"PATIENCE."

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 19151, 7 November 1927, Page 11

"PATIENCE."

GILBERT AND SULLIVAN SEASON. It was most interesting to watch the revival of "Patience," Gilbert's satire upon the ".-esthetic" period in the eighties of last century, ami its effect on the largo audiences assembled at the Theatre .Royal on Saturday afternoon and evening. That they were amused is undeniable. But the shrieks of laughter almost drowning the play at the time when its points struck home have dwindled down to mere ripples nowadays, due to the actors more than to the pungency of Gilbert's now pointless wit. We observe the farcical exaggeration, failing to grasp the deeper issues. Like every social movement, astheticism, the agent, doubtless, of spreading widely the sense of beauty in house and home, had also yielded the inevitable crop of fanatics, faddists, and leeches, ready for Gilbert's arrows. But the names of its great advocates, among them Kuskin, William Morris, Leighton, Kosetti. and Burne-Jones, suffice to prove the soundness of its real basis, and we, in our day, live up almost unconsciously to its precepts. With all its merits, the presentation on Saturday was at fault in stressing the mountebank proclivities, especially of Bunthop.ie, instead of the excesses and absurdities of. refinement the author desired to ridicule. And that exaggeration of refinement was the keynote to the original acting, raising it to a higher level. Sullivan's music proved once more the salvation. Jt abounds in graceful numbers. What could be more charming than the duet between Patience and Grosvenor, "Pray Thee, Pretty Maiden," or the "Sextet" for male voices in the first act. Always strong in concerted numbers, he delights as much by the technical skill applied to their setting as by his melodious originality. Lady Jane's "Sad l is the Woman's Lot," with double bass illustrations, is a perfect gem of musical humour. Then the "Trio" of the Dragoons and the quintet following, all are keyed up to his best, as are numerous others. The management rightly believes in first impressions. Again, as the curtain rises, a lovely scene meets the eye with twenty love-sick maidens in picturesque attire and) beauteous repose peopling an idyllic landscape. Though the colour scheme of the dresses largely ignores the prescribed . {esthetic rules • of the • period, it blends later on.-agreerfbly with the scarlet of the Dragoons. The choruses were well rehearsed and satisfying, the men of heavy calibre, as befits "The Soldiers of the Queen," and rather too much for balance in mixed voices. But the soloists bear the burdens almost entirely, foremost the heroine, Miss Strella Wilson, both lively in acting the part of Patience, and singing excellently, this time with rare transgressions in the way vl straining and hardening the voice. A very good and active impersonation •of the indomitable "Lady Jane" was provided by Miss Winifred "Williamson, who also, vocally, is worthy of praise and irresistible in the solo where she handles the unwieldly bass viol. As Ladies Angela, Saphir, and Ella, the Misses Mabel Gibson, Violet Jackson, and Lilian Crisp contributed signally to the success of the whole performance.

Agile and resourceful as ever, Mr Walenn extracted every particle of fun from the rolo' of Reginald Bunthorne, the long-suffering. As Archibald Grosvenor, Mr John Ralston is rather too substantial a person, for an idyllic poet should certainly be thin, nourished as lie is on rose leaves and morning dew. He acted in a sprightly way,. r a.nd sang very effectively. ■■ Hie association of Messrs Manning, Fairfax, . and Hay in the trio, • "It's Clear .thai Mediaeval Art," led to. the. u.ost amusing feature of the. opera being portraved in perfect form, and with capital singing. Well staged and directed as it was,, the opera on the whole die] not proceed with the same smartness as some of the others, and encores grew again obnoxious. A few hands are clapped and the trick is done.■ ."What pleases some is a cause of irritation to most others. One should not be misled by Mr Slapoffski's easy manner of • conducting;, he holds, nevertheless, his players and singers with a strong hand.; and achieves excellent results at all times.

"YEOMEN OF THE GUARD."

Another change will bo made this evening, when "The Yeomen of the Guard" will be presented, with a particularly strong cast of characters. "With .Gilbert's witty and ingenious libretto, Sullivan's exquisite music, the well-remembered lyrics, and the clever and effective mingling of humour and pathos, both in music and in words, this charming opera has a universal appeal. The booking has been heavy, and there is sure to be a large and appreciative audience. "I can be merry, wise, quaint, grim, and sardonic, one by one, or all at once." Thus Jack Point, which character Mr Chas. Walenn will portray, and in making this claim, Gilbert describes himself as well as the jester in the opera. The qualities named aro those that have chief place in "The Yeomen of ,the Guard." '.Touches of the grim. and sardonic are not unusual even in the lightest of the Gilbert and Sullivan creations, but' in the story of "tho merry man and his maid" they are frequent. The characters from old London are seldom allowed entirely to forget that they are in the shadow of the Tower. The opera is strikingly English in many ways, and should be all the more welcome for that reason. Because of, the wonderful skill' of its creators, "The Yeomen of the Guard" will be found as fresh as when it was first produced in London. That was at the Savoy Theatre on October 3rd, 1888. The first' New Zealand production was only a year later. The present cast is a very strong one. The music allotted to Elsie Maynard (Miss Strella Wilson) is difficult, but for- this talented lady, with her vocal gifts and her expressiveness in song, it has no difficulties. As Jack Point, Mr Chas. Walenn will be seen at his best, for ho is a unique Gilbertian comedian, and obtains full value from its fun, its melancholy, and its fine tragedy. Mr James Hay is cast for Colonel Fairfax, and this capable actor and "singer adds to his reputation in this character Mr Ralston, as Wilfred Shadbolt. gives a richlv-humbrous impersonation of the grim, ill-shaven lover of Elsie. As Dame Carrutners Miss Winifred Williamson is seen-and heard to the best advantage. Others are: Misses Mabel Gibson (Phoebe Meryll). Lilian Crisp (Kate). Messrs Leo Darnton (Leonard Mervll), Bernard Manning (Sergt. Merjll), and' Lance Fairfax (Lieutenant of the Tower).