GILBERT AND SULLIVAN

Evening Star, Issue 22329, 4 May 1936, Page 2

GILBERT AND SULLIVAN

OPENING OF NEW SEASON 1 GONDOLIERS 1 PRODUCED UNDER STORM DIFFICULTIES STAGE LIT BY CAR HEAD LAMPS Among the periodical revivals of stage successes none can bo certain of a more cordial reception than a Gilbert and Sullivan repertoire. It is over three years since the imperishable Savoy operas were presented here, and the impatience with which the arrival of the present company was awaited and the tumultous welcome accorded its members from a packed house on Saturday evening, when they ushered in their season in traditional fashion with ‘ The Gondoliers,’ clearly indicated the imincnso popularity of those brilliant collaborators. It was a unique performance, not alone for artistic merit, but for the unprecedented circumstances that attended its opening. In the words of the Duke of Plaza-Toro, insuperable difficulties met them at every turn. But the manner in which those difficulties were dealt with constituted a masterpiece of improvisation. "With the theatre plunged into Stygian darkness there was every prospect of the show being held up indefinitely, but then some genius conceived the idea of running two or three motor cars on to the wings and training their lights on the stage. So for the first time in the history of Gilbert and Sullivan, the contadinc of eighteenth century Venice sang their lovely List and Learn ’ opening clvorus in the glare of motor headlights! A cheerful crowd was jammed outside His Majesty’s from 7.30 onwards on Saturday night, and with overv electric light in the theatre out of commission the prospects of a pleasant evening’s entertainment did not seem too bright. However, the Williamson officials gradually shepherded everyone In with torches, during which tune an engaging member of the company, with an exuberance that could not re resisted, led her unseen audience in a very diverting session of community singing. The members of the orenestra came in to back her up, and soon stumps of candles were throwing fitful lights through the orchestral well. The audience was in a thoroughly good humour r ' ready for anything. Then, with the . lelian settings in the wings hoisted, the cars were run on, and the performance began. The arrangement of the opening scene was a triumph over difficulties, although the Duke and his partv and the two gondoliers, instead of arriving in gondolas as of yore, had perforce to walk on to the stage, in one ill-lit section of which, incidentally. Marco (Mr Godfrey Stirling) took a toss over an obstacle lie obviously did not see. After one false alarm, the lights were fully restored just before 9 o’clock.

The cast; — The Duke of Plaza-Toro...lvan Menzies Luis Clifford Cowley Don Alhambra Richard Watson Marco Godfrey Stirling Giuseppe Gregory Stroud Gianetta Helen Langton Tessa .....Eileen Kelly The Duchess of Plaza-Toro Evelyn Gardiner Casilda Winifred Lawson If the company is not as strong as its immediate predecessor, it certainly gave a satisfying and, in many respects, delightful representation of this wholly captivating opera that is as fresh today as it was when it was first produced in Dunedin —44 years ago. At the same time, all its members had had a scries of unpleasant experiences which must necessarily have affected their prformancc. Quito apart from the lighting accident, they had an un’>annv night mi the ferry steamer from Wellington, and, after being held up and buffeted by the wretched weather, were rushed to Dunedin by train, arriving here after 7 o’clock. At the conclusion of the performance Mr Menzics thanked the audience for its sporting and generous acceptance of a difficult situation.’ That acknowledgment was quite misplaced. It should have come not from Mr Mcnzies to the audience, but from the audience to Mr Menzies. There can be no doubt that the outstanding performance on Saturday evening was that of Mr Menzies, who lias given us many masterly Gilbert and Sullivan studies. Mr Menzies has not a great deal of reverence for tradition. At one moment he is presenting an exquisite portrayal of his perky Duke, then at the next he introduces some auite irrelevant frivolity which even his most fervent admirers strongly resent. Under normal circumstances there can fie no excuse—or reason—for tinkering with Gilbert and Sullivan, but some of Mr Menzies’s adroit juggling with his lines early in tiie piece on Saturday night was quite pardonable, provided it did not go too far. Curiously enough, the original text was unconsciously apt on several occasions. For example, the Duke, annoyed at the apathy of the reception to such an exalted personage ns himself, peevishly exclaims: “ Do 1 find, tor instance, the town illuminated? No!” This naturally brought an appreciative roar. Mr Menzies has a quaint and roguish humour that makes his Duke a most engaging figure. When he is not extemporising lie plays his role deftly and surely, with a grace that is really charming. Mr Stroud’s Giuseppe was a mode! of steadiness. Mr Stroud has confidence and assurance, and invariably presents n healthy delineation of that role. His fine baritone voice is always admirably produced, and—the essential quality in Gilbert and Sullivan—he sings with the utmost clarity. His ‘ Rising Early in the Morning ’ was a delightful effort. Mr Stirling did not have quite the experience or stagecraft of his brother gondolier, but has a tenor voice of unusual

quality, which was in a happy sotting in the celebrated ‘ Take a Pair of Sparkling Eyes.’ This was warmly encored and, sung inezza voce, washighly effective. Mr Stroud did not miss any one of the lightning cues in the ‘ Replying We Sing ’ duct, but Mr Stirling’s turn of the head was not quick enough. This is a detail that counts, for the duet must be accompanied by a perfect unity in action to achieve its proper effect. Another newcomer was Mr Watson, who fills the place of the late John Ralston, a groat artist, whose memory will be revered by all Gilbert and Sullivan followers. In Mr Watson he has a brilliant .successor. Mr Watson has an exceptional bass voice, firm and rich in quality, and combines with this an easy stage style. His conception of the elegant and supercilious Don Alhambra was eminently sound in every respect, and his music was a delight to hoar. Gianetta and Tessa were played by Miss Helen Lang ton and Miss Eileen Kelly, two young Australians who were making their debut here. Both have clear and full voices and both presented lively and colourful representations. Miss Gardiner, an impressive figure in any of the operas, snug and acted with the dignity and power one always associates with this gifted contralto. Casilda was played by Miss Lawson, an English soprano who lent distinction to that role with her charming music and style. Mr Cowley’s Lilia was pleasnatly sustained. Minor roles were played by Vincent MLMurray. Harry Neil, Robert Kllidge, Chester Harris, Mike Brien, Phyllis Dickinson, Nina Robbins, Augusta Poole, and V. Walsh. The chorus singing was excellent throughout. It held a robust and vivid quality that contributed substantially to the success of the show. Mr Leo Packer’s incisive direction kept the performance at a steady tempo, and clearly brought the best out of principals, chorus, and orchestra.

‘ THE PIRATES ' AMD ‘ TRIAL BY JURY ’

To-night at His Majesty’s Theatre the J. C. Williamson Ltd. Gilbert and Sullivan Comic Opera Company will give its only presentation of the exquisitely musical, whimsical, and picturesque opera, 1 The Pirates of Penzance,’ which will be preceded by the brilliantly clever and highly humorous musical farce ‘ Trial by Jury.’ The tale of the young man apprenticed to a pirate hand until his twenty-first birthday and cursed through having been born on the twenty-ninth clay of February, is as gloriously Gilbertian as anything in the old Savoyard range. Surrounding all this is some of Sullivan’s loveliest music. ‘ The Pirates of Penzance ’ is packed with rich musical numbers, of which probably the following are the best and most popularly known;—‘Poor Wand’ring One,’ ‘I Am a Pirate King,’ ‘ Oh, Is There Not One Maiden Here,’ ‘ A Policeman’s Lot Is Not A Happy One,’ ‘ I Am the Very Pattern of a Modern Majorgeneral,’ ‘ Ah, Leave Me Not to Pine,’ ‘ Hail, Poetry,’ and ‘ With Cat-like Tread.’ In every other city and town in Now Zealand ‘ The Pirates of Penzance ’ has proved one of the company’s greatest successes, and in it the artists arc seen to even better advantage than in the opening opera. Dunedin playgoers have, on a former occasion, witnessed Mr Ivan Menzies’s delightful characterisation of Majorgeneral Stanley, in which he proves himself to bo a true Gilbertian comedian. Miss Evelyn Gardiner, as Ruth, and Mr Bernard Manning as the Pirate King, have also on a previous occasion appeared in these roles. Mr Godfrey _ Stirling’s very high quality tenor voice, which was heard in ‘ Take a Pair of Sparkling Eyes ’ on Saturday night, will-receive more opportunities as Frederic in ‘ The Pirates ’ Miss Helen Langton, the delightful young Australian soprano, who appeared successfully as Tessa in ‘ The Gondoliers,’ will sing the important part of Mabel in to-night’s production, and Mr Frederick Watson, who gave a striking performance of the Grand Inquisitor on Saturday night, will portray the character of the sergeant of police. Others in the cast arc Mr Clifford Cowley, Eileen Kollv, Phyllis Dickinson, ami Miss Nina Robbins. Playgoers always enjoy a performance of ‘ 'Trial by Jury,’ which will precede 1 The Pirates.’ The humour is extravagantly hinny, and its music is delicious. The principal parts will be taken this evening by Mr Frederick Watson, Mr Gregory Stroud, Miss Eileen Kelly, Mr Vincent M‘Murvay, and Mr Mick O’Brien. The chorus work in both ‘ The Pirates of Penzance ’ and ‘ Trial by Jury ’ is brilliant. . To-morrow evening the company will stage 1 The Yeoman of the Guard,’ and on Wednesday afternoon and evening ‘ The Mikado ’ will be produced. On Thursday afternoon an additional performance of ‘ The Gondoliers ’ will be staged, and on Thursday nignt ‘ Patience ’ will he performed. On Friday night ‘ lolanthe ’ will be staged.