NEW COMIC OPERA COMPANY.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 10683, 1 February 1913, Page 6

NEW COMIC OPERA COMPANY.

"THE GIRL IN THE TRAIN." * _ Tlio season of the J. 0. Williamson New Comic Opera Company is scheduled to commence at the Theatre Royal on Monday week, and is to extend for fifteen nights. During this period a series of four musical olays will be given—" Nightbirde," " The Girl in the Train," ''Dorothy," and "The Cingalee." The first . two, the music of which is by Johann Strauss and Leo Fall respectively, will be seen for the first time here. By all accounts a real good time is in store for comic opera patrons, as the programme offered can hardly be surpassed in popularity or quality. " The Girl in the Train" is an established success, in fact, has been the big success for two whole seasons at the Lyric Theatre in London. It is said to be the quintessence of melody, and that in "The Girl in the Train" Dr Leo Fall has written the magnum opus of his harmonious career. " Nightbirds "is another light opera that has taken London, Paris and New York by storra. It is reputed to be real' comic opera, an adaptation from the German of " Die Fledormaus," and a rare work of beauty and masterly orchestration. There is little doubt that a revival of "Dorothy" will prove of vast interest. It is approaching a decade since the opera was given here, and its production will be for the rising generation a distinct attraction. When played here in 1905, "The Cingalee" was remarkably popular, and was voted one of the most tuneful of musical plays. It will have the distinction this time of having in the cast Miss Sybil Arundale, who will play her orignal part of Nanoya. The fact that the pieces will be interpreted by a company of remarkable strength both vocally and histrionically, should prove a big factor in their success. It is doubtful if a company including so many excellent artists has toured the dominion hitherto. Messrs W. S. Percy, Victor Prince, Reginald Roberts, Charles Albert, Edmund Sherras, Fred Winn and Misses Amy Murphy, Celia Ghiloni, Dorothy Brunton are all well-known artists. Miss Sybil Arundale, a loading light for several years at t-lie' Gaiety Theatre iri London, a comedienne, singer and dancer, will make her first appearance here. Mr Talleur Andrews, described as the best tenor that has yet appeared in comic opera, and Madame Vivian Talleur, a famous premiere danseuse from the Russian Imperial Opera House, St Petersburg, will also be seen here for the first time. The box plans for the entire season Avill be opened- at Milner and Thompson's on Thursday.