H.M.S. PINAFORE."

Otago Witness, Volume 02, Issue 2420, 2 August 1900, Page 55

H.M.S. PINAFORE."

The Princess Theatre was crowded in all pe.rts on Saturday afternoon, when '" The Gondcliers " was repeated with every success. The large audience appeared to be delighted with the performance.

"When the management announced that the Dunedin season would close "with P' niore," it was naturally anticipated that the vould play to a big house, but no one could h< anticipated the tremendous crush thai, actually Prevailed. It was certainly the biggest h'-isi at has greeted the company since they pkyed '•The Belle of New York "' on '^Contingent Night" prior to the departure of thefourlh contingent for the war. Long before 8 o'clock the building was. full, and, when everj seat was taken, the people pushed their way into the aisles, and cheerfully stood in the passages throughout- the performance, while nwny stood on chairs about the doors, and secured an occasional glimpse of the stage. Of the production of the piece little needs to be said. The performance as a whole must be regarded as a good one, but it diagged a little towards the end, and there cau be no doubt that six nights' performing a week for nearly a month, with a few matinees thrown in, is rather a severe strain 'on the company. Mr E. Nable, cast as Sir Joseph. Porter, could haidly be said to have exhausted the possibilities of the part, but he made a good, stage figure, and the audience was in a generous mood. Mr Percy as Captain Corcoran acted in his usual finished and thoroughly artistic manner, but he had to omit one of the songs' allotted to the part. Mr Carter as the love smitten tar, Ralph Rackstraw, invested the part with a feeling and sincerity characteristic of his performances, and his singing proved so acceptable to the audience that he was several times encored during the evening. Mr Quealy as Dick Deadeye was responsible for a large share of the humour of the juece, but, as in one or two of his other characters, it is a pity at times that he cannot find a more artistic way of bringing it out. Miss May Beatty as Little Buttercup, gave genuine pleasure by her singing of " Little Buttercup," which had to be repeated in xesponse to an emphatic recall.- Miss Daisy Davis took the part of Josephine with conspicuous success, and was deservedly ericored for her rendering of " Refrain, audacious tar," This lady was the recipient of a handsome basket of flowers during the evening. The sisters anr! the cousins and the aunts of Sir Joseph Porter were represented by a bevy of young ladies in a nautical costume, and the choruses were a feature of the performance. Between the first and second acts several members -of the company appeared in siiccession to sing solos. Miss Gertie Campion gave a delightful rendering of the coon song " Susie-ue," and the audience, not satisfied with a repetition of the last verse, insisted on Miss Campion returning a third time, when she contented herself by bowing _her acknowledgments. Mr D. O'Connor was heard to advantage in " The midshipmite," and was also rewarded with an encore. Mr Carter chose '" The death of Nelsong," and sang this favourite song in excellent style. Miss Opie next appeared to sing " Three little words," and as an encore gave " Because I love you so." Miss Opie was in splendid voice, and has never been heard to better advantage since she first appeared before a Dunedin audience. Mr Fitts chose a patriotic song, and, clad in the uniform of the New Zealand Rough Riders, sang '• Children of the Empire." Miss Eily Sullivan, a little mite, who looked very trim and smart, as a midshipmite in the opera, next appeared in khaki, and sang " The absent-minded beggar." Mr Percy also followed the patriotic lead, and sang " Sons of the sea." Miss May Beatty and Mr Quealy did a music hall " turn." Miss Beatty could perhaps have chosen something better suited to herself, Isut the audience received her burlesque of cheap melodrama with unqualified approval. A word of praise should be bestowed on the dressing and mounting of the opera. The 'peformance concluded with the singing of " Rule Britannia," led by Mr Percy, the refrain of which was taken up by the full strength of the company, waving flags. The scenery at the rear of the stage lifted, disclosing a beautiful tableau showing the figure representing Britannia, and two other figures on each side representing New South ,"Wales, "Victoria, Tasmania, and New Zealand. The effect produced was capital, and the curtain had to be raised two or three times' before the audience began to disperse.