MR DUNCANUMACALLUM'S OPERA COMPANY.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 3549, 23 November 1882, Page 3

MR DUNCANUMACALLUM'S OPERA COMPANY.

The following extract from a critiqn of the above company's second performance in Auckland of Gilbert .and Sullivan's aesthetic opera "Patienco" is from the Evening Star of the 17th instant: —The opera is capitally mounted, the costumes are rich, tasteful, and appropriate, and the " business " is good, Miss Elsa May plays in the title r&le with charming abandon, and the music of the part affords her an opportunity for displaying the quality and flexibility of her fine voice, which she improves to tbo utmost advanlage. She singe the opening soncr, " I cannot tell what this Love may be," with undeniable effect, renders all her solo numbers with taste and sweetness, and contributes very materially to the success of the concreted nieces, In

the latter category the duet between Patience and Angela at the opening of the second act is especially deserving of praise. The voices of Miss May and Miss Liddiard blend most harmoniously, and the rendering is therefore highly agreeable. Mr Vernon's Bunlhorne is a perfect marvel of low comedy, skill, and studied care. Every motion, every attitude, and all the varying modulations of voice and changes of demeanour are so well-contrived —so thoroughly in keeping, as to show that the portraiture has been artistically elaborated. The well-known duet, " Then go to him, and say to him" (Eunthorne and Lady Jane) is encored again and again every night, the audience never appearing to tire of it. Mr Drayton as Archibald Grosvenor, the idyllic poet, sings the music very pleasingly, and altogether acquits himself in a highly satisfactory manner. Miss Liddiard does full justice to the part of Angela, and Miss Novarro's clear impersonation of Lady Jane is now too well known to call for comment. Her rendering of the song with ■which tbe second act opens was capitally execixted.