ENTERTAINMENTS

Taranaki Daily News, 23 March 1934, Page 7

ENTERTAINMENTS

WILLIAMSON OPERA CO. -MERRY WIDOW”; “FLORODORA.” “The Merry Widow,” to be staged at the New. Plymouth Opera House on Wednesday next, and “Florodora,” to be produced on Thursday evening by the J. C. Williamson, Ltd., New Musical Comedy Company, are included in those musical plays which have made fortunes for their authors, and although it is over 20 years since they were first staged they have retained their freshness and they are much more popular than the majority of the more recently created comic operas. Miss Romola Hansen, who will take the leading soprano role in both operas, comes of a musical family. Her father was the late Professor E. H. Hansen, at one time a teaching member of the staff at the Melbourne University Conservatorium. He was her only teacher in the art of singing. Her stage career began four years ago in the leading role in “Wildflower.” After a further success in “Katja,” her career was interrupted by a mishap in her last ride with the Melbourne Hounds, where the result of a fall kept her in bed for 12 months. She then went for a rest cure to England, and on her return to Australia was engaged by the J. C. Williamson, Ltd., management to play the leading roles in “The Desert Song,” “The New Moon” and “The Belle of New York,” in all of which she has appeared successfully in New Zealand. Both “The Merry Widow” and “Florodora” are brimming over with good.musical numbers, catchy melodies, excellent material for the comedians (Phil. Smith, Don Nicol and Marie La Varre) and they both lend themselves to picturesque stage settings, of which it is said the management has taken full advantage. Herbert Browne’s delightful tenor voice is heard to advantage in the two operas to be staged here, and Eric Bush, the brilliant young baritone, created a furore .in Wellington by his magnificent portrayal of the role of Prince Danilo. Miss Lois Green, a dainty young Australian soubrette, is one of the most popular members of the company, and other principal artists are Oliver Peacock, Stella Collier, Charles Albert, Mona Zeppel, Doris Hopkins, Dora Lightfoot and Leah Miller. The work of the full operatic chorus and orchestra is a feature of both “The Merry Widow” and “Florodora,” and so is that of the very talented ballet. Both operas are staged with new scenery, costumes and uniforms. The box plans will be opened at Collier’s on Monday morning next at 9 o’clock. A queue will be formed from 8 a.m. On Tuesday night next the company will appear in “The Merry Widow’’ at Hawera.