THEATRE ROYAL.

Press, Volume XLVI, Issue 7245, 27 February 1889, Page 5

THEATRE ROYAL.

"lOLANTHE."

The Amateur Operatio Company, em. boldened by their success in Gilbert and Sullivan's quaint conceit "The Mikado," essayed " lolan the " last night. The whole idea of the latter opera differs from that in which Messrs Gilbert and Sullivan cari. cature in so masterly a manner the craze for "something Japanese" which pos. sessed society in England to such an extent. In " lolanthe " the key note of the opera is a satire on that most conservative of institutions, the House of Peers; embellished, or at least interwoven, with a fairy story to allow of an opportunity for display of stage millinery. Though not so full of melody and sparkling music as «' The Mikado," there is still in " lolanthe " a wealth of harmony which has been construed in a masterly manner by the composer. While this is so, there is also a far greater oemand for histrionic ability on the part of the performers than in "The Mikado," that the ladies and gentlemen taking part in the opera last night achieved a success is therefore the more commendable. Speaking of the opera as a whole, it may be said that it was admirably done, f he chorus and orchestra deserve the utmost credit for the excellent manner in which their portion of the work was carried out, and the same may be said of the principals. Miss Scrivenor was very good indeed in tbe part of the Fairy Queen, aoting and singing with much success. One little defect was noticeable, via., a tendency to hurry some of the solos, by which clearness of enunciation was sacrificed. She sang "Oh, Foolish Fay" very well indeed, and, as a whole, Miss Scrivenor is to be complimented on having given us a capital performance of the ! character. Miss Buchanan was admirably suited to the part of Phyllis, her lively pleasant manner of acting and her really excellent voice making her impersonation a thoroughly artistic one. All the music allotted to the part was sung with taste and care, the only fault that could be found being one rarely detected in amateurs, a tendency at times to sing too forte. This was particularly noticeable in the duet with Strephon in the first act. The scenes with the Lord Chancellor and with the Earl of Mouutararat and Earl Tolloller were acted by Miss Buchanan with great vivacity and spirit, the young lady entering most thoroughly into the spirit and fun of the .opera. The part of lolanthe—musically speaking—is a very thanklessone, the music alloted to the character, with one or two exceptions, being not only difficult, but deficient in that kind of pretty flowing melody which catches the ear of the audience. Miss Stratton sang the music carefully, but was somewhat overweighted at times, especially in the song to tbe Chancellor in the last act. The part was well acted, Miss Stratton being particularly good in the opening scene, where she 1 learns her pardon from the Fairy Queen. The parts of the three principal fairies were capitally filled- by the Misses Benson, Button, and Little. In the solo and choru9, . " You Naughty, Naughty Peers," there was hot sufficient emphasis put on tne words "Don't go,", and the consequence was that the point was partially lost. Otherwise tbe three ladies spoken of were heard to great advantage in the concerted music. Before leaving the ladies It may be said that the ladies of the chorus hot only sang well throughout, but the ease and grace with which they took up their positions on the stage, and the absence of all stiffness, aided considerably- to the general success o£ the evening. .Mr Benson had evidently—as was the case with his Koko-—made a deep study of the part of the Lord Chancellor, and a wellconsidered and thoroughly excellent performance of the character was tbe result. Alike in make up and acting Mr Benson was .capital. He never lost sight of the main feature of the character as drawn by the composers, viz., that-the Chancellor never by-any chance forgets his position as head of the legal profession. Mr Benson—and very rightly too—makes him a man who is continually arguing out, as it were like counsel arguing before him, the various knotty legal problems which arise out of his ill-starred attachment for his ward. The propositions were put In a, refreshingly dry-as-dust legal manner and argued out logically. There was no frivolity about Mr Benson's Chancellor. As became hie high office he was staid and severely respectable, the only, departure from this laudable state of matters being when he suddenly throws respectability to the winds, and joins in wild Walpurgis night sort of dance with the two earls. Mr Renson sang the music of the part throughout excellently, especially that most exacting and utterly exhausting patter song in the second act, which, by the way, was encored last ni*ht without considering the physical discomfort entailed by compliance with it. His part in the trio with the two earls, introducing the sweetly pretty waltz melody, was capitally sung by "Mr Benson. Altogether; though not so Showy a part aa Koko, be achieved quite as complete a success in the character of Lord Chancellor. Mr Meadows made up and acted well as Strephon. though at times he was somewhat forced and unnatural. He sang the music with care throughout. Mr Anderson is to be congratulated ou his excellent performance as Earl Tolloller, Alike in singing and acting he was very Rood indeed; especially in the ballad "Spurn not the noblj born," and the trio with the Lord Chancellor and Lord Mountararat. Mr Miller, as Earl of Mauntararat, was admirably suited in the character, which Is that of a atiflly conservative aristocrat. He played the part throughout with much care and success. The only solo allotted to the part, "When Britain really ruled the waves," was capitally sungby Mr Miller. Mr J. P. Marshall was Private Willis, and made a very good deal of the part. He sang the song which opens tbe second act, "When all night long," with much humor and spirit, and generally Mr Marshall is to be congratulated on his debut. As has been said, the choruses were excellent, especially thi> ilnale to the first act and the chorus ut peers. Of tbe orchestra one cannot speak except In terms of praise. Throughout they played with treat effect, and the success which unoubtedly attended the performance is due in no small degree to the intelligent manner in which the orchestra did their work. The scenery was capital, especially the first set. That showing the front of the Houses of Parliament was also very good, tbe moonlight effect being especially well managed. Mr Wallace conducted with great success, and Mr E. W. Seager deserves credit for his stage managing. The performers were called before the curtain at the end of the first act and also at the close of the opera, whilst encores and applause were freqoent and hearty. The opera will be repeated this evening, and Is well worth seeing.