“THE MIKADO”

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 244, 9 July 1921, Page 10

“THE MIKADO”

A DELIGHTFUL PERFORMANCE "The Mikado,” a comic opera in two acts, by Gilbert aud Sullivan. Cast— The Mikado of Japan Frederick Hobbs Nanki Poo James Hay Pooh Bah Albert Kavanagh Pish Tush John Ralston lum Yum Patti Russell I eep Bo Vinla de Loitte 1 itti 6ine Thelma Carter Katisha Molly Tyrell Ko-Ko Charles Waleau

If a plebiscite could' be taken as to which ol tho 'Gilbert-Sullivan iperas was tho must popular, one would not bo far out in guessing that "The Mikado’’ would head the list. It is a far cry now to the original performance in London on March 14, 1885, yet this merry work came as fresh as spring violets to the ears and. eyes of tho big audience that found exuberant pleasure in the delightful performance given by the Williamson Gil-bert-Sullivan Company at the Opera House hist evening. Neither the librettist nor the composer has ever been discovered in such captivating harmony of idea, nor has humour of words and music ever been so perfectly synchronised as in "The Mikado.” And yet it was born of a vagrant idea, a stray thought engendered by tho existence of a Japanese village at Earl’s Court in London—yet here we are 13.0W miles away from London, 3G years after its birth, .enjoying every note and laughing at every joke as though it were new but yesterday. Such is the abiding genius of Gilbert and Sullivan. Last evening’s performance was well up to the standard of some of the beet companies we have seen in this opera, and the memory encompasses such sterling artists as Howard Vernon, Clara Merivale, Henry Bracy, Wallace Brownlow, George Latin, Florence Young, Nellie Stewart. Fanny Liddiard, Charles Lenmane, Joseph Tapley, Charles Ryley, Charles Kenningham, Alfred Stephens, W. S. Percv. and others that could be named in the Gilbert-Sullivan scroll on this side of the globe. There were, here and there, certain departures from traditional ideas, but those departures were so clever and amusing that they only served as a sauce to a palatable disli. Mr. Charles Walenu gives us a Ko-Ko of a most acceptable low-comedy type—a Ko-Ko with a kookooburra laugh, and an endless variety of tricks in business and attitudes that kept the audience in a simmer of smiles. His descriptive "business” in "I’ve Got a Little List,” his clever vocalisation of "Tit-Willow," and his fan play in "Here’s a How-de-do” were all part of an extremely amusing characterisation, that is helped out by an unusually adaptable voice—for a comedian. Miss Patti Russell was admirablv suited as Yum-Yum, though not the least bit Japanesy in appearance, and sang “The Moon and I” well enough to gain a double encore. She was capitally supported by a pretty and vivacious Pitti Sing in Miss Thelma Carter, and a plump and pleasing Peep Bo in Miss Vinia do Loitte (Mrs. Howard Vernon). The Katisha of Miss Molly Tyrell had a ring of sincerity if it lacked the finish that only experience can give. Miss Tyrell has a strong voice of good quality, and her dramatic attitudinising in the finale helped materially in the fine effect attained. Wellington has not seen many bettor Nanki Poos than the graceful sympathy-inducing performance given by Mr. James Hay. He is a gentle and refined lover, vital, and always pleasing, and though his voice is not of tho robust order, it is softly persuasive, and is always used with fine artistry. His lyrical treatment of “A Wandering Minstrel” was quite interesting, and in the charming duet, “Were You Not to KoKo Plighted,” Mr. Hay’s by-play was always in the best of good taste. Another sterling performance was that of Mr. Frederick Hobbs as tho Mikado. He made the Emperor a really nasty fellow, who was savage at having missed the I execution so specifically ordered, and , who gloated in the prospect of cooking | Ko-Ko m boiling oil or melted lead. Mr. Hobbs’s diction is a, treat to hear, and his rich baritone, rolled out lOund and sonorous in “My Object All Sublime. Air. Albert Kavanagh made a solid and stolid Pooh Bah, and Mr. John Ralston’s fine baritone was heard, to ad-1 vantage in Ksh Tush’s solo, Our Great Mikado,” and also in the concerted music. The ever entrancing madrigal, "Brightly Dawns Our Wedding Day,” was most delicately emd harmoniously sung, and “The Flowers thab Bloom m the Spring," and "If I’d a Fortune ’ were done full justice to. The chorus work, vocally and otherwise, deserves the very highest praise. Such choruses as It You Want to Know Who We Are, Behold the Lord High "Comes a Train, of Little Ladies,,, "Miya-Suma,” "Braid the Raven Hair and the finale of the first act are well worth hearing again and «K aln - Mikado” is beautifully produced. lhe scenery is rich and highly ornate and the dressing throughout is conceived in a colour scheme that perpetua ly tho eve. Good work was done by tie orchestra, under Mr. Gustave Slapoffski. There will bo a matinee performance of "The Mikado” this afternoon at - o’clock, with special facilities re prices for children and parties. Also the management announce that owing tc, the.race meeting commencing next V e " n .®, d their mid-week matinee will be held on Thursday next, and the great interest already evinced in the "Yeomen of the Gnn J” should make a matinee of this delightful opera eagerly welcomed, seein" that the booking for both evening performances is already large. Box plans for this special Thursday matinee are now available at the Bristol, together with the plans for all productions for the balance of the season.