“IOLANTHE” TO-NIGHT.

Star (Christchurch), Volume XLIV, Issue 370, 11 March 1932, Page 3

“IOLANTHE” TO-NIGHT.

There was a large attendance at the Theatre Royal last night, when the final performance of " The Mikado ” was given. To-night and to-morrow afternoon and evening J. C. Williamson’s Gilbert and Sullivan company will present the very whimsical and very musical comic opera, “ lolanthe,” which many people declare is the best of the famous collaborators’ works. As a skit on the House of Lords, “ lolanthe ” still retains its interest for present-day audiences, and as a sarcastic commentary on all muddle-headed politicians whose interest in the country they govern is iimited to the jealous preservation of their own rights, it is as effective as at ihe first performance nearly fifty years ago. A critic in Sydney wrote the following:—“The outstanding success of ‘ lolanthe * is largely due to the very high quality and outstanding merit of the work of the principal artists, while the chorus are even more effective in • lolanthe ’ than in either of the first two operas staged.” Ivan Menzies will appear as the Lord Chancellor, Bernard Manning as Earl of Mounterarat, Leo Darnton as Earl Tololler, John Ralston as Private Willis, Gregory Stroud as Strephon, Mary Hotham as lolanthe, Evelyn Gardiner as the Fairy Queen and Marie Bremner as Phyllis. On Monday afternoon and evening ad Tuesday night “ The Pirates of Tendance,” preceded by “Trial T.y Judy,” will be revived, and on Wednesday ..-next and two following nights and Wednesday afternoon “ The Yeomen of the Guard ” will be produced. On Saturday afternoon and night “H.M.S. Pinafore,” preceded by “Cox and Box,” will be produced. On Monday afternoon and evening, March 21. “Patience” will be produced, and on Tuesday, March 22, a farewell performance of “ The Gondoliers ” will be staged.