“LA MASCOTTE."

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume XV, Issue 884, 14 February 1907, Page 16

“LA MASCOTTE."

Audran’s charming opera, “ La Mascotte,” was staged on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, and appeared, to judge by the unstinted applause, to have lost none of its old-time popularity. It abounds in beautiful melodies, the music throughout showing up in sharp contrast with some of the stuff given us in more recent years. Moreover, there is a coherent plot told in a picturesque way, and this is never allowed to be obliterated by the desire for broad farce or burlesque. The fun is there in plentitude, nevertheless, and from start to finish the opera went with all its old-time swing. Miss Olive Godwin essayed the role of Bettina, the Mascotte, and succeeded in giving a capital impersonation of the turkey herd. What was wanting in vivacity was compensated for by her singing some of the numbers entrusted to her being a genuine treat indeed. In the famous “ Glon G'lon” duet with Mr. J. Ralston, the audience gave her a very hearty recall. Miss Evelyn Scott did good work in the comparatively small role of Fiametta, her representation being very bright. Owing to the illness of George Lauri the part of Laurent XVII. was undertaken by Mr. W. S. Percy. It is perhaps hardly the best of this talented comedian’s characters, but he threw himself into the part with much vigour and succeeded in keeping the audience thoroughly amused while he was on the stage. He received a great reception on making his appearance on Monday, many of the audience, no doubt remembering Mr. Percy’s many successes with the Pollards, being glad their old favourite should have a chance to show his ability. Mr. Bantock was entirely satisfactory as Rocco, a role

be invested with much humour. Mr. J. Ralston made a very manly Pippo, while his singing showed considerable improvement. Mr. Arthur Crane was excellent as the Crown Prince, the beautiful “ Love is Blind” being splendidly rendered. This, of course, is a tenor song, and one remembers how sweetly Joseph Tapley used to render it. Very little was lost in the hands of Mr. Crane, whose light baritone was also heard to good effect in other fine items. The dressing of the piece was lavish almost to gorgeousness, many of the costumes being particularly fine. The chorus work throughout was excellent, while a beautiful effect of lighting was introduced in the marching and counter-marching of the soldiers in the third act. If fault there was it might be that the orchestra was too loud, more than one of the vocal gems being partly ruined through this cause. Taken as a whole “La Mascotte” was probably the most enjoyable of the pieces staged during the present season. To-night, Friday, and Saturday the ever-popular “ Belle of New York” will go up, and this will bring the season to a close. The Belle is by no means new to Aucklanders hut there is something about it which greatly appeals to the public taste. It is said that the present company do the opera very full justice, and under the circumstances it may be expected that crowded houses will result for the rest of the season.