THEATRE ROYAL.

Auckland Star, Volume X, Issue 2845, 10 June 1879, Page 3

THEATRE ROYAL.

HER MAJESTY'S SHIP, PINAFORE,

The Theatre Koyal was attended by a large number of citizens last evening to witness the performance of the new comic opefb, entitled " H.M.S. Pinafore," which was anxiously anticipated by the many who Oare desirous of giving credit to whom credit $£■ due. ( The ladies who take part in these operas are of Auckland, whioh naturally heightens public interest. The opera has been immensely popujar wherever it has been represented, and this is not surprising, when we consider its lively character. The opera opens with a view of ithe ship and the sailors on deck at .Portsmouth, one of the best known ports in the south of England. The liviug picture is delineated by the men of. the Pinafore, who .are in action in the noontide of a summer's day. Among this apparently happy group, appears " Buttercup," with; Tier basket of wild, flowers,'and introductory song which moves thg-,curios.Uy of the jovial light-hearted seamen.

Hall, men-d'-wart men—safeguards of your

nation, Here is an end at last of all privation: ~ ■ . You're got your pay—spare all youpsn afford To welcome Little Buttercup on board.

The part assigned to Buttercup (Miss Isabella Hunter) was an admirable portrayal throughout the opera. The character of Josephine, the captain's interesting daughter, was . excellently represented by Miss. Leaf and the vocal parts given in her best style ; moving the enthusiasm of' the audience. Miss Teague, who did so well in the " Sorcerer,"_ was_placed at a disadvantage as " Hebe," in which she could not possibly give proof of her abilities ; but what she did.was done with efficiency and pace. There are many points of interest in the Pinafore which could not be well brought out at the theatre, sti 11 the choruses by the sailors might have been more harmouious. The • orchestra moreover tended to disunion, their playing was anything but perfect, and frequently they were out. of tune. The best representations wer« those of Miss Leaf, as 11 The Captain's Daughter," Mr Harding as the " Captain." The parts taken by them were made the mos,t of, and rendered with care. The satirical sons of Sir Joseph (Mr Biccardi) "When I was a lad," was encored..' : ,One <iof ,t}ie most telling characters in tile opera is uudoubtedly that of Kalph Kackstraw, which, in other hands., might have been a great success, but it was pot equally portrayed by Mr Grain, who lacked that naturalness of speech and demeanour necessary to a. due, conception of Kalph. r Tho language of ihp author describing the suitor and tha las(s operacloßas happily with a,trio.of. weddings, but to say" that it was a great success wolild be a mistake. But as it will be represented again this evening, we trust to see tho;opera presented in a more*|>leasing form, w •,<