“FRASQUITA” TO BE STAGED TO-NIGHT.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18085, 19 February 1927, Page 6

“FRASQUITA” TO BE STAGED TO-NIGHT.

LEHAR’S TUNEFUL COMIC OPERA AT THEATRE ROYAL. To-night, at S o’clock, the curtain will rise on the first production in N>w Zealand and Australia of Franz Leliar’s gloriously tuneful comic opera, " Frasquita,” which will also be staged on .Monday and Tuesday nights next. The full rehearsal yesterday, which was conducted under the personal supervision of Nfr Charles A. lYenman, proved most successful, and a particularly smooth first night should happen this evening. The rehearsal disclosed the fact that an oustanding feature of the new opera will be the ballets and the dances, which were created and arranged by Miss Minnie Everett. The scenery and the gorgeous costumes are. other features of " Frasquita.” The box plans for this evening and for next Monday and Tuesday night will l»e on view until noon today at The Bristol Piano Company, and after that hour seats max - be reserved at the Theatre Royal Confect ionery Sliop. Tickets for the early door stalls and gallery may be purchased at Atkinson’s from nine o'clock this morning. The great care taken by Mr Wenman in his selection of the artists for the principal characters has had the desired effect, as each will be perfectly portrayed, and the music attached to the various roles will be sung - as Franz Lehar intended it to be. The Williamson management was fortunate in obtaining the services of Miss Marie Burke for the characters of Wtldflower and Ivatja, but it is anticipated that-this delightful singer and actress will achieve her best triumph in the role of Frasquita. Fortunately Miss Burke had a thorough training for grand opera, and as Franz Lehar’s musifc in his latest opera is of a higher standard than is usually heard in comic opera, Miss Bwkc's exquisite soprano voice will be heard at its best. Nil* Herbert Browne possesses a fine tenor voice, and he. too, will receive the necessary opportunities to display it in the music allotted the part of Arm and. It is said that his duet with Miss Burke will prove a big attraction in the new opera. Those two sterling comedians, Messrs R. BarrettLennard and Cecil Kellaway, have been provided by the authors of "Frasquita” with an abundance of rich and. original comedy scenes and dialogue, all of which are part and parcel of the story itself, and the comedy element will prove another factor towards the triumph of the play. Dainty Thelma Burness has an excellent part in Dolly, and others who have congenial and important parts to portray are Miss Marie Eaton. Mr Noel Dainton, and Mr Frank Hawthorn*'. “Frasquita” is packed with dramatic, comic and romantic musical numbers, from among which the following are likeiv to prove exceptionally popular:— “ You Will Love Me. N<> Doubt. Cell Me What Love Is.” “Somewhere in Smokeland,” " Valse Bspagno,” " Maiden, Maiden, If You Want a Man," "The Return of Hie Legion." "The Love Spell.” “ Tin So Popular.” and " Hush, Dear.” Owing to the brevity of the tour, only the three representations can bo staged of “Frasquita” in Christchurch. On Wednesday the company will leave for Timaru and Dunedin. Afterwards “Frasquita” will be staged at Wellington and Auckland, and the company will then return to Sydney, where the' initial Australian production of Franz Lehar’s opera will be staged on April 2. The management is confident tii at “Frasquita” will surpass the triumph won by “The 'Merry Widow” and “The Maid of the Mountains."