"THE PIRATES OF PENZANCE."

Cromwell Argus, Volume XXVII, Issue 1372, 13 August 1895, Page 5

"THE PIRATES OF PENZANCE."

[By Skull and Cbossbones. ] The perfbrmanceof the above opera came duly; off on Friday; night. There was a house present to hear it, packed to the door, many people who could hot ..find a )■•';': seat preferring to leave and come another night, rather than stand out the play, which was the only alternative left them. The ' surrounding townships of Clyde, Alexandra,. Blacks, Arrow, and Bannockburn were well represented, while visitors from all up the > ■ Clutha Valldy were present in considerable ' : force ; and it is pleasing to be able to state ' ■■ that the audience was a highly appreciative one. The generally expressed opinion' of ~ the manner, in which the opera was staged ,-h < and performed was in every way gratifying :"' to those who took pan in it. The takings at the door totalled a few shillings over '£32., -\.v. : ,..'. :..'"." i In our last issue we gave a short synopsis '.., of,£he plot of the piece ;. we assume, therej fore, that it is unnecessary to recapitulate it I in detail in this notice, and therefore may confine our remarks for the most part to the actual performance. Very punctually to the ; advertised hour of starting, the Conductor (Mr W. J. M'Laughlin) assumed his baton and the orchestra commenced the overture. ; This was very well played, and, introducing, as it did many of the airs of the opera, served to familiarise the ears of the audience with the music which was to follow. The overture finished, the curtain rose on the opening chorus "Pour, oh pour, the pirate sherry," which was rendered ' in good time and voice. Samuel (Mr fid. Jolly) then, in a couple of verses, announced the 'cessation' of Frederick's (Mr E. M'Nulty) ■ indentures, after Which the King made his entrance, v All rising; to salute him;j a .. conversation' then 'ensued, : during which Bath (Mrs Merewether) broke off into an explanatory song regarding the mistake she made in apprenticing Frederick to a Pirate instead of a Pilot' This was very nicely •ung, the lady's voice being used to the beet possible advantage. A further con- ' veraation then ensued, in which Frederick endeavored to persuade the Pirates to return to civilization, but the King (Mr W. D. Jolly) refused this kind offer. This song was '-■ iung very boldly, and met with much acceptance from the audience, The dialogue which followed between B,uth and Frederick caused •much amuaiment, and Ruth had Frederick's scruple's as to her beauty almost removed, when the Major's daughters came in his sight along the rocks—it was then that Frederick comprehended the,, -word • beautiful, and turning to Ruth in a\ very § dramatic and ; recitative way, accused her i of; t deceiving hiin. The. interjeotory di»et, whdch followed, being exceedingly well rendered, ended in Frederick pushing * Ruth from him ' and \ hiding from the girls, in' a, p*v6. Our eyes then ■witnessed the* entrance of the Major's 'daughters over a rocky descent, the dresses, ■ which; were very pretty, lending; an additional charm to the general effect. The chorus was very crisply sung, and Edith's (Mrs, , J. ; Perriam} and -Kate's, [■ (Miss IWaddell) intwmeuiate solos were nicely given, ttie only mar to Kate's effort beinig a slight attack of nervousness but which was not at all apparent during her dialogue. Edith acquitted herself exceedingly gracefully during this part as did Kate, and, Isabel (Miss M. Solomon). Use next note of importance was the entrance of Mabel (Mrs Morris) who, after Frederick's futile endeavors to enlist the sympathy of her listers in. his efforts to secure their affection, announced her assent in the words " Yea ! one," her cadence, " Yes! 'tis Mabel," 'was beautifully given; this, together with the limelight effect, was a very pretty ', scene, Frederick kneeling to accept the unexpected assent arising at the first words of her solo > "Poor wandering one.'' This solo, together With' the waltz refrain and balancing, took du, immensely with the vast audience. : ' Then .came a chatter chorus, Frederick and Mabel indulging in what- wo supposed, to ; '.'bea low tete a tete± and it was*amusing to witness the sisters' efforts to catch any \'.'■'. -.„word ocipart of the happy couple's con- . versatiou, when Frederick suddenly remembered, that the Pirates .'were in/the vicinity and. warned the. girls just a little too late of this, the ; , Pirates endorsing this by rushing in on the girls. The chorus , accompanying this went splendidly. Mabel j then informed the Pirates that her sisters were wards' in chancery and her. father j a Major General, which seemed to nonplus the Pirates for the time being. The Major j General (Mr D. A. Jolly) settled all doubts ! , by making his appearance from the rocks informing all, he was such an officer. He : then indulged ~• in a long_ and rambling account of his valorous doings etc, in the i form of a patter song, and the effort was very well sustained, and we must say that the gentleman's style-of actiug suited the 4 part admirably. The ensuing conversation t in which the words ,'.*.* Orphan and often'' were mixed, caused great fun, and after a very ■ strong piece of falsehood both in ••', 'song and speech by the ' Major, the' Pirates . , gave/up their intention of forcibly marrying r bis daughters. The choruses which followed up to the end of Act I were jocundly and spiritedly sung, .and the curtain went down with great applause after a splendid piece of acting by all concerned. An interval of ten minutes then followed, when the first chord from the orchestra /notified the commencement of Act 11. ,' This overture seemed to be exceedingly well .■!.."■< received by the audience. It started with a brilliant introduction, and then changed into the Sergeant's solo " When thefoeman." ■ 'Thiirsolo was taken" by Mr Wisharifin a faultless style, it suiting his instrument splendidly, and after a cadence which this gentleman played very carefully, the violins chipped in with"the Major's solo "Softly Sighing" in excellent contrast to the martial style of the preceding strain, and merged into a spirited finale. The curtain then went up on a group of the Major's daughters and their father, the latter being seated in, a very sorrowful strain of mind. The daughters, in their, chorus, tried hard to comfort him, as did Mabel in her solo **Dear father why leave your bed." This portion bad lime light effect. on it, and before going any further we would not wish to forget the beautiful scene "Hail Poetry." It was a lovely scene, and will not fade from memory in a hurry. Frederick here made • his appearance, and his efforts at consolation were as useless as those of Mabel and her sisters. The police force,.whom. Frederick had enlisted in his service to capture the Pirates, here made their entrance—marching in single file. The appearance, style, and march of these worthy " members av the i, ; , .foorce" went a long way to surpass the v famous Brannigan Band of old ; and after a great deal of care on the part of the gentle, man whom the Sergeant addressed as Corporal M'Ginhis, the squad was duly v . postured, etc. We would venture to sug- , gest at the next performance that the ' Qorporal, when taking a lunar as to the ■- - straightness of the line from end to end, should obtain a pair of stilts, or even a chair, to add to his height. The Sergeant, in a solo, then addressed those present as to his opinion of such encounters, and was encouraged on by Mabel and Edith with a couple of solos as well as the chorus of girls, who left the stage, being followed by the police, the latter assuming a most soldierlike bearing. Frederick was here left in - possession of the Abbey, and, while singing his recitation, rejoicing in •'_ the fact of the opportunity of atoning for his repeated acts ; of theft and pillage. The King and Ruth made their appearance.at the window armed, and entered towards Frederiok with the intention of re-enlisting him into piratical service. The means employed were really amusing, and the paradox of being'born in >leap year was forced uponf him, as well as ihe indentures which he signed, apprenticing ■' hihiseli as a pirate till his 21st birthday. •This was Splendidly announced to Frederick in'the form of a chant by the King, and the dialogue, explaining the matter, was ex- , oeediogly funny. The appeal to Frederick's stetise of duty that the Major General nrapn the Pirates' credulous simplicity, % fjid' was no orphan—av trying ordeal j On "i i Frederick, who had thus to betray the

Mabel. A trio then embodied the determination of the King, and Ruth towards the Major General, and, indeed, it is seldom that our audiences are treated to such excellent dramatic force and eloquence as that of the Kint; and Ruth on this occasion. Frederick, after the other two make their exit, has recourse to tears, which Mabel, who has just entered; notices, and wonders at such softness ; but the situation is gradually explained .to her. Mabel in turn informs him of the illegality of the Pirates' claim, as well as the absence of any shame on him in retraction from the Pirates' fold, tries all she knows to make him stay with her; and as his sense of duty is so great an obstacle, shei throws herself at his feet, and, in the. finest and most pathetic solo we have as yet heard in the hall, implores him not to leave her to pine alone and desolate. The singing and acting of Frederick and Mabel in this and the ensemble " Oh, here is love" was of the very highest order, the farewell and the pathos exhibited being very touchingi Mabel, who appeared to be Unnerved for: the instant, suddenly recovers herself, and becoming braver, summons the police, , who answer her call ve"ry readily. She informs them of Frederick's determination, and they acquiesce with her ideas. The Sergeant addresses his men relative to the "sadness of the means whereby our erring fellow creature should be deprived of that liberty which is so dear to us all," and also informed them that they should have thought of that before they joined the force. Suddenly the voices of the Pirates are heard in the distance, and all bravery disappears from the police except the Sergeant, who stands, his .ground fairly ; and Corporal M'Ginnis, who bad muoh difficulty in keeping his men up to the mark, is the first to get one of harm's way. The Pirates here eater the church stealthily, and, after seeing the Major come outside, secrete themselves in wait for him. The Major here enters in a very turbulent state of mind, not sleep, and to ease his troubled mind he seeks the chapel and sings the solo "Softly Sighing "with an invisible chorus Of pirates and i police. The girls, who evidently have lost their father, rush in with lighted caudles and make a great fuss, however, in the midst of this fussy chorus, the pirates rushed in and seized the MajorGeneral. Mabel asked for mercy], the girls 'asking the pirates to spare, him and in response to Mabel's question " Will no one in; his cause a weapon wield" the police rushed in but were overcome by the pirates : after a short struggle, but on the Sergeant ! commanding them to yield in Queen Victoria's name;the pirates meekly when their love for the Queen was brought to bear on them. ./••;- Mrs Morris as Mabel alone gave theaudience a musical treat—-by far and away excelling any previous effort, Mrs Merewether acting as Ruth outshone any lady /amateur we have seen for many a long .day. Mrs Perriam as Edith acquitted herself; exceedingly well, her singing and speeoh being very stagy and appropriate. Miss Waddell as Rate did very well indeed under the circumstances of nervousness, and Miss M. Solomon as Isabel sustained her part- very nicely also. Mr E. M*Nulty surprised ua very agreeably by the excellent i manner iu Which he sung and acted and is a most decided acquisition to our operatic stage, , His splendid voice is unquestioned and with the experience of ahother performance will satisfy good criticism. 'Mr>lX : :<A. Jolly as Major General, was a host in himself, and sang aud acted his part with great credit.; -Mr WY D. Jolly as Pirate. King, was really good, aud filled his part with the necessary requirements of fierce looks etc. capitally. Mr Ed. Jolly as Samuel, acquitted himself very well and,did his part every justice. ,MrT. M'Cracken sustained the part of the Sergeant with muoh dignity ; his singing was faultless and his enunciation Very distinct. .Miss Perriam filled the onerous and at times trying position <of accompanist© throughout the entire practices as well at the performance, and deserves the thanks of every one for her uniform patience and attention. To Mr McLaughlin belongs the credit of'painstaking tuition and the general manageuieuD •'■/of >the opera. Both overtures were his oWn arrangement.! Neither time nor attention was spared by him in bringing everything in connection with the opera to a satisfactory conclusion.