WELLINGTON JOTTINGS.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume IV, Issue 166, 28 September 1893, Page 3

WELLINGTON JOTTINGS.

[By

“Proteus.”!

The Wellington Amateur Operatic Society last week concluded a six nights season of a local production by Messrs Budge and Jones entitled ‘ The Monarch of Utopia.’ The piece is more of an extravaganza than of the usual opera type, nevertheless the music is pretty and effective whilst the libretto is characteristically witty, tinted occasionally with humour of a Gilbertian style. The curtain rises on a representation of the king’s court, and great attention had been paid to the staging to make every item fully representative. The opening song, sung by W. D. Lyon as Axtramonious, is nicely arranged, and is done full justice to by the performer, who was recalled on every occasion. Mrs Malcolm as Janinicy was scarcely suited to the role, neither her singing nor her acting being quite satisfactory. Her best effort was in the song with Fusbos, where she demonstrates to him the importance of the king marrying her instead of Distaffina, a rustic maiden, with whom he is desperately in love. The acting of Mr Mabin as Bombastes, is exceedingly good, and could not have been entrusted to better management, his by-play being capitally managed. The prettiest item in the first act was the drinking song, in which the full strength of the company was in evidence. The voices blended beautifully, and the clinking of the drinking vessels, which were made out of bell metal, sounded in perfect harmony. The second act opens with a rustic scene with a bridge erected in the background, whilst the nearest house is that occupied by Distaffina, the girl with whom the king, Fusbos, and Bombastes are infatuated. The maiden is discovered, at the rise of the curtain, sitting at her spinning wheel, and her song, ‘ A Rustic Maiden,’ is the best piece in the opera, and was done full justice to by Mrs Millar, who on every rendering was recalled three times. Her acting was superb, and her stage presence generally showed a marked improvement on the usual amateur business. The ‘ Rustic Maiden ’ will before long be greatly sung by amateurs, as it so attractive. At the conclusion of this number the king approaches from the bridge, and, on perceiving the girl, makes preparations for laying his case before her. After hesitation on her part, and when he proves his position, she accepts him. Hearing some one approaching, the king climbs a tree and from thence recognises his statesman Bombastes as the intruder. Bombastes’ amatory measures are repulsed, and after walking round he discovers the king’s crown, which is forgotten in his flight, and finally he notices his sovereign up the tree. He comes down, and after a while he departs. After several attempts to end life, Bombastes is successful in boxing the king, who he knocks out, the acting in this part was immensely funny, and presently the whole court find Bombastes thrashing the king, who is lying exhausted on the floor. It is made clear that he loses his throne in marrying a village maiden, and on learning this he accepts Janinicy, while Bombastes retains Distaffina. The finale is very musical, and displays the large amount of labour and artistic finish produced by the composer, Mr Jones, who throughout the opera has exercised considerable skill and taste in his first production.