COMIC OPERA SEASON.

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 19152, 8 November 1927, Page 13

COMIC OPERA SEASON.

AT THE THEATRE ROYAL. "YEOMEN OF THE GUARD." The excellent Comic Opera Company, under the banner of J. C. Williamson, now appearing at the Theatre Iloyal, gave a large audience the opera, ••Yeoman of the-Guard,' 1 last evening to complete satisfaction. The opera is the one of the Gilbert and ciullivun productions that approaches more nearly the standard of grand opera. The plot tells of the bad old days of Old England when the citizens, poor souls, lost their heads for very minor offences. It tells of the times when tho acid test was applied in the shape of tho thumbscrew, and many a noble as well as an ignoble head was laid on the block to pay the price of its owner's loyalty or disloyalty. "Yeoinen of tho Guard" seldom if ever fails to make a strong appeal to its audience. Its music is intriguing and haunting, and the libretto is always very much worth attention. From all points of view the sentimental, the dramatic, and the humorous, tho piece is in the top rung of the ladder at the present season's offerings.

Miss Strella Wilson, in the part of Klsio Maynard, a strolling player, sang_ and acted with excellent expression, and in her duet with Jack Point, '•] have a Song to Sing 0," she showed herself an aole comic opera exponent. Another prominent number by Miss Wilson was " 'Tis Done, lAm a Bride." As Phoebe Meryll, Miss Mabel Gibson won many plaudits, her song. "Were I Thy Bride," catching the fancy particularly. Playing the role of Dame Carrutherss, housekeeper to -.he Tower. Miss Winifred Williamson played a difficult part with facility, giving a finished interpretation in the song with chorus. ''When Our Gallant Norman Foes." Of the men, the role of Wilfred Shadbolt, the head gaoler and the assistant torturer, was interpreted bv Mr .Tohn Jlalston, complete with all devilry. The difficult character of Jack Voint found in Mr Charles Walenn an interpreter of skill. The grim character of Colonel Fairfax, under sentence of death, by Mr James Hay, was one of the finest presented, his singing of "Free From His Fetters Grim" being appealinglv rendered. The characters of Sergeant Meryll. Leonard Meryll, lus son, and Sir Richard Cholmondeley, Lieutenant of the Tower, were portrayed to fine advantage by Messrs Bernard Manning, Leo Darnton, and Lance Fairfax respectively. As Kate, niece to Dame Carruthers, Miss Lillian Crisp_ filled her part admirably. Orchestration and chorus work were excellently balanced, and the many duets, quartets, and part numbers drew repeated applause. As is usual with Williamson shows, scenery was well to the fore in effect, and the costuming, illustrative of the period, was brilliant in colour, and correct in every detail, the latter a virtue lacking in many musical plays telling of a bygone day.

J "lOLANTHE" TO BE PRODUCED TO-NIGHT. | There is a beautiful myth which explains j 'he invisibility of a certain star in a great | constellation. It is to the effect that one of seven sisters was banished from the abode of bliss because of marriage to a mortal. Gilbert took this myth as tho groundwork of his "lolanthe." which will be staged at the Theatre 'Hoyal this evening. Gilbert made his mortal out of the august Lord Chancellor, and he even satirised the whole House of X'eers, nnd then besieged it with fairies. To this Sullivan added musical beauties that show him in somo of his happiest moods and tuneful moments. Kxcepting lolanthe's affecting appeal to the Chancellor in the closing scene, there is not a sombre note in the whole opera—lt is really something from the land of Arcady and faery, with perhaps just a touch of things relating to this mundano sphere. The cast of characters is a particularly strong one, and includes, some of tho most capable and experienced exponents of the Gilbert and Sullivan art ever gathered together by the firm of_ ,T. C. Williamson. These include Chas. Walenn (as the Lord Chancellor), Bernard Manning (Earl Hountararat), Leo Darnton (Earl Tollollor), John Ralston (Private Willis), Lance Fairfax (Slrephon), Pattie Russell (Phyllis), Effie Armstrong (lolanthe), Beatrice Kendrick (Fairy Queen), Lilian Crisp (Fleta), Violet Jackson (Celia) and Diana Belmont .(Leila). It Jias been said, of tho production of "lolanthe" by tho present company that the higher standard is reached in this delightful conception. As for the vocal gems, as long as the hart is young (no matter how old the body), "Good Morrow. Good Lover," Said I To Myself Raid I." "In Good King George's Glorious Days," "In Friendship's Name," and

"Faint Heart Never Won Fair Lady" will bring refreshment and a lively optimism to many. In this, as in many other Gilbert and Sullivan operas, there is ample opportunity for the very capable orchestra, and under the baton of Mr Gustavo Slapoffski, excellent results are attained.