AUCKLAND OPERA COMPANY.

Auckland Star, Volume XXIX, Issue 296, 15 December 1898, Page 2

AUCKLAND OPERA COMPANY.

'THE GONDOLIERS.'

'List and learn ye dainty roses' —the familiar opening chorus ushered in 'The. Gondoliers' once more last evening. This time it is the Auckland Opelra Company who produces the pretty opera, and with it they enter upon the second and final week of their present season at the Opera House. A fairly good audience gathered to renew acquaintance with the jolly Gondolier Kings and their pretty wives, the Grand Inquisitor, the 'limit-ed-liability' Duke of Plaza-Tora, and all the gay contadine and gondolier! of the play. The Company were at a disadvantage in having to go from one opera to another without a break, a task rarely attempted by amateur players, and' when this is taken into consideration the performance may fairly be considered a successful one. Some of 'the principals had played their parts in the Amateur Opera Club's production of 'The Gondoliers' a year or two ago, and consequently knew their work, but others were not very sure of their lines, and the caste could have been made stronger than it was. There is no doubt that Mr Arr.hdale Tayler's withdrawal from the role of the Duke of Plaza-Toro had the effect of weakening ihe whele production, and admirable as was his impersonation of Don Albambra. Mr TVvler's services would have been of more value in his old part. He certsinlv inadfr the most ot the Grand Iniqv: tor, but it is rather an isolated part, and his absence from the concerted numbers did not improve the rinsing. Mr Tracey Ibd! was again Guiseppe, and soon "sang himself into high favour. It is a part in which he appears to advantage; it seems a congenial part, too, for he throws himself into his work with za^i. Mr Hall was in good voice and sang 'Philosophers May Sing' in a way that 'fetched* the house. The companion part of Marco was filled by Mr A. L. Edwards with a fair amount of success, though he will probably improve with more rehearsing. He rose to the occasion in •Take a Pair of Sparkling Eyes,' which was finely sung, aud well deserved th* encore it received. Miss Carrie Knight and Miss Lily Thomson resumed their old parts'of Gianetta and Tessa, and both sang and .ict*d well. Miss Thompson's best, vocal effort was the solo "When a Merry Maiden Marries.' winch was warmly encored, and Miss Knitrht also seore'd in 'Kind Sir, You Cannot Have the Heart.' while the concerted numbers with Marco and Guiseppe were very successful. Mrs Hopkins appeared to greater :tlvantage than ever in the role of Casilda, and sang with her accustomed sweetness, while Bui/., drum-mer-boy and king, found a capable exponent in Mr Robin Hay, Mr Eml. Keening did not altogether do justice to the role of the Duke, but Miss Reeve's impersonatiom_of the Duchess was artistic, and her singing good. The minor parts were satisfactorily filled. The chorus sang with rigour and the dancing and grouping were always, effective. The caehuca in the second act, danced by sixteen of the performers, was very pretty, and had to be repeated to satisfy the audience. The costumes and scenery were all that could he desired, and the orchestra did their work well. 'The Condobers' will be repeated to-night and following evenings.