ENTERTAINMENTS.

Wairarapa Daily Times, 8 December 1926, Page 3

ENTERTAINMENTS.

f ‘THE GONDOLIERS.” It is souk* years since we were last privileged to enjoy one of the Gilbert and Sullivan comic operas*, but that playgoers still have loving remembrances of the works of the famous collaborators has been manifested .by the large number of applications* which have been received at the box ollice from the Surrounding districts for seats for the production of “The Gondoliers,’’ to be staged by the •!. ('. W illiamson, Bid., Comic Opera Company on Monday night next. There is no possible doubt whatever that “The Gondoliers’’ is the most fascinating of all the •Gilbert and Sullivan operas, dust now in England it is said to be as popular as when it was originally staged there, in 1889. Nowadays, theatregoers often hear a great deal more about a play before it has been produced than after that fateful event, but the peculiar •brilliance and gaiety of “The Gondoliers,’’ with its rare harmony of words and music, have kept the opera alive •for nearly forty years. Into the libretto Gilbert puts some of the drollest lines’he ever wrote. Sullivan's music still entrances with its freshness, its sparkle, and wealth of melody. The music is as varied as it is spontaneous. There are the exhilarating eaehuea, stately gavottes, charming love songs and witty settings to witty words. For the recent Melbourne production of “The Gondoliers, ’’ which, during its run, broke all known records, new and magnificent scenery was painted, and over £SOOO was spent on the dresses. New artists from England who will be making their first appearance here include Messrs Leo Parnton and Miss Winifred Williamson. Old favourites will include Strella. Wilson, Charles A. Walenn, .James Hay, Lance Fairfax, Patti Russel!, Mabel Gibson and others. A big feature of the production will be the grand operatic orchestra and chorus, which are under the direction of Gustave Slapoffski. The box plans .will be opened at the Bristol Piano Co 1 , on Friday morning next at nine o’clock. A queue will be formed from , a.m. OPERA HOUSE. Romantic castles in Europe, devious intrigues in a European Court, the romance of royal loves and bartering for kingdoms; these all come to life in the fi'.misation of George Barr McOutcheon’s famous novel, “Beverly of iGraustark,” presented by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer as Marion Davies’ latest'starring vehicle, and commencing a three-night’ sense* at the Opera House to-night. The famous novel is enacted by players hand-picked to follow the spirit of the author s famous tale, and thrills, romance, comedy and the piquant tang of modern court intrigue run through it- Miss Davies plays a dual role, one of the most difficult ever attempted, for, as the heroine, she is required to masquerade as a-crown prince and bo the central figure in the coronation to save a throne. She played the role with hair cut short like/a man’s and so thoroughly and humorously duplicated male mannerisms. /Hie production was staged on a lavish scale, with a great throne room scene, some remarkable settings depicting European castles, and other elaborate details. Gorgeous costumes and uniforms lend colour to the story, and Miss Davies appears in a number of magnificent Parisian creations. Reserves at Henderson’s. COSY THEATRE. “ Womanliamllcd,” adapted for the •screen by Luther Deed from the “.Saturday Evening Post” story of the same name by Arthur Stringer, and conctuding to-night at the Posy Theatre, is a farce comedy of modern Western ranch life* in which an effete young man of New York goes to ranch to absorb Western ruggedness and virility—all this because the girl •of his heart loves real “lie-men.” The ranch turns out to 'be next door to a good-sized town; there are no horses, the cattle being rounded up in automobiles. Then the girl arrives to see her sweetheart; at the same time an “Artists and Models” company hops off the tiain ami pays a visit to the ranch. The laughs in the story arc everything that the situation suggests. Moreover, the plot winds up with a real thriller ot a eatt.'-o stampede. .Margaret Morris, recently seen in “The Best People,” JEdmund Brcose and Ivan Simpson have prominent roles in tiro east. 'Reserves at Henderson's.