THEATRE ROYAL.

Press, Volume LXII, Issue 12531, 28 June 1906, Page 8

THEATRE ROYAL.

"PATIENCE/ Though the cult of wstheticism has, like many other go.is, had its little day and passed away, the trenchant satire —which no doubt hastened its downfall—of Mr Gilbert in •■Patience." wedded to the beautiful music of Sir Arthur Sullivan, is as popular with audiences as ever, 'ibis was conclusively prove:! last night, when there was a crowded and very enthusiastic house* to witness the exceedingly successful performance of the opera by the Williamson Comic Opera Company. Miss Dolly Castles lias greatly- improved in her impersonation of Patience since when the company was last, here, but she lias hardly yet fully grasped tho correct idea of the part. The author intended the rustic simplicity of Patience to act as a strong toil to tho tinsel and maudlin irstheticism of the rapturous maidens. Consequently the part requires to be played in a manner differing altogether from the ordinary stag.-' rcles. Miss Castles somewhat failed to recognise this, with the result that her impersonation was to some extent disappointing. She sang the music oxt.dtontly, being particularly good in the songs "Many Years Ajio,"

"True Love." and "Love .is a Plaintive Soii!i." and also in the duet "Willow Waly." Mis? Ghiloni's Lady .Jane steed out strongly as a splendidly artistic interpretation throughout. She sang "Silvorod is tho Haven Hair" very finely indeed, as also her part in the I'.'iet "Sing Hoy to You." All h?v music was given with her usual F.uceess. Misses Agdie- Thorns 1 . Vinia Do Ixritto and Kuliy Armfiold were very good indeed in the characters of tho Ladies Agatha, Sophie and hlla, acting and singing throughout tho opera with considerable success. Mr Howard Vernon's Binithorne is a marvellously clover performance, and one which age does not wither nor custom stale. All the points were mado effectively, and tho part stood out with much dramatic effect. In tho duct with M'ss Ghiloni, "Sing Hey to You," Mr Vernon was excellent. Mr Crane, deserves a good deal of credit for his Archibald Grosycnor. It was a capital impersonation, and Jio sang "The Magnet and the Churn very finely indeed. In the character of tho Duke of Dunstable. Mr Kcuningham had plenty of scope for the display of his fine voice, ami ho sang 'A Maiden's Heart" exceptionally well. Mr Wilson gave a spirited and excellent interpretation ot the part of tho Colon* 1 !, being sneoialiy good in the song "When 1 First Put This Uniform On." The dry humour of the character of the Major wa.s excellently given by Mr Wallace, and ho'was heard to advantage in tho concerted numbers. The choruses were all capitally stingy and the work of the orchestra, under Mr Hall, was marked with the same degree of excellence which has bow so notable a feature' during the season. The short concert at tho end of the opera was nfost on jovable. Miss Olive Godwin was splendid in "The Swallows," which was rapturously encored. Tho fine voice of Miss Godwin ha.s not been heard to such advantage at any time hero as in this number. Meyerbeer's great ' cavatina, "Roberto tv che Adoro," w-as sung in a most finished and artistic stylo by Miss Vinia De Loitte. Those who have seen this clever young lady jh light operatic roles would hardly have given her credit for so brilliant a display of vocalisation as in tho number. It.was excellent, and quite the gem of the evening. It was a treat to hear Mr Bracy sing tho old favourite, "When Other Lins/' It was given in true ballad style, and showed that Mr Bracy has by no means forgotten his craft as a tenor vocalist, though 60 long devoting himself to tho more prosaic role of managerial control. The duet "Excelsior" as given by Messrs Whyte and Fttts was easily the best interpretation of this popular duet we have had here. Tire company leave to-dnv for Timaru, where they give "Utopia Limited" and "Princess Ida."