GILBERT AND SULLIVAN'S NEW OPERA.

Otago Witness, Issue 2201, 7 May 1896, Page 40

GILBERT AND SULLIVAN'S NEW OPERA.

(Feom Onu Own Cobbesponbknt.) London, March 14.

On Saturday night the new opera of Gilbert tad Sullivan was produced for the first time at khe Savoy Theatre, under the personal direction of Sir Arthur Sullivan. Its chief title is " The Grand Duke," but it has a subsidiary title which needs some explanation— viz., "The Statutory Duel." Its reception was enthusiastic in the extreme. This, however, is a matter of course vrith all these Gilbert Sullivan first productions, but it Eeems to have been generally noticed that the primary enthusiasm bad most certaiuly cooled down very considerably by the time the middle of the second act was reached. The explanation ui-doubtedly is that the plot of the work does not afford «cope for the development it has received. Tne opera has berni tpun out to last the regulation time, but would have been immensely improved had ita duration been shortened by half an hour. The tfforba made to pad out tbe «tory so that it shall last the time required are so obvious as to become at last painful, or at any rate tiresome. I suapeot jhat tbe judicious course of pruning will be resorted to before the work has run very long. It was j noteworthy that great difficulty was experienced in obtaining score*) by those who intended to be present at the opera, and I understand that the firnt edition had been made' purposely sm*U v with the view to the likelihood of extensive revision.

jis to the libretto, it must be said at onoe (bat it is in every sense Gilbertias. It fairly bristles from end to end with jokes, and quips, and japes, and points of the oddest, most original, and most characteristic kind. Its essence it, as ntual, utter topsy-turveydom. Gilbert is never happy unless , he is making something or somebody stand on its or his head. Indeed, so far as, the urxt act is concerned »«jj> people declare tbat Gilbert has never done anything better. The s»«ond aot, however, it must be contested, falls short of his average level

The scene of the opera is placed in a pictoretque li«t!e German town, and so affordu an opportunity for tome very charming scenio effect*. A plot is formed by a the*trio»l company to dethrone the Grand Duke, who has acquired unpopularity by excessive economy and by his too strict insistence upon fantastic etiquette. The theatrical .company aim at establishing ou the throne Duoamkopf, their manager, th« idea being that a man who can ran a theatre and control a theatrical corapuny is equal to any po<«ible requirements in the way of government This is expressed in some very funny verse*, the moral being tet forth in the following refrain :—: — Oh the man who can drive a theatrical team, With wheelers and leaders in order luprerae, Can govern and -rule, with a wave of bis fin, AU Tturope — witb Ireland thrown m I

A mjitic sign is devised by which the conipirators shall always be able to recognise one another, and this consists in the eating of a sausage roll A xni»takr , however, occuw. One of the company ohhucca to a stranger eat no fewer than three ci Chesa toothsome confections, from which b« infers that the eater most be specially enthusiastic in the o&use, and aooordiugly proceeds to ohat freely with him about the plot. Unluckily the sausage roil sater turns out to be the Grand Duke's private detective, and so, at may be imagined, this leads to some awkward complications.

One of these is a quarrel between the actor Ludwig and hi* chiel Dummkopf, which is followed by a "statutory dueL" This form of duelling, as established by law, consists m the Snellists drawing cards from a pack. He who 3raw« the highest card wins. The loeer " dies, ivto facto, a social death. He loses all his civil rights — his identity disappears, — the revising barrister expunges his name from the list of voters, and the winner takes his place, whatever it may be, discharges all his function*} and adopts all his responsibilities."

Both combatants hail this method of deciding their quarrel, and one of them has an inveterate prejudice against pistols. He is not a bit afraid of the ball, but he can't stand the bang. The other has an equally ineuper&ble dislike to Bwords. He is not afraid of the blade, but he Strongly object? 'o the blvod extracted. The duel is fought, and Ludtrig, drawing the aoe, becomes the winuor ; so Dummkopf ig legally dead, and Ludwig resumes all bis responsibilities. The Grand Dake next appears with- a Soliloquy extolling his own economics. His adherence to etiquette is so rigid that he cannot .take snuff until the box has passed successively through the hands cf the seven chunberlains, beginning with the Acting-Xemporary-Sub-Doputy-Vice-Chamberlain up to the Lord Chamberlain himself. Suuff sometimes has the tffecfe of making the taker fineexe, and it will be eaay to imagine the embarrassment in which Mr Gilbert places the Grand Duke through his having to tuspend his Enoeze until his "handkerchief has passed from crae to another of the seven chamberlains, finally reaching the Duke from the hands of the chief. The Grand Duke is about to be married, and he informs his officers as to the proceedings prescribed for that important occasion. Rejoicings are to be on a scale of unusual liberality, beginning with a wedding breakfast bee. The leading pastrjooolxs of the b_>wn will compete, and the winner will have the satisfaction not only of seeing his br^aHfa^t devuur. d but also of having the arn^ of the Grand Daehy tattooed between his shou'derblades. All the pnblic fountain! are to run with ginger beer and currant wine at the pnblic expense. At night the town is to be illuminated at the inhabitants' private expense in order that the publio funds shall not be unduly taxed. All Grand Ducal subjects •re ordered to wear new clothes on the occasion, and one of the chamberlains will collect the usual commission on all sale*. Wedding presents axe to be on a ocale of extraordinary

magnificence, and one of the chamberlains will be on duty at the palace for 24- hours to receive them, Bitting up all night for the purpose. In order that all the Grand Duke's subjects shall be enabled to obey his commands .that they shall enjoy themselves the Acting-Sub-Deputy-Vice-Chamberlain is to sing comic songs in the market place from noon till nightfall. The entire population are ordered to provide themselves with the new wedding anthem composed by the Grand Duke, whioh they are to purchase from the Grand Ducal publishers. Tho Doke then soliloquises on the wedding delights in store-for him with bis bride Caroli ac, whose ideas on economy, he says, are quite on a par with -bis own.' " Bless her tough old heart," he says, " she's a mean little darling 1 "

During the subsequent meeting of the lovers, while they are discussing the joys of economy, the chief detective enters and reports the conspiracy ; but Ludwig, who has expected this, is at hand, and proposes another statutory duel, in which, by judiciouß manipulation of the cards, the Grand Duke is to be finally killed until next day, when the act will expire. Meanwhile Ludwig will take over the Duke's obligations and powers and will stand the brunt of any explosions or other strong measures on the part of the conspirators. This being duly carried out complications of thoroughly Gilbertian elaboration necessarily ensue, Ludwig finding himself under obligations to marry no fewer than three different women. Just when the complexity of the situation appears hopelessly indissoluble certain discoveries are made which have the effect of cutting the Gordian knot. It tarns out rhat in ■tatutory duels- the ace counts lowest instead of highest, consequently the results of both have to be reversed. The proceedings consequently thereupon become null and void, and through the expiration of the act everybody becomes as she and he was, the proper couples-pair off, and all ends happily. , Of the music to which" Sir Arthur Sullivan has set this whini'ioal l|,n:tfco not much need be said except that in every case it affords suitable illustration of the words and ideas with which it is associated. Of its kind it is admirable, but there is little novelty either of idea or of treatment. Melodious and sparkling as usual, there is often that haunting sense of reminiscence which has attended several of Sir Arthur's latest operas, and it is difficult to escape the impression that his fund of novelty in this direction is gradually becoming exhausted ; still, if there be a lack of the freshness which charmed' the world in " Pinafore," "Patience," &0., there is yet abundance of attraction in Sir Arthur Sullivan's bright and graceful music. It need hardly be said that he does not mine an opportunity of introducing one of those delightful part-songs in respect to whioh he certainly has no living superior. The quintet, . " Strange tbV views some people hold," 'will rank worthily beside the similar movements in the "Sorcerer," "Patience," " Yeemen of the Gunrd," &c., and will doubtless be often heard apart from the opera itself. The orchestration abounds in specimens of Sir Arthur's singular cleverness and felicitous adaptation of means to an end.

As a matter of course, all New Zealanders who visit England this season will go to see and hear " The Grand Duke "at the Savoy. It is not «jual iv merit to •• Utopia (Limited)," but it is in its way excellent, and is Bare t > hold the boards for some time to come No doubt in coarse of time it will reach Nrw Zealand

Of the opening performance it is sufficient to fifty that it was admirable all round. Mnd*me Ilka yon Pal may, a newcomer, scored a complete success. She ii pretty, a capital actress, has a very nice voice, and nses it skilfully. The other artists were the old-established Savoy taToarites. That the scenic and spectacular effects were superb will readily be fcftkeu for granted by all who are acenstomed to Mr DOyly Carte's management. The audience was numerous and brilliant.