COMIC OPERA AT ITS BEST

Otago Daily Times, Issue 18323, 13 August 1921, Page 6

COMIC OPERA AT ITS BEST

“THE GONDOLIERS” TO-NIGHT. The J. C. Williamson Gilbert and Sullivan comic opera season will open at His Majtsty’s Theatre a seven nignts’ season. The initial production will bo the overpopular “ Gondoliers,” of which the critic of the Sydney Evening News writes;— “The music ot this opera would make it welcome apart from its other attractive quahlies. Under Mr fclapofiski’s direction the tuneful choruses wore taken with excellent spirit, a nice balance being secured, and it was pleasing to note that the members ol the chorus did their work as if imbued with the right feeling for its character, and a proper appreciation of the incidents reflected in the music. Ihe groupings wiero picturesque in the pretty scenes at the Piazetta, Venice, and the Pavilion in the Palace of Barataria. Mr Charles Walenn was bent upon getting all that was possible out of tgp part of the Duke do Plaze-Toro, a.nd he succeeded in a humorous representation of the character. Ho was particularly effective in the minuet scene which so pleased the audience that a repetition was given. _ Much of the attractiveness of the music is due to the concerted portions, rich as they are in melody, and Mr Walenn, Mr John Ralston (Luiz), Miss Beryl Walkley (the Duchess of Plazo/Toro), Miss Cissie Vaughan (Casilda, her daughter), Miss Patti Russell (Gianotta), Miss Thelma, Carter (Tessa), James Hay (Marco), and Mr Frederick Hobbs (Guiseppe) are to be credited with -Dinging this music with excellent effect. Mr Albert Kavangah, as the Grand Inquiaitor, wqs conscientious in nis acting and singing, “No Possible Doubt,’ and the satirical song in the second act gaming entire approval. The companion gondoliers, Marco and Guiseppe, kept wen, m the picture, Messrs Hay and Hobbs haying a good share of the applause for their singing. “Take a Pair of Sparkling Eyes was, of course, a favourite, and Mr Hay was' called upon for a double encore. As the two wives, Misses Russell and barter sang the sparkling music cismniendably, and? when parting from their husbands, caught t,h« spirit of the scena capitally. Miss Molly Tyrol! .mode a most convincing Dunchoss. “The Gondoliers will be presented to-night and Monday next and will be followed on Tuesdov next by The Mikado.” For the rest of next week will be -riven “The Yeoman of the Guard, “ lolantho,” “ The /Pirates of Penzance and “H.M.S. Pinafore” (together with “Trial by Jury”). The box plans for tho season are open at the Biistol Piano Company.