WHIMSICAL OPERA

Dominion, Volume 25, Issue 170, 14 April 1932, Page 7

WHIMSICAL OPERA

Gilbert and Sullivan Again MELODRAMA PARODIED “BtsddfeoWf" « eornks ewsa to aata, by W. 8. Gilbert and Artia? Sullivan. Cart)— Robin Oakapple Iran Mens!®* Richard Dauntless Leo Derate® Sir Despard Murgatroyd .. John Ralston Old Adam Goodheart .... Clifford Cowley Mad Margaret Mary Botham Damo wannah Evelyn Gardiner Zorah Bona Wlmpney Ruth .... Naney Horae Rose Maybud Marie Bremner Sir Roderick Morgatroyd Bernard Manning Probably the least-known and appreciated opera of the brilliant Gilbert-Sul-livan series la “Ruddigore,” or “The Witch’s Curse,” with which the return season of the Williamson Opera Company was inaugurated, at the Grand Opera House last evening. When the famous collaborators were producing with almost mechanical regularity their popularworks in London, they were regularly and promptly reproduced in Australia and New Zealand by the Royal Comie Opera Company, but there was a halt at “Ruddigore” (which was not a marked success), and its first presentation in New Zealand was at the hands of the old Wellington Amateur Operatic Society, whose performance of the opera was exceptionally good, albeit the producer (the late Mr. W. D. Lyon) . had no professional precedent on which to base his ideas. “Ruddigore” came between J. he Mikado” and “The Yeomen of the Guard,” but though it came second iu the favour of Sir W. S. Gilbert to “The Yeomen,” time has not endorsed his view, as the opera is so seldom performed that it is practically unknown. Almost anyone can whistle airs from “Pinafore,” “Pirates,” “The ' Gondoliers.” “The ; Mikado,” “lolanthe,” and “Patience,” but only the perfervent enthusiast knows the music of “Ruddigore.” In this opera Gilbert has, with no little skill and infinite appreciation of the ludicrous, parodied old-time melodrama. Even if Gilbert (or Sullivan, for that matter) scintillates less brilliantly in “Ruddigore” than in other jewels in their diadem, the work is clever, whimsical, melodious, and always amusing. Imag- * ine Ruthven Murgatroyd arranging his own death and disappearance to. avoid becoming Sir Ruthven, and so inheriting the family curse (which involves the com- i mittal of one crime daily). This is Robin Oakapple, a stout young farmer, who loves Rose Baybud, the belle of the village. Robin is too shy to tell of his love, so when his foster-brother, Dick Dauntless, arrives home from sea, lie is employed as Cupid’s messenger. But Dick is also struck with Rose’s many charms, and woos, not without success, the girl for himself, at the same time putting Robin’s elbow right out by disclosing to the reigning baronet (Sir Despard) that his elder brother lives. Poor Robin, now the head of the Murgatroyds, and subject to the family curse, fails to fulfil its mandates, is visited and tortured by . the ghosts of his ancestors, and has a painful time of it until released on his consenting to get (criminally) busy. lie aoducts a maiden (old Dame Hannah) from the village, but as soon as the ghost of Robin’s uncle (Str Roderick Murgatroyd), recognises the lady as the sweetheart of his animate days, he chides the timid Robin. 3he latter then hits upon a delightfully Gilbertian way of restoring the ghost to life and the title, clearing his own path to happiness and Rose Maybud. There are some delicious numbers starring the score. Chief among them are the chorus of professional bridesmaids; the • stimulating chorus of “bucks and blades, and that of the unfranied ancestors. Rose’s song on etiquette is a sheer delight.‘and Dick’s ranting sailor song is a bright number, and his duet with Rose, “In Bygone Days,” is a gem. Sir Roderick’s ghost song. “When the Night Wind Howls.” is a teeth-chattering number of much musical worth; the comic duet of Mad Margaret and Sir Despard was comical in its smug Metliodistic fooling, and the beautiful madrigal song ensemble in the final of the first act. Miss Marie Bremner was charmingly demure and sprightly in succession as Rose Maybud. Another sterling vocal performance was that of Linn-n Gardner (contralto) as the elderly Dame Hannah. Iu the comedy roles Mr. John Ralston was outstanding as Sir Dfsiwrf Murgatroyd. Miss Mary Wotham made the most of her chances as Mad Margaret, and wns vastly entertaining. Mr. Ivan Menzies made a quiet, sedate, and almost perfunctory Robin Oakapple; Mr. Leo. Darnton was a spirited and breezy Dick Dauntless, and Mr. Bernard Manning gave weight and dignity to the ghostlike Sir Roderick Murgatroyd. The dresses arc extrenielv picturesque and colotirsomc. and the mounting of the opera is in rood ta«te A capital orchestra under Mr. Gu* ta've Slapoffsky did full justice to an ingenious and colourful score.