THEATRE ROYAL.

Lyttelton Times, Volume LXVII, Issue 8149, 21 April 1887, Page 4

THEATRE ROYAL.

The comic opera of the “Pirates of Penzance” occupied the boards of the Theatre Royal last evening, and in spite of the intensely hot weather, the house was full and the opera was performed as well as its best admirers could wish. The principal lady parts were alloted to Miss Blaa May (Mabel), and Miss Alice Barnett (Ruth). In the former character. Miss May showed the audience that she can sing well the bright and sparkling music with which the score abounds, and as the foremost of unhappy General Stanley’s daughters, she created a very favourable impression. In her principal song, “Poor Wandering One,” she was a little hoarse, but her spirited rendering ensured a demand for its repetition, and in the ensemble with Frederick and the daughters, her voice told to considerable advantage. In the second act her best numbers were the duet with Frederick, “ Stay, Frederick, Stay,” and the ballad, “ Oh, Leave me not Alone to Pine. ’ In the part of Ruth, Miss Alice Barnett added another to her list of decided successes 5 her music was given in tune, her make-up was excellent, and her humourous acting was alone sufficient to ensure its success. Specially good was her singing and by-play in the duet with Frederick, “You Told me you were Fair as Gold,” and in the finale of the first act, “ Oh, Master,” she was the life of the piece. The daughters Edith, Kate, and Isabel, were prettily played by the Misses Ada Walker, Ida Osborne and Aggie Kelton, and General Stanley’s remaining daughters were well represented by the ladies of the chorus, especially in the “ Chattering ” chorus of the first act. Mr Vernon’s Major-General Stanley, during the first act, was a little disappointing, and his acting a slightly jerky, but in the music of his part he showed that he can sing with taste when opportunity offers. In his singing of the patter song, the elocutionary difficulties of the delivery of the words were capitally surmounted, and the number was redemanded. In the pretty song “ Softly Sighing” his singing deserved an encore it did not receive. Into, the part of Frederick, the pirate ’prentice, Mr W. H. Woodfield hardly threw sufficient energy, in addition to which he was manifestly out of voice, owing to the trying weather. His best effort was undoubtedly “ Is there not one Maiden Here.” Later on in the evening his acting was a good foil to Miss Barnett as Ruth. Mr Alfred Brennir hardly infused life enough into the part of the Pirate King, and during the first act his representation of the piece was decidedly tame. He, however, brightened up as the play proceeded, and such solos as belong to the part were well sung by him. As the Sergeant of Police, Mr H. Benhamwae in his element, and he made as much of the part as is possible to be got out of it; and the fact that the policeman’s chorus, “ Tarantara!” had to be sung three tunes, was principally due to him. The minor part of Samuel was fairly filled by Mr Frank Eidsdale. Generally speaking, m spite of the depressing effects or tne not - wester occasionally visible in both vocalists and orchestra, the “ Pirates went as that popular little opera generally does. It will be repeated to-night, and again tomorrow.