"H.M.S. PINAFORE."

Auckland Star, Volume LXXII, Issue 88, 15 April 1941, Page 4

"H.M.S. PINAFORE."

PETER PANISH CHARM.

GILBERT AND SULLIVAN.

There is something more to Gilbert and Sullivan than just well-remembered, tuneful music and witty lyrics. About the operettas there is a Peter-Panish quality that, no matter how often they are played, there is always an old audience to welcome them back as treasured friends, and a new audience to greet them as a delightful acquaintance. As fresh and charming as the most pleasant offering of any new theatre season, "H.M.3. Pinafore" (preceded, as usual, by "Trial By Jury"), presented an excellent example of that when it was played last evening by the J. C. Williamson Gilbert and Sullivan Company at His Majesty's Theatre. A packed house once again gave enthusiastic applause to the presentation.

Those old favourites of New Zealand audiences, Gregory Stroud, Bernard Manning, Richard Watson, and Evelyn Gardner, were there again to delight in roles that are now linked in our mind with their names, and there, too, were those two newcomers, Maxwell Oldaker and Viola Wilson, who have already, both with voice and interpretation of roles, caned a permanent niche for themselves in our Gilbert and Sullivan hall of memories.

T'he company was in fine voice last night, and the principals were 60 balanced ill the enjoyment they gave that to each must be handed a bouquet of thanks. But, it must be added, there is a special one for Maxwell Oldaker, who, in voice and person, fits perfectly into the Ralph Ratkshaw, A.B. of tradition, and yet another {or Bernard Manning, whose Dick Deadeye was splendidly made up and excellently sustained.

To Richard Watson, especially, must go the plaudits for his learned judge in "Trial By Jury." Here, too, all gave of their best.

All aspects of the staging were commendable in both operettas, and the orchestra, under the direction of Mr. Leo Packer, performed most creditably. To-night the company will present one of the most appealing of the Savoy operas, "The \ eomen of the Guard," which reflects some of the cleverest of Gilbert's satire and gives us some of the grandest of Sullivan's music, including the duet of never-dying charm, "I Have a Song to Sing, O." As Jack Point, the jester, Ivan Menzies does brilliant work, both as a comedian and dramatic actor. Viola Wilson gives one of her most notable performances as Elsie Mavnnrd, while Evelyn Gardiner as Dame Carruthers, Gregory Stroud as Sir Richard. •Tohn Fullard as Colonel Fairfax, Richard Watson as Wilfred Shad bolt, Peggy Shea as Phoebe Meryl!, Bernard Manning as Sergeant Meryll, and Vincent McMurray as Leonard Meryll enrich the presentation.

To-morrow afternoon and evening "Tolanthe" will be staged, and on Thursday evening "The Mikado" will be revived. The New Zealand tour will terminate on Friday evening when a special production of "The Gondoliers" will be given.