HIS MAJESTY’S THEATRE.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume XVI, Issue 935, 6 February 1908, Page 16

HIS MAJESTY’S THEATRE.

“ LADY MADCAP.” A long way in advance of he opening production is “ Lady Madcap,” a bright musical comedy staged on Friday evening by Mr J. C. Willianu''n’s Company. To begin with it has some sort of a coherent story runr’ng through '’ and none of the situations are absolutely impossib e. It dea s with the feather brained doings of Lady Betty oiaridge, daughter of the Marquis of Framlingham. The latter is a most irascible parent but, when in a particularly bad temper, is got rid of for the time, as is his butler, by Lady Betty sending him a bogus telegram purporting to come from the Home Secretary. She then invites a regiment of Yeomanry to the place, advertises for a mil ionaire, put a friend in her place and disguises herself as a servant to attend a ball given in the servants’ ha! . In the height of the fun, back comes the indignant earl and down comes the curtain. Most of the music is bright, here and there is a fine lilting chorus, while there is a light sprinkling of witty dialogue, a refreshing change af er the inanities of the "Blue Moon.” The honours are shared by Miss Daisie Wallace in- the title role, and Mr Myles Clifton as Oroya Brown, ami lionaire. The latter is really the life and soul of the piece and he is responsib’e for constant roars of laughter. The part is that of an English Johnnie, who having enlisted as a priva e in the yeomanry, is lured by madcap Lady Betty to desert and take the role of but er for the dance in the evening. All sorts of comp ications result and th? new butler’s efforts “ to but le ” are amusing in the extreme. Nothing but the warmest praise can be given Mr Clifton for his work wh’ch is consistently

good 1 throughout. Miss Daisie Wallace’s acting was fu 1 of vim and she seemed made for he part of the madcap, for in her hands life became a huge joke? She sang we 1, especially in the “ Grace and Disgrace” duet- and danced better, the role suiting her admirably. Miss Alma Barber made a very winsome Gwenny Holden, singing with good effort the pret- , ty “ Primrose ” song, while she was quite; in the picture as the rather demure friend, of the wayward Bet y. Mr Victor Gouriet was fa : rly successfu as Posh Jen--1 kins, a similar type of character to Lurcher in ” Dof-thy.” which Bi'ly Elton used to make so amusing. In the duet

■with Mr C'ifton “ The East and West End ” he was at his best, bu some of his dialogue notably the “ You a soldier ” repeated a dozen times in the second act is rather wearisome. I cannot think that Mr Gouriet has shown us his best yet. Miss Celia Ghi oni had nothing t o do but look handsome, and this she effectively did : n a pale blue dress trimmed with bul 1 -rushes, the front ablaze with silver. Miss Dulcie Murphy acted and sang most naturally as Susan, the maid. Mr Kenfeth had but one chance and that was in the song “ I’s a way we have in the Army,” and he made the most of it. Mr Bathurst as Major Blatherswaite, seemed on the verge of tears throughout, which the rol? hardly appeared to need. Mr Harry Sweeney as Count St. Hubert, Mr Parks as Bill S ratford, Mr Beethem as Colonel Layton. Mr Hogue as Lieut. Somerset, Mrs Watson as the Marquis (a clever study). Mr Howard ■ Hall as the but er. a 1! lent most valuable aid in helping towards the success attained. Some of the chorus work was good, especially the “ We are Heroes Tried and Trusted ” which went exceptionaly wel 1 . The scenery was fairly effective and the piece on the whole, bright and full of genuine fun.

Last night, but too late for review in .hr, issue, ‘‘The Little Michus,” was staged and this wil' be repeated to-nig: t and to-morrow evening. It is a bright comic opra, ful' of pretty music and good dancing, and ought most certainly to be seen

The las': nights of Mr J. <" Williamson’s new Musical Comedy Company are announced, and after “The Little Michus.” the company wil l stage on Saturday next the celebrated musica' comedy by arrangement with Mr Geo. Edwards, of the Gaiety Theatre, London, “ The Gir 1 from Kay’s” This production will be played

for four nights only and is said to be one of the most highly diverting musical plays that has been staged during recent years. The company wil be given ful scope io display their abilities in congenial roles. The three farewell nights of the season will be devoted to the staging of an original comedy in three acts by Pau Rubens. entitled “ Three Little Maids,” of which report speaks very highly.