THEATRE ROYAL

Press, Volume XLVII, Issue 7517, 5 April 1890, Page 6

THEATRE ROYAL

"DO&OTHY." The season hereof Messrs Williamson, ttaroer, and Masgrove's Opera Company opened on Thursday evening at the Theatre Royal with Stephenson and Celller's opera "Dorothy." The {act that what may perhaps be regarded as the balfed of the opera, " Queen of my Heart," has been sang here more than once'caused Considerable interest in the production, Mid tfc* first performance of "Dorothy" was, therefore, looked forward to somewhat by lovers of music here. Throughout It is exceedingly tuneful, and though there is a lack of solos, yet the concerted fßusicla so charming that one does not so much regret the absence of solo numbers. There is just this to be noticed, that the character of the music is strictly in keeping with the rustic title and also of the otrlod the opera is supposed to represent. There are, of course, examples of the lashiqnable waltz time which now pervades classes of music, but the general scope of the aira and concerted music in ".Dorothy 7, is what may be called the OUTEnglish style. As has been said, the xnusfci» bright and sparkling, all the concerted numbers instead of being intricate and involved are flowing and melodious. Hence it f s that one in seeing " Dorothy " has'a sense of pleasure in listening to the jjtretty music which Mr Cellier has composed for it. There is very little that one eaMtake away from the theatre except perhaps the air of that dainty trio, "Be wise iv time," bat still "Dorothy" is an Pwhieh pleases the ear. The prima i, Miss Merivale, made her debxd in tchurch on Thursday night. This has a eoprano voice of con f&Serable range and sweetness, but With not & great deal of power. It la pleasing voice, and there is a good dealer finish about the manner in which Hiss Merivale sings the music allotted to has— «he takes the high notes at the finish with a good deal of confidence and auecese, the upper register of her voice being far better and stronger than the folddle and lower. She sang her part in (h> trio, "Be wise in time," very nicely, fe&d was good also in the quintet, " A fiber's pride." It is peculiar that the composer has not given a solo to the leading lady character of the opera, if one ex,e»c£s' that in the second act, "What foos affability," which was well sung las Merivale, but the concerted music is her numerous opportunities of ; Heard to advantage. Throughthe opera, it may be said, concerted music was more successfully sung than the few solo lumbers. Miss Fanny Llddiard, who was & capital voice, has not a great deal to do as' Xtydia, except to look exceedingly Pretty. She was heard to great advantage All t&roagh the concerted music, and in ; liar solo in the quartet, "One moment jpray," sang out a splendid soprano passage, roesTvtng a well-deserved recall. Ijglss May Pollard has a sweet fresh and 'txeeecUngly sympathetic soprano voice, end both looked and sang admirably in the part of Phyllis. She sang the little solo ~Would you see your Phyllis weep " very ' nicely Indeed. In the ballad " The time lisa come" Miss Pollard was excellent, ' ao'd' this, with its sweet refrain and the ■ Quaint chorus of old women mingling in ft, was one of the prettiest—as it was one ot' the best sung — numbers in the dgjaefea. Miss Mabel Mackay was good as fimiPrivetfc, her love scenes with Lurcher Ifelng exceedingly funny, and Miss Katie Potter made a stately Lady Betty. Mr - XaSumane has a light tenor voice of con- " jtaerable range, but somewhat deficient in sweetness. He sang in the concerted ' inasfc with considerable success, particularly is the quartette "Now swear to be good and true;" and he was very successZoL'in the ballad "With such a dainty ' soaiS." His song in the second act," "Though born a man of high ■ sung carefully and well. Mr £mano has a baritone voice of considerable powers. His lo notes are beautifully wll-aad sweet, biif" he has a tendency to Katssa considerably In the higher register, there is also noticeable a want of fSowledge in the use of his voice. There gT , a , grand quantity of voice, in lact.'too much for the singer to filal with, and the result is that the .' voice.ln some parts masters the singer, ' Instead of vice versa. This waspartlcu- ' any 'noticeable in the ballad " Queen of my heart." In the concerted music Mr Imano' did great service, his full round tones giving great quality and completeness -to the music. Mr Howard Vernon, whaitris received with a warmth and enthusiasm which shows Christchurch playgoers do not forget their old favorites, eouT. act;much to do as Squire.Bantam. He sang the song" Contentment I give yoa J ' well, but ie wanted a little more •"etJlHfc and go infused into it. Mr Vernon ' eictfed the part excellently. Mr Elton is a '' thoxoagh comedian, and one, too, who : fa iaos% completely at home in stage busi- - assSi Nothing can be funnier than his sons * •*! am the Sheriffs faithful man," and 'IBs "looped and windowed raggedness " ! ' fit the end of the first act. The scene in - the iiall in the second act is spun out a - little Wt too much, although it is funny, ■ end 'the same may be said of the love ecene in the third act. Mr Johnson made * ■* good Tom Strutt, and Mr Trevorah was j : jKieeeasful as Tuppitt. The chorus is excpedingly efficient and tunefuL It is well , b&litsGea, and all sang with a due regard to the piano and forte effects. Two very jtooa billets were introduced, and the iountry dance and minuet are ex©wsdiagly well done. The orchestra ander the baton of M. L. Caron did fairly well. There is an absence of -zteds as compared with brass and • etrtnge, which is noticeable at times: but aa a whole it is fairly well balanced. Here «ad there on Thursday evening there was to unsteadiness. The overture «M well and carefully played. The opera '-' Is splendidly put on the stage. The set in the second act ? <& reall y . Aeastiful, aad the dresses are also very good. Indeed. The whole of the characters . ,wera called before the curtain at the end . of the second act. The opera will be re- * p«ated to-night, ana those intending to be •present are reminded that the overture "Seainiencea at 7.45 jp.m. On Thursday -eewral: late comers disturbed the enjoymeat of the audience.

.. SACRED CONCERT. '- Last night the company gave a sacred eoncsrt. Several solos were given by Miss Herirale, May Pollard, Messrs Imano, - '£eumane and Verncn. The various items Vere fairly well given. The orchestra ' played a couple of selections, of which : **3ttcae in Egitto" deserves special menfeton; Miss Merivale sang tne solo to ' the funeral chorus from "The Yeoman of ' the €uard" very well. Mr Imano was ■ eacojed for "Nazareth," and the same ' compliment was paid to Mr Leumane for ' "Sound an Alarm.'* Miss May Pollard aang an "Aye Maria" by M. Caron very : -aicely indeed.