"THE YEOMEN OF THE GUARD."

Press, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20498, 17 March 1932, Page 16

"THE YEOMEN OF THE GUARD."

GILBERT AND SULLIVAN SEASON. BRILLIANT PRESENTATION LAST NIGHT. "Oh, winno-.v all my folly, and you'll find A grain or two of truth among the chaff!" —Jack Point. In "The Yeomen of the Guard" Gilbert and Sullivan appear in an altogether different light from the great majority of the Savoy operas. The tale of the merrynian and his maid is deliberately'pathetic, and, what is more, it succeeds. The opera occupies a singular position in more ways than one, and is an enduring proof of the versatility of Gilbert and the more serious genius of Sullivan. It is the only one of the Savoy operas that opens with a solo; and it lias a tragic ending. Last night's presentation of "Tka Yeomen" at the Theatre lioyal was a delight from begining to end, and a large and enthusiastic audience welcomed almost every song and chorus with persistent demands for encores. The J. 0. Williamson Company reached the greatest heights of their Christchurch season, and all members of the cast seemed to be perfectly at home in their parts.. The choruses were excellent, the staging was far better than | local audiences have seen for a long j time, and the splendid orchestra, under Mr Gustavo Slapoft'ski entered into the spirit of the vocal numbers throughout with nice feeling and perfect interpretation. The setting of "The Yeomen" is late sixteenth century, and the action is confined to Tower Green, hemmed in by the grim battlements of the great London prison. The play opens with general expressions of despair at tlio forthcoming execution of Colonel Fairfax, sentenced to death for sorcery. His escape in the guise of a Tower warder, '' gallant pikeman, valiant sworder,'' and his blindfold marriage with Elsie Maynard, the strolling singer, dominate a complicated set of circumstances, which result in the heart-broak of some and the happiness of others. The opera is thus neither a tragedy nor a comedy in the accepted meanings of the words, but falls into that vast category covered by the term tragi-comedy. There is a vein of fine humour running through the play, which offers plenty of scope for the talents of several of the members of the present company. The merryman, poor Jack Point, the Gilbertian Touchstone, was portrayed to the life last night by Mr Ivan Menzies, who has found a role which suits him down to the ground. It would be difficult to find a better jester than Mr Menzies in such a part. The witty patter was spoken clearly and lightly and the necessary pathos was carried through with such an admirable touch that there was not the slightest suspicion of anything forced in a consistently difficult part. His singing voice was heard to better advantage, too, than in several of the previous operas. The famous duet, "I have a song to Sing O," by Mr Menzies and Miss Maisie Eamsay, as Elsie, came up to the most sanguine expectations of the audience, and its repetition in the-finale, was one of the most delightful features of the opera. In the humorous patter songs and in the duets with Wilfred, the gaoler, Mr Menzies' powers as a comedian were amply displayed. "Hereupon we're both agreed" was irresistible in its appeal. Mr Leo Darnton, the new tenor of the company, was at his best in the part of Colonel Fairfax, and liis fine voice wandered at will from powerfully stirring notes to an unquavering whisper. That wonderful ballad, "Is Life a Boon!", was perhaps his best number. The manly resignation to approaching death, told so superbly in the words of the song, gained an added. power from Mr Darnton's bearing and singing. The corresponding ballad in the second act, "Free From His Fetters Grim" was equally well done. Wilfred Shadbolt, the villainous and vain turnkey, was positively revolting as portrayed by popular Mr John Ealston. Mr Ealston's' polished comedy work, his deep vpice, and his excellent make-up all went to paint the terrible warder in fantastic and hate-com-pelling colours associated with the part. Hi? duets with Jack Point have already been referred to. Mr Bernard Manning, as Sergeant Meryll, was happy in hie part throughout the piece and his acting and singing made an excellent background for the other principals. Mr Gregory Stroud, as Sir Eichard Cholmondeley, the grim lieutenant of the Tower, had a convincingly military bearing, and refused to be amused at the jester's jokes with crushing candour. Miss Maisie Eamsay revealed a splendid soprano in the part of Elsie Maynard, and she made hersolf instantly popular. The trio, by Elsie, Jack Point, and the Lieutenant,' "How Say you Maiden, will you Wed," was greeted with sustained applause, and certainly was very welj done. Her best solo number was, "'Tis done, I am a bride." Miss Evelyn Gardiner, as Dame Carruthers, the matronly housekeeper, and Miss Mary Hotham, as Phoebe Meryll, tho victim- of unrequited leve, were also at homo in their parts. Their singing, in the concerted numbers particularly, was of a high standard. Miss Hotham established herself with the audience in the opening of the first act with ( her spinning song, "When Maiden Loves she Sits and Sighs." The minor parts were competently sustained by the following:—Mr Tom Brodrick (Leonard \teryll), Miss Eona Wimpney (Kate), Mes><s Cliff Cowley (Corporal), Henry Jackson (Headsman), John Fraser, Harry Williams, and Chester Harris (Yeomen), Edward Kean, and Sanies Patterson (Citizens).

The part of Elsie /Maynard will be sung and acted : this evening by Miss Marie Bremner, who scored an outstanding success in it during the recent Australian tour of the Gilbert and Sullivan Company. Her delightful soprano voice is heard at its best in the music allocated to the role of Elsie, particularly in the number, '' 'Tis Done, I am a Bride," and in the duet with Jack Point, "I have a Song to Sing, O." The part also calls for a degree of acting, and in this direction Miss Browner should also appear at her best.

| - "THE MIKADO." To-morrow night J. C. Williamson's Gilbert and Sullivan company will present a special production of the popular Japanese ccmic opera, "The Mikado," which attracted record audiences .last week. "The Mikado" is brimming over with catchy and tuneful nieloaies, good> musical numbers, and extivmely humorous situations. As Ko Ko, Mr Ivan Menzies rnaae himself tremendously popular with local playgoers, and there js no doubt that this talented comedian in this role proves himself a genius for -creating genuine laughter. Ho is at his best in the number "The Flowers That Bloom in the Spring," which was acßord<;d no fewer than five. encores last week, and his aitistio singing of "Tit "Willow"' is olone v.orth the pri<:e charged for admifsion Miss Marin Bremner' is delightful in pit the "jirras, l>ut she too is at her bpst as Yum Vi;m. Messrs Leo Darnton, John Ralston, Bernard Manning, and Gregory Stroud, also Kvelyh Gardiner, Mary lloUiaru, and Nancy

Korne are all happily cast in "The Mikado," and the chorus and ballet are also in their element.

"H.M.S. PINAFORE." On Saturday afternoon and evening the J. C. Williamson, Ltd. company will present two performances of the favourite comic opera, "H.M.S. Pinafore," which will bo preueded by "Cox and Box," a quaint and very entertaining musical farce, which will be staged here for the first time. On Monday aUernoon and evening "Patience" will be staged, and the season will be brought to a close on Tuesday night with a grand farewell gala performance of "The Gondoliers."