HIS MAJESTY’S THEATRE.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume XVI, Issue 956, 2 July 1908, Page 16

HIS MAJESTY’S THEATRE.

“ THE TEA GIRL.” Theatregoers in Auckland have been looking forward for some time to the production by the Australasian Musical Society of the musical comedy. “ The Tea Girl,” and when this took place at His Majesty’s on Monday evening there was a crowded house to welcome this fresh effort of a local composer. “ Mr. Thomas Humphreys” did good work in the “ Lady Typist,” and it was rumoured that he had gone one better in the present production, while Mr. G*. D. Grahame’s book was said to be both original and clever. Whether these rumours were well founded may be a matter of opinion, and it has been much discussed during the week. Mr. Humphreys has composed some dainty melodies, one or two being quite beautiful. Also the chorus effects are well harmonised, this being especially the case in the finale to the first act, which is a very fine piece of work. The introduction to the second act is indeed really beautiful. What is lacking is the sparkling effervescence and the brightness which one usually expects in pieces of the kind. There is a want of variety in the themes, all being of the -somewhat mournful order, and this naturally causes an absence of light and shade, so absolutely essential to success. Mr. Grahame’s book is capable of improvement. His humour must be too subtle for the average member of the audience to grasp, and these are apt to label it dull. The piece on Monday night took nearly four hours to play, and it badly needed cutting down and the action accelerating. When this is done and the players, through having more confidence, are able to put some life into their work, then a very great improvement will have been effected. Doubtless the remaining nights of the season will show a wonderful advance in this respect on the opening night. It is always unfair to author and composer to criticise too severely a first night’s performance. One is so apt to mentally compare it with some great London success, overlooking the fact that the latter, before it reaches the colonies, has been rewritten, revised and altered so that it is hardly the

same piece as on the opening night. Presumably this will be done with the book, which at present is quite unworthy of the music. Musical comedy does not demand a plot, therefore one is not supplied. The first scene is a tea room in the Earl’s Court Exhibition, where there is a large assemblage of tea girls and their customers, but why most of the men wear ’Varsity caps and gowns is not obvious. This is a mistake, because not only would these not be worn, but, what is far worse, so many black gowns give the dressing a sombre effect. As “ The Tea Girl” is a semi-military play, it would have been better, for the sake of the colouring, to have made the students soldiers. It is a little difficult to gather what happens next, but apparently a despatch from the War Office arrives, and all the characters are hurried off to Japan, where the lovemaking at the Exhibition is resumed and everybody marries everybody else at a Shinto temple, a most remarkable thing to do even in musical comedy. The change to Japan has the effect of brightening the piece wonderfully, and the act is by far the better one. Miss Agnes Smith took the role ot Enid Marmont, and was fairly successful, although there was a want of vivacity in her acting, while she was apparently suffering from a cold. Her best song, “My Love, My Emperor,” was well rendered, but the “ Butterfly” solo was ruined by the laughter caused through the peculiarly limp, butterflies. Miss Smith will doubtless improve as the season progresses. Miss J. Little scored quite a hit in the role of O Numi-Numi San, and she is to be warmly commended for much good work, her make-up, gestures and singing being capital. Miss R. Hamilton was a very pretty Maud McAllister, and her song, with chorus, “ It’s a Funny Little Way,” was one of the best things in the piece. In the second act she was less convincing, but withal the performance was a graceful one. Miss Emily Holmes made a lively coster girl, Mary Louisey, playing up well to the Bobs of Mr. Ned Fort. Miss Kate Best was somewhat inaudib e, but sung nicely as Lady Brookford. Miss S .Little made a dainty little Japanese maid, O Tsubaki.

Mr. Percy Adair was well cast in the role of Capt. Clyde Burke. His acting was natural, although the walk hardly suggested the swagger of the cavalry officer. He has a baritone voice which, although not very strong, is of very pleasing quality, and his three solos, “ CoLeen Asthore” (in too low a setting), “ O Ayami San,” and “ My Little Queen,” were rendered with much expression. Another successful impersonation was the Hon. Rev. Algy of Mr. L. Abrahams. IS was not his fault that his stories in “ The Times Song” were so long drawn out, and his make-up, facial expression and all-round comedy business was excellent. As much can hardly be said for Mr. Ned Fort, who was inclined to overdo the part of the soldier servant Bobs, while his singing, especially in the duet, “ Patronised by the Nobility,” was not always in tune. Mr. J. F. Shanley was a singularly youthful-looking Colonel McAllister to have a grown-up daughter, for he seemed not a day older than twenty-four. Mr. Arthur Cooper appeared even more juvenile as Lt.Colonei Hope. Mr. Owen Pritchard, Mr. A. Borrodale, Mr. F. Constance, and Mr. W. Aulsebrook all helped 10 complete the cast. The latter gentleman, indeed, made the vocal success of the evening, his fine voice being heard to great effect in the song, “ A Priest of Japan.” The choruses were well done, and left but little to be desired. The dresses also were very fine indeed, and the whole mounting of the piece deserves nothing but the warmest praise. Mr. Beck had painted two fine sets, the Japanese scene during the cherry blossom season being quite beautiful, and this was enhanced by an excellent effect of breaking day. Mr. Humphreys' music as an introduction to this formed the gem of the whole score. Dr. de Clive Lowe conducted a large orchestra, whose fine playing caused considerable applause. “ The Tea Girl” has drawn big houses since the opening night, and should do so until the close of the season on Saturday. It should most certainly be seen. THE BEATTY-McINTOSH COMPANY. The Auckland season of this company came to a close on Saturday. On Thursday that morbid play “ Camille” was staged, there being a very large house to witness Miss Mclntosh’s impersonation of the Frenchwoman. It has always been a matter for wonder with the. writer where the fascination

of Camille, which undoubtedly exists for the fair sex, comes in. Primarily the idea of going to the theatre at all is to be amused, and it is somewhat difficult to see how this end can be achieved by watching a harrowing death-bed scene which usually takes some three-quarters of an hour to conclude. Still, we don’t all think alike, and such a scene may prove attractive, as it causes tears, and tears are one of woman’s greatest luxuries. On Friday and Saturday “ The Midnight Wedding” was staged, and this proved deservedly the most popular in the repertoire, as it suited the company best. After resting on Sunday and Monday, the company left for Gisborne on Tuesday. A Southern tour will follow.