Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-02-29
ADJUSTMENTS
RELASCO-"Iolan

Al inspired company, a crowded
house ana "IolanIhe.
Assemble the ingredients, place IN
the Beiasco Theater for two hours and
a halt and the result is one Of the
finest treats served 10 Washington the
ate-gocrs IL many a moon.
This production OF what many con-
si6er the finest Of the Gilbert and Sui
Ivan operas has been kept strictly to
the original text by Winthrop Annes.
AL the subtle hunor and excellent
satire of the book have been retained.
That this was a wise move was indi-
Gated by the constant chuck!ing Of the
audience. Too often, in all effort TO
n9odernize the comic operas Of the Gill
bert and Sullivan period, the producers
have made their work incongruous by
up-to-date but unrelated Sallies.
II "Iolanthe" were to be judged last
night as a premiere rather than re-
ytval; If the reviewer were TO prophesy
on its future. it would be safe to say
that the opera was an outS Iding hit.
due for a long and highl. successful
run. The enthusiasm Of tn audience
was unbounded. and this, Of course. is
the true test OF any Productions sue
cess Time after time songs and cho-
rlSeS were repeated at the inslstent
CSE4di3U tIaat t4lO4&OSiSA StfASCA al u, o2i0
may the wonders never ceaSe-as the
curtain rang down the audience re-
NAMED 10 demand a repetition Of the
finale. and. still ursatis.ied, called for
more and when more was not forth
coming went regretfully away.
To common. On the fine performance
Of the company it would be necessary
70 call the role Of the cast. A better
balanced and more f!ttingly chosen
group could hardly have been obtained
William Williams, as St-ephon. the son
OF the fairy, Iolanthe, and the Lord
Chancellor was most handsome and
convincing lover, and Lois Bennett. as
Phyllis. his sweetheart. was dainty
little shepherdess who might well have
won the hearts Of the House Of Lords
n fact as well as il the fiction OF this
appealing fairy tale. Fred Wright made
the most Of the amusing role Of the
Lord Chancellor, and won many tributes
from the audience.
Perhaps the finest voice In the COM
parv was the sonorous bass Of William
c. Gordon. as Private. Willis. who was
cec!deoj hit IL his song about the Lib
erals and Conservatives. Vera Ross, as
Queen Of the Fairies. sang her Capt.
Shaw" song beautifully. and was
thoroughly adequate throughout the
lJGs st}& ss&d2s-F
Washington was represented in the
cast BY j. Hun2bird DuTey. who played
the role Of the Earl Of Mollolicr ex-
ceptlonaily well. Bettina Ea!l was a
beautiful and appealing Iolanthe.
But fine Is the cast was. one almost
must bestog the ,aurels on the splendid
chorus that provided an excellent back
ground for the whole work II Is doubt
fn II q finer male ensemble has been
heard IN he stage here. and it took
little imagination To believe that the
beautiful. dainty girls we're in reality
the fairies they were portrayed 10 be.
The enthusiasm the fairies put into
their work ard the e;ident enjoyment
theT obtained from It vas contagious.
aad from the nlor1.-ss. they first ap-
resYed with The rising of The curtain.
the s's6lorce was smiling and happy.
As 'he evening wore on the carly PROM
tss. grey and bore fruit, until finally the
s95lenoe' went home thoroughly pleas
Cd AID caItent.