"IOLANTHE."

Auckland Star, Volume LXVIII, Issue 7, 9 January 1937, Page 16

"IOLANTHE."

DELIGHTFUL HUMOUR.

GILBERT AND SULLIVAN.

CHORAL WORK SPLENDID.

The whimsical theme in which a Lord Chancellor of England and the whole of a House of Lords are influenced by the fairies, and eventually turned from an august body into a celestial one (complete with wings) was admirable material for the wit and melody of Gilbert and Sullivan, and the comic opera, "loiantiie," which was the result, again delighted an audience at His Majesty's Theatre last night. It was excellently presented by the J. C. Williamson Company, and at the close the company had to answer repeated calls. It is an opera as well balanced as any in the immortal collection, with a libretto which has contributed many epigrams to the English tongue, and with music that is as equally delightful. Of aIJ the operas it makes the most demand on the chorus, and to those members of the present company tribute must again be paid. The male chorus, particularly, was in splendid form last night, and for the imml»ers 'Spurn Not the Nobly Horn"' and ' When Britain Really Ruled the Waves'' tliev were repeatedly applauded. It might lie suggested that such a strong chorus, both men and women, deserves to have its individual names recorded in the programme, even though that lie against tradition.

About the person of the Lord Chancellor (Ivan Menzies) a great deal of the character is written, and Mr. Menzies again established the role as his own in the eyes of the Auckland audience. "A Very Susceptible Chancellor" was splendid, but the now famous "Said I to Myself, Said I" (in which Gilbert pointed his wit with such effect at the intricacies and subtle arguments of the Law) claimed the hoi«ie last night, and left for equal acclaim only the comedy of "Love Unrequited Robs Me of My Sleep."

The combination of Bernard Manning and Gregory Stroud in the roles of Earl Mountararat and Earl Tolloller was another outstanding feature, and their trio, sung with Helen Langton, "My Wellbeloved Lords" (with its "Old School Tie" motif), was a grand piece of work. Both men were at their best, and though it is not as large a role as others which lie has carried with credit during the Gilbert and Sullivan season, Stirling's was eminently suited to him. '

Richard Watson as the sentry gave of his basso's best in that famous song, "All Night Long a Chap Remains," which so delightfully allots the politics of the British race according to accident of birth; and Helen Langton and Gregory Stroud as, respectively, the ward in Chancery and the half-mortal half-fairy, were responsible for some excellent duets.

Evelyn Hall in the contralto role of the Fairy Queen, and Eileen Kelly as lolanthe, were in everything pleasing, with Miss Hall delighting in "Oh, Foolish Fay," and Miss Kelly in "My Lord, a Suppliant at Your Feet." Margaret Kelly and Nina Robbins, as the leaders of the fairies, revealed voices of pleasing quality In several numbers, chief among which was "In Vain to Us You Plead."

Probably the most serious of all the Savoy operas is the popular and tuneful "Yeomen of the Guard," which will be given its only performance of the current season this evening. This play will also close the season proper, the only other production being "Lilac Time," which is outside the scope of Gilbert and Sullivan. "Lilac Time," a play of the "Viennese waltz" variety, with its theme built round the romance of Franz Schubert's life, will be staged from Monday to Wednesday inclusive.