FIRSTPINAFORE*

Dominion, Volume 27, Issue 74, 20 December 1933, Page 7

FIRSTPINAFORE*

Production in Wellington “A FRIGHTFUL FIASCO” When it was suggested that the performance of the comic, opera “Patience in St.’ Peter’s schoolroom in March, 1886, may have been the first performance of a Gilbert and Sullivan opera in Wellington, the assumption was a long way out. ■As a matter of fact, “H.M.S. Pinafore” was played, evidently for the first time in Wellington, at the Theatre Royal , on July 16, 1877, under the management of Mr. R. W Carey, who employed in the cast Madame Le Couteur, Miss Johns, Mr. Florence, and Mr. Browning, and took part himself. There are those who are apt to complain at the tolerant criticism offered from time to time in these columns. This is what the “New Zealand Tinies had to say of “Pinafore”• “One of the largest and most fashionable audiences which has ever been seen in Wellington was attracted to the Theatre Royal last night in the hope of witnessing a comic opera, the fame of which has been so much talked about; but never was an audience doomed to greater disappointment. . . . The performance—if it can.be called a performance —was without doubt the most frightful fiasco it has ever been our fortune to witness on the Wellington’boards. Mr. Florence, (whd was the Ralph Rackstraw), to. put the matter as mildly as possible, neither sang nor acted big-part, and thereby entirely frustrated any attempts 'of the 'rest of the company to acquit ..themselves creditably. The audience,., very proerly, showed their disapprobation, and the only wonder was ; that they ever tolerated such a performance at all.” It appears from the above that Mr. Florence,: although a good tenor, was evidently not the least familiar " with, his music or dialogue, and,, with that insuperable handicap, the efforts of the rest of the cast were nullified. ' Less than two months.later Mr. Carey, made full amends for on Sep-' tember. .12, 1870, ■ Pinafore" was projlyced, this. time, at demy of Musjjt,- with an-entirely 11. nfew. cast, which, gave a goocT performance. •of this popular work... On that occasion” Miss Leaf -was Josephine, Mr. Riccardi was Sir Joseph Porter, Mr, Harding was Captain Corcoran, Mr. J. - Crain was Ralph Rackstfaw, Mr.' Henry Hodson was Dick Deadeye, and Miss Hunter was Buttercup; ’Even this does not clear ; up the point as to the first performance of a Gilbert-Sullivan work in Wellington, as the notice of the September season of “Pinafore” says, “the piece is of the same class as ‘Trial by Jury,' ” implying that the operetta named was known and had been played in Wellington.