did not prevent her from creating a- strongly favourable vnirjre'sion ; and Mr William Pauii, the English banlone, was similaily affected, with the result that in his case the audience was deprived from hearing him sing his solos. Mi*s Beatrice Perry and Miss Jennie Opie, on the other hand, had small parts only to play, and neither had any singing to do. Taken all round, however, the manner in which the opeia was presented left nothing to be desired beyond the fact that Miss Florence Periy and Air Paull were unable to do themselves full jii; fc.ee. Nevertheless, Mfs Perry acted archly and chaimingly ia the part ol 0 Mimosa San, the chief ol the geishas, and in her singing she delighted the house. Her voice is sweet and flexible, but' not over-powerful, and she employs it very effectively. Nearly all her numbers wore redeinanded, and the audience was especially pleased with " The amorous goldfinch.' a delightful melody, and " The jewel of Asia," for each of which, as well as for " The Geisha's life," she had to concede an encore. Miss Pciry's admnable art had much to do also with the great success of the kissing duet will] Mr Paull, m which both sang effectively. Mr Paull, who has a commanding stage presence, also took pait in the capital "" Toy " duet (redeinanded) with Miss May Beatty, and an encore was secured for his rendering of a song in appreciation of the British seaman, but his throat affection precluded him fiom singing more than a verse of '■ Star of my soul," a fine ballad which occurs in the second act. Under the circumstances, he was unable to leally display his vocal abilities. Miss May Beatty, in the pait of a vivacious English girl, was vivacity itself. Always brierlit, &he made a great deal of the part, and as usual she sang very prettily. The " Toy " duet has already been referred 10, and her solos " Chow kina," *' The interfering parrot," and " Poor little maiden " were rendered quite captivatmgly. " The interfering parrot " was tho most successful of these, and so effectively did she give it that the audience would not be content with less than a double encore, The comic relief was almost entirely in the hands of Mr Percy, who worked exceedingly hard, skipping and dancing on and off the stago, and with excellent results. The part of Wun-hi is largely nonsense, but its absurdities and its whimsical " derangement of epithets " kept the audience completely amused. His solo, " Ching, Ching, Chinaman, ' supplemented by a giotesque dance, was enthusiastically received, and a double encore had to be granted ; and another veiy successful item was the duet " Chmg-armg-aree " wilh Miss Campion, who was fortunate in being cast as a French girl — a class of character of which she is a particularly happy exponent. Mis's Jennie Opio, who has an excellent stage presence, was one of a quintette of English ladies, but unfortunately she had no solo to Sing, and this was doubly regiettable, as she is reputedly the owner of an excellent contralto voice. Of the other characters, the only one that looms to any extent m the production is that of the Marquis of Imari, a Japanese potentate, satisfactorily played by Mr Stephens. Hie remaining membeis of the company need not be particularised. All of them did well. The orchestra, which is now under Mr Arthur King, did capital service, and the completeness of the production was gained by the use of some excellent scenery, the set in the last act, representing a crysantheimim fete in Japan, was especially admired. The scenes were from the- brushes of the late Mr George Gordon and Mr John Gordon, and the secondact set was one of the best works to which the late Mr Gordon gave his attention.