“FLORODORA” COMIC OPERA

Taranaki Daily News, 31 March 1934, Page 2

“FLORODORA” COMIC OPERA

NEW PLYMOUTH PERFORMANCE. “Florodora” was a luxuriant isle of Arcadian happiness planted in the Philippines for the purpose of a musical comedy, a flower-covered, brightly,coloured place where they manufactured perfumes. To complete the illusion the creators filled the atmosphere with music of a light, delicate texture and tuneful. With such material the J. C. Williamson company provided several hours of pleasant entertainment in the New Plymouth Opera House on Thursday night. The story was as improbable as the story of any musical coniedy, but it served as a framework for humour, sons, choruses and ballets that constituted a relaxation from the realities of a work-a-day world. Cyrus Gilfain, the owner of the island, had just returned from Britain with his daughter after purchasing an ancestral Welsh castle, which he intended to commercialise as the English headquarters of his perfumery. Gilfain, an American, had by dishonest methods secured the island and its secret perfume recipe after the Spanish owner died, leaving his infant daughter Dolores. To guard the secret of his crime Gilfain wished to marry Dolores but, thanks to the comic opera fairy that sets everything right, he married' somebody else and restored Dolores her property, and she married someone else. Tuneful choruses and songs gave the company ample scope to show its worth. As Dolores the senorita so popular with the menfolk, Miss Romola Hansen sang the solo numbers “Silver Star of Love” and “Queen of the Philippines.” In addition her personality was enlisted to supplement the comedy of Tweedlepunch, notably in the Romeo and Juliet burlesque and “The Prapses” duet. Opposite her played Mr. Eric Bush as Frank Abercoed, manager for Gilfain and afterwards the penniless Lord Abercoed, onetime owner of Abercoed castle bought by Gilfain. Mr. Bush used a pleasing baritone for the singing of the haunting Dolores song, while Mr. Herbert Browne (Captain Donegal) sang attractively in the solos “My Maid” and “A Military Man.”

As Captain Donegal’s intended bride Miss Lois Green played the part of Angela Gilfain with amorous perfection. Blonde and very attractive in appearance, she made a most adoring partner to her tenor lover. Miss Green has a light voice, which she used pleasingly in her solo “The Fellow Who Might.” Miss Marie La Varre, as Lady Holyrood, was convincingly present as a titled lady who saw commercial possibilities in her social position. Her songs, “When I Leave the Town” and “Tact,” were appropriate to her part. Besides its lilting music, “Florodora” depends very largely on its humour to carry it through. In this department that old favourite Mr. Phil Smith always drew abundant laughter from the moment he made his entry via a cockle-shell sailing boat and announced himself as Professor Tweedlepunch, "phrenologist, hypnotist and palmist.” He was ably seconded by Mr. Don Nicol (Cyrus Gilfain), who sang the solo part of .“The Millionaire,” danced and was generally humorous. Mr. Oliver Peacock was the third comedian in the part of Leandro, the giant overseer.

Of the ballets and choruses the best was “Tell Me, Pretty Maiden,” in which si;: handsomely gowned girls were partnered with six silk-hatted men. There was a fascinating rhythm about the music and the dancing that did not fail to make this the outstanding number. The use of “Lily of Laguna” as an accompaniment for a ballet in Welsh costume seemed a somewhat strange introduction to “Florodora.”