THE GONDOLIERS.

Auckland Star, Volume XXI, Issue 32, 8 February 1890, Page 3 (Supplement)

THE GONDOLIERS.

Gilbert and Sullivan's Latest.

AsoTitEa Savoy Success,

(FROM OUT. SPECIAL CORUESPO-OEN'T.)

Losr-ox, December 13. ' The Goxdolieks ' is a lighter, brighter, and in all respects smarter opera than the 'Yeoman of the Guard.' It-goes with a 'snap,' .which thab production always seemed tome to lack, and no doubt benefits materially from the new blood introduced into the Savoy Company, and (though ib sounds graceless to say so), the absence o the hitherto inevitable Grossmith. The truth is, of course, that Grossmith was always Grossmith, whether dressed as the Firsb Lord of Admiralby, or as a mediaeval jester. No doubt Mr Frank Wyabt, who possesses an equally unmistakable personalby, would become jusb as tedious after ten years or so. Meanwhile, however, he brings a whiff of delightfully fresh humour with him. -Sir Arthur Sullivan took his seat at the conductor's desk punctually at eight on Saturday, and the orchestra promptly dashed off into a Tarantella in tho composer's liveliest vein. The curtain draws up on a delightfully busy scene. Mr Hawse Craven has given us the Piazetta at Venice just as it might have looked about 200 years ago. In the foreground are the two massive granite columns bearing tho lion of Sb.. Mark and statue of St. George. On the right is the Ducal Palace, and at the back, behind the gondolier's station, we see the Grand Canal alive with xebecs and feluccas in full sail, and the island and church of San Giorgio Maggiore in the distance. The stage is alive with contradinas and gondoliers, and very soon the business of affiancing Marco and Guiseppe Palmieri, thepiiikand flower of Gondolieri, to their sweethearbs, Gianebta and Tessa, is in full swing. This scene includes a bright chorusof contradine, a burlesque of Italian recitative quite in the style of Bellini, and explanatory couplets for Marco (Mr Courtice Pounds) and Giuseppe (Mr Rutland Barrington),

We're called gondolieri, But that's a vagary. It's quite honorary The trade that we ply.

For gallantry noted Since we were short-coated, To ladies devoted, My brother and I!

When morning is breaking. Our couches forsaking, To greet their a waking With carols we come.

At summer day's nooning. When weary la .ooning, Our mandolins tuning, We lazily thrum.

Wlien vespers ere ringing, To hope ever clinging. With songs of our singing A vigil we keep.

When daylight is fading. Knwrapf, in niuht's shading, Wi Hi soft serenading We lull them to sleep.

The 'wedding party having* (literally) waltzed off after a twice encored dance the stage is left clear for the arrival of an illustrious if somewhat seedy family of Spanish grandees, the Duke of Plaza-Toro (Mr Frank Wyatt), the Duchess (Missßrandrum), their daughter Casilda and Luiz (Mr Browulow), His Graces Private Drum and tho call remnant of their smile.

Dukie. From the sunny Spnnish shore.

His Grace of Plaza-Tor'—

Docii. And his Grace's Duchess true—

Cas. And hi 3 Grace's daughter, too—

Luiz. And his Grace's private drum To Venetia's shores have come: Ar.t, And if ever, ever, ever They get back to Spain, They will never, never, never Cross tlie sea again— Duke. At lasb we arrived ab our destination. This is bhe Ducal I'alace, and it is here bhab tho Grand Inquisitor As a Castilian hidalgo of ninety-fivequarterings, I regret that I am unable to pay my state visit on a horse. As* a Castilian hidalgo of thab description, I should have preferred bo ride through the streets of "Venice; but owing, I presume, to an unusually wet season, the streets are in such a condition that equestrian exercise is impracticable. No matter. Where is our suite ? After some truly Gilbertian explanations on the part of Luiz (the eaid suite) as to the absence of halberdiers, a full band, and so forth, the Duke condescends to explain to Casilda (who is secretly in love with Luiz), why they have come. Duke. When you were a prattling babe of six months old you were married by proxy to no less a personage than the infant son and heir of His Majesty, the immeasurably wealthy King of Barataria ! • Cas. Married to bhe infanb son of the King of Barataria? It was a most unpardonable liberty ! Duke. Consider his extreme youth and forgive him. Shortly after the ceremony thab misguided monarch abandoned the creed of his forefathers, and became a Wesleyan Methodist of the most bigoted and persecuting type. The Grand Inquisitor determined thab the innovation should nob be perpebuated in Barataria, caused your smiling and unconscious husband to be stolen and conveyed to Venice. A fortnight since bhe Mebhodisb Monaich and all his Wesleyan Courb were killed in an insurrection, and we are here to ascertain the whereabouts of your husband, and to hail you, our daughter, as Her Majesty, the reigning Queen of Barataria ! (Kneels). Duch. Your Majesty ! ( Kneels). Duke. It is at such momenbs as these thab one feels how necessary ib is bo bravel with a full band.

Cas. I, the Queen of Barataria ! Bub I've nothing to wear ! We are pracbically penniless ! Deke. Thab point has nob escaped me. Although I am unhappily in straitened cir-r cumstances ab presenb, my social influence is something enormous ; and a Company, to be called the Duke ot Plaza-Toro, Limited, is in course of formation to work me. An influential directorate has been secured, and I shall myself join the Board after allotment.

Cas. Am I to understand that the Queenof Baratariamay be called upon atany bime to witness her honoured sire in process of liquidation ? Duch. The speculation is not exempt from that drawback. If your father should stop, it will of course be necessary to wind up. Then follows the thrice encored ' Duke's Song,' a lively ditty not unlike the ' Judge's Song' io ' Trial by Jury.'

Song-The Doke of P_azo-Toro. In enterprise of martial kind When there was any fiphtin_ He led his regiment from behind— He found it less exciting. But when away hi 3 regiment ran. His place was at the fore, O— That celebrated, Cultivated. Underrated, Nobleman, The Duke of Plaza-Toro!

All. In the first and foremost flight ha! ha! You always found that knight, ha i ha! 'J hat celebrated. Cultivated, Underrated Nobleman, The Duke of Plaza-Toro!

and so on for numerous verses. After some love-making and a duet between Luiz and Casilda the Grand Inquisitor (Mr Denny) enters and explains how he stole the infaut King of Barataria, brought him to Venice, and left him gaily prattling With a highly respectable gondolier Who promised the Royal babe to rear And teach him the trade of a timoneer With hi 3 own beloved bratling. Both of the babes were strong and stout, Of that the Inquisitor has no doubt, • No possible, probable shadow of a doubt, No possible doubt whatever.'

Unfortunately this highly respectable gondolier Suffers from 'a terrible n_re 101* tippling,' Which 'doubles him up ior ever,' Before he qan declare with a mind sincere. Which of the two lads was his offspring dear. And xvhich the Royal stripling.

The children followed the defunct's career and in, due course became the pet gondoliers of Venice. One of the two ia Casilda's husband.

Cas. Then do you mean to say that lam married bo one of two gondoliers, but ib is impossible bo say which ?

Don Al. Wibhoub any doubt of any kind whatever. Bub be re-assured, bhe nurse to whom your husband was entrusted is the mother of the musical young man who is such a past-m»stor of bhab delicabely modulated instrument (indicating thedrumj. Sho can, no doubt, establish the King's identity beyond all question. Lurz. Heavens, how did he know that ?

Don Al. My young friend, a Grand Inquisibor is always up to date. [ToCas.) His mother is at present the wife ot a highly respectable and old-established brigand, who carrieß on an extensive practice in the mountains around Cordova. Accompanied by two of my emissaries, he will set off at once for his mother's address. She will return with them, and if she finds any difficulty in making up her mind, bhe persuasive influence of bhe torture chamber will jog her memory

The Gondoliers aro then informed of their good forbune, and ib i. decided that they must leave their sweethearts and rule Barataria jointly until their old nurse decides which is king and Casilda's husband. They resolve to take all their friends with them and rule on purely socialist principles. For everyone who feels inclined some post they undertake to find congenial with hig peace of mind, and all shall equal be.

The Chancellor in his peruke— The Earl, tho Marquis, and The Dook, The Groom, the Butler, and the Cook— They all shall equal be.

The Aristocrat who banks with Coutts, The Aristocrat who hunts and shoots. The Aristocrat who cleans our boots— They all shall equal be !

The Noble Lord who rules the State— The Noble Lord who cleans the plate— The Noble Lord who scrubs the grate— They all shall equal be!

The Lord High Bishop orthodox— The Lord High Coachman on the box— The Lord High Vagabond in the stocks— They all shali equal he 1 Sing high, sing low. Wherever they go. They all shall equal be 1

The party embark on board a large xebeque, the girls waving farewell. The musical finale is less pretentious than in many of Sullivan's operas, bub highly effective, especially a quartette for the gondoliers and their sweethearts.

OhmydarliDg! oh my pet! Whatever else you may forget, In yonder Isle beyond tho sea. Oh! don't forget you've married me,

The second act is occupied entirely with the doings of the Socialist Courb of Barabaria. On two throneo sib the two kings polishing up bheir crowns and making themselves generally useful. They have, however, one small grievance which Giuseppe explains bhuß: ' Though we act as ono person we are in fact two. 1 The Prime Minister, however, won'b go into details or recognise two independent responsibilities.

Giu. No ; bub you can recognise two independent, appetites. It's all very well to say wo acb as one person, bub when you supply us wibh only one rabion bebween us, I should describe it as a legal fiction carried a little too far.

Anni. It's rather a nice point. I don'b like bo express an opinion off-hand. Suppose we reserve ib for argumenb before bhe full Courb ?

Mar. Yes, bub what are we to do in the meantime?

Ann I. I think we may make an interim order for double rations on their Majesties entering into the usual undertaking to indemnify in the event of an adverse decision ?

Gioroio. That, I think, will meet the case. Bub you must work hard—sbick bo ib—nothing like work. Giu. Oh, certainly. We quite understand thab a man who holds boe magnificent position of King should do something to justify it. We are called ' Your Majesty,' we are allowed to buy ourselves magnificent clothes, our subjects frequently nod to us in the streets, the sentries always return our salutes, and we enjoy the inestimable privilege of heading the subscriptions to all the principal charities. In return for these advantages the least we can do is to make ourselves useful about the Palace.

SONG.— Giuseppe.

Rising early in the morning. We proceed to light our fire. Then our Majesty adorning In its work-a-day attire. We embark without delay On the duties of the day.

First, we polish off some batches Of political despatf hes, And foreign politicians circumvent; Then, if business isn't heavy, We may hold a Royal levee. Or ratify some Acts of Parliament. Then wo probably review the household

troops— With the

usual 'Shalloo humps!' and

'Shalloo hoops!' Or receive with ceremonial and state An interesting Eastern potentate.

After that we generally t*o and dress our private valet— (It's a rather nervous duty—he's a touchy little man)— Write somo letters literary For our private secretaryHe is shaky in his spelling, so we help him if we .can. Then in view of cravings inner, We go down and order dinner.

Presently the pretty contadinas turns up from Venice and bhe whole party dance the Cachuca, which is the gem of the opera, and will be on every street organ a few weeks hence. The arrival of the * Duke of Plaza-Toro Limited' (who has been successfully floated) wibh the Duchess, Casilda and a superb following of halberdiers, raises some Gilberbian complications with regard bo bhe demi-semi married kings. These, however, are solved by the arrival of the brigand's wife nurse, who explains thab neither of the gondoliers is rightful monarch. When traitors came to sbeal the royal infant she substituted her own small boy.

The villains fell into the trap completely— I hid the Prince away—still sleepingsweetly; I called him ' son' with pardonable slyness— His name, Luiz ! Behold his Royal Highness!

(Sensation. Luiz ascends the throne, crowned and robed as King) and the piece ends happily for all. Luiz. When others claimed thy dainty hand. , . I waited—waited—waited—waited, .Asnrudence (so I understand) Dictated—tated—tated —tated.

Duke,

Cas. By virtue of our early vow Recorded—corded—corded—corded, Duch. Your pure and patient love is now Rewarded — warded — warded — warded.

All,

Then hail, O King of a Golden Land, And the high-born bride who claims hi? handThe past ib dead, and you gam your

own. A royal crown and a golden throne!

To do justice to this exceptionally able libretto one must not omit a few lines illustrative of the ' Duke of Pluza - Toro, Limited.' Casilda hurts her sire's feelings by hinting that notwithstanding he's been ' floated at a premium,' and applied for— directly he camo beforo the public—again and again her new family may consider him 'shady.' The Duke (Limited) describes his new duties thus :

RECITATIVE.—Duke.

To help unhappy commoners, and add to their enjoyment. ... Afibrdsa man of noble rank congenial employ-

ment; Of our attempts we offer you examples illustra-

tive. The work is light, and, I may add, it 8 most re munerative!