STEPHENSON'S MUSICAL COMEDY COMPACT.

Otago Witness, Volume 14, Issue 2648, 14 December 1904, Page 61

STEPHENSON'S MUSICAL COMEDY COMPACT.

A very decided change of programme was piesentecJ at the Princess Theatre on Saturday evening by Mr Stephenson's Musical Comedy Company Hitherto Mr Stephenson's company ha% r e presented a musical comedy which in itself cor'stitutes tbo entire evening's entertainment. On Saturday evening they made a departure from this, and gave a performance which, though of a very mixed character, was nevertheless very entertaining ; in fact, it was probably more enjoyable to the majority than anything the company has done since they produced the initial piece of the season. It had the effect of bringing to light the fact that there is included in ths company a ntumber of very capable singers. A good voice is a very good stock-in-trade to start with, and many who sing in. public, unfortunately for their audiences, start without it; Lut it is easily understood that in the musical comedy business very many other talents aro indispensable, and are of even more consideration than good vocal ability. The rmccessfitl performance of the large majt-rity of leading parts in musical comedy, it will be readily admitted, depends mxieh more upon the comedian element than it ever does upon an ability to sing, and it is not therefore surprising to find in the chorus of companies like Mr Stephenson's balladists of as good, and even better, qualifications than many of those who appear as principals in musical comedy. The result of such a condition of thing's is that where a musical comedy company elects to give a programme of ballad music an audience may T>e> pretty confident they will be treated to something very much above the average concert programme. Of course this- is no infallible rule, but it will be found to be the invariable experience. Saturday evening's programme was decidedly a concert programme, into which was introduced a couple of short, clever farces. Mr Mark Phillips, whose singing, it is believed has been heard before in Dunedin, opened with " Queen of the earth " an-d " Asleep on the deep," both of which were capitally sung, Mi- Phillips being effectively assisted by a chorus. Miss Mabel % Morgan was quite as successful in her singing of " Manul-etia " and "Sweet rose," both Mr Phillips and herself meeting with hearty applause. Messrs M'Naughton Lissant, Misses Nixon and Page then placed before the audience a short, but very amusing, and well acted farce entitled " None but the Brave."' The two gentlemen represent rivals for civic honours and rivals fcr-the affections of Annabel (Miss Nixon). Both are excessively frightened of, each other — the one just managing to capture the seat in the town council ami the affections of Miss Annabel by, with nrach trepidation, pulling ths nose of the other. Tlie concert part of the programme was continued by Miss May Garstang. Mr Edward Lauri, Miss Volet Somerset, the Bovis Brothers, Miss Alice Nixon, Mr Fred Twiteheu and Miss May Bseatty. The capacity of most of these to entertain is well known, and has before been frequently referred to. Miss Somerset does not, however, usually appear as a soloist, and it is therefore only fair to specially mention her as contributing two songs — " Beyond " and '" Little silver ring "" — very acceptably indeed. The turn given by the Bovis Brothers could not be strictly termed musical, though it has been included in the definition concert programme, but it was intensely amusing and caused uncontrollable laughter. Mr Twitohen was once or twice inclined io wander from the strict key of his music, but his songs, like the others, found much favour with the audience. *•' The Duel in the Snow," described as a serio-comic musical play, without words, was a really clever piece of work, and was performed by Messrs Lauri, M'Naughton, C. and W. Bovis-, Twitchen, Sydney, and Charlesworth, the only lady character being aesumedl by Miss G-arstang. It is really a burlesque m dumb show, illustrating a quarrel, over, of course, a lady, and consequent duel, and is remindful of a travestie on the " Corsieaii Brothers." Messrs Lauri and M'Naughton infused an- abundance of fun into the play, and were irrosistably mirthprovoking. The G-ibson girls gave an exhibition of acrobatic dancing very cleverly, and the singing of the sestette from " Luci di Laniniermore" completed an excellent inisc'ellr*,eous programme.