"IOLANTHE"

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LII, Issue 16211, 8 December 1926, Page 5

"IOLANTHE"

DELIGHTFUL FAIRY OPERA

Although Hearing the end of their Gisborne "season, the .1. C. Williamson Gilbert and Sullivan Operatic Cump<ry drew another largo attendan e at the Opera House last evening, when they presented tho charming play "lolanthe. ' A comic opera of a typo ditferont from that presented on the preceding nights, "lolanthe" provided ample score for the artists to display their ability, and although a fairy play, it possesses irresistible charm for old and young alike; moreover, it has just that spice of delicate humor which "makes" a comic opera. "lolanthe'' includes vocal item* of particular merit, and in every instance the renditions were delightful. The first act opens in Al'cady, where tho fairies have assembled round their Queen to implore pardon for lolanthe, 'who has .committed the crime of marrying a mortal. On being pardoned, lolanthe tolls the fairies that she has a son named Strephon, who is half fairy and half mortal. The play then deals with the misfortunes of Strephon, and the complications which arise over hvs love for Phyllis, the pretty shepherdess, who i 3 a ward in Chancery. Act J. is played in tho Houseg of Parliament, where Strephon and Phyllis go to beg the Chancellor for consent to their marriage. lolanthe then appears and reveals the fact that the Chancellor is the mortal whom she married; this, of course, alter.-, matters, and the play ends most happily. Eifie Armstrong as lolanthe, W mil red Williamson as the Fairy Queen, and Lilian Chrisp as Phyllis gave meritorious portrayals of difficult parts, and the vocal attainments of all three carried the house bv storm. Lilian Chrisp was well supported by Lance Fairfax as Strephon, half fairy, half mortal, who played opposite her in tho love story; they were in splendid sympathy one with the other, and gave good renditions of a number of duets, particularly noteworthy amongst which was "None Shall Us Bart. As usual, most of the humor of tho play was left in the hands of Charles A. Walcnn, who gave an outstanding performance in the role of Lord Chancellor. There were numerous charming choruses, and the work of tho company m this direction was excellent, while the proho«,tijl accompaniments and overtures left. not-Q----ine to bo desired. ~,,.,. n To-night the company will bid farewell to Gisborne, and w«J play the orerpopular comic opera "fI.M.S. *****"> preceded bv "Trial by Jury. ™" Sain there will be a score of musical nun Ee both dramatic and humorous a , 1 the presentation of tho play promises h, make to-night one of Die most «w-j cessful of the season.