"THE GONDOLIERS."

Auckland Star, Volume LXXII, Issue 87, 14 April 1941, Page 10

"THE GONDOLIERS."

BRILLIANT OPENING.

"H.M.S. PINAFORE" TO-NIGHT.

Alter a most successful tour of the Dominion, the Gilbert and Sullivan Opera Company commenced ?- short farewell •season at llis Majesty's Theatre 011 Saturday night with a brilliant performance of

••The Gondoliers." Full of duets and part songs in which the whimsicality 01 W. S. Gilbert if delightful! y interpreted in ihytlunic measures, and udorne.d with musical gems such as the tenor solo, "lake a l'air of Sparkling Kyes," and the catchy caehucha and stately gavotte. "The Gondoliers" was accorded a most enthusiastic reception. Distinguished by artistry on the musical side, this comic opera is dressed and mounted in lavish fashion, and with an eye to effect, which enhances its Urilliimey. As was the case with the revival here in January, .John Kullard'e singing of " Take a l'air of Sparkling Eyes'' was the highlight of the solo items, yet it was but one of a large number of good things. Mo-it artistically the duet "There Was a Time" and "O. Kapturc When Alone Together." by Viola Wilson and Maxwell Uldaker. were equally good, and the t'ol mors operatic soprano in this and other 11 umbers had never been heard to better advantage. The well remembered Gilbertian quips were pleasantly recalled in the quintet "I Stole the Prince." the trio "There Live.l a King' and the quartet. "In a'. Contemplative Fashion." In tht*e the mezzo sopranos. Phyllis Curnow and Sara Gregory, effectively supported the tenor. John Fullard. and the ! baritone. Gregory Stroud. The quartet of chief gondoliers and their lady loves kept

the melody and mirth tripping merrily, while the basso, Itichard Watson, was impressively Grand Inquisitorial. He and Ivan Menzies (Duke of J'laza Toro) revelled in their respective ecclesiastic and poltienl racketeering as they genially dictated their exacting 'lues.

Chorally the play wan outstandingly well balanced 011 both male and female Kides. the cachuelra and gavotte peenes memorable features of the performance. Ivan Menzies provided comedy in a i,i.Miner which had the effect of quietly bin ■h-.-quing ducal dignity in his parages with Kvelyn Gardiner, an impressive and a] so with the pontifical Grand Inquisitor. His solo "Enterprise of Martial Kind" was artistically rendered. and there was graceful humour in his gavotte. A feature of the performance iva» the natural manner in which the whole company displayed the humour and melody of this favourite cc.nic opera, eliminating the ".-taginess' which at one rime seemed to be inseparable from such pcrt'oi inanco. a tribute no doubt to the producer. Mi-s Minnie Everett. and her staff. Dominating the performance throughout was tlio effective baton of Leo l'acke:-. 'J'he populat nautical comic oprre. preceded bv -Trial By Jury." "II.M.JS. Pinafore" will li? presented by t-:e company this evening. To-inoi row night "The Yeoman of the Guard" will be produced, and nn Weclne-dny afteiuoon and evening 111e tunei'nl "iclantln?" will be performed. On Thursday evening "The Mikado" wiJ l be sia'jeil. and the season will bo extended t" l"i :d.t\ . w hen "The < iondolieis" will be the company's farewell presentation.