COMIC OPERA SEASON

Otago Daily Times, Issue 18325, 16 August 1921, Page 7

COMIC OPERA SEASON

“THE GONDOLIERS.” ! There was' not a vacant eeat in His ■ Majesty’s Theatre last night when “The < Gondoliers” was repeated, and it seems 1 probable that the season of Gilbert and ' Sullivan revivals will rank as one of the most successful in the history of the theatre. For the audience was not only numerous, but enthusiastic, and the performance merited it. Mr Slapoffski has his forces, both vocal and instrumental, under thorough control, and the choruses went with a. precision and a “snap” that aided very materially in ensuring the success of the production. There was always a good balance 1 of tone, and just the amount of animation ; that is needed to give life to the piece. ‘ The eoloists, as on the opening night, acquitted themselves very creditably, alike 1 vocally and histrionically. Solos, duets, 1 quartettes, and quintets wore all heartily re- 1 ceivod, encores being the order of the night, ' so that the performance was lengthened 1 somewhat. Mr Hay was accorded the * honour of a double recall for bis singing of the over-popular “Take a Pair of Sparkling Eyes,” and every one of the popular mnn- ’ bers was duplicated. Mr Hobbs, who took the part of Guisoppe on Saturday night, j was indisposed, and the role was filled very creditably indeed by Mr Tom Minogue. j “THE MIKADO.” 1 This evening perhaps the most popular of ' all the Gilbert and Sullivan operas, “ The * Mikado,” will bo presented. To witness a i performance of this delightful opera is to , renew one’s youth. It is proof of the , abounding vitality of what is probably the most widely known and most popular of all the Savoy operas, that middle age—which has seen" it many times, knows it back- . wards and forwards and sideways, and cornpares tho merits of half a dozen Ko-kos and a dozen Nanki Poos—can in tho very opening bars of the overture recapture much of tho old thrill. What pn opera it is, with its quaint exotic settings, its wit. and humour, and its perfect blend of words . and music I Tho best of musical comedies seems the palest of things beside this bril- 1 limit creation. It is probably tho only comic opera that contains three madrigals—a tribute to Sullivan’s genius,' to wed that form of concerted music to comedy. ] To-morrow afternoon and evening t’.e im- 1 mortal romantic opera, “Ihe Yoomui; of the Guard,’’ will be presented. ’ 1