"H.M.S. PINAFORE"

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 19155, 11 November 1927, Page 6

"H.M.S. PINAFORE"

AND "TRIAL BY JURY." OPERA COMPANY AT THEATRE ROYAL. Another gallant house overwhelmed the seating accommodation at the Theatre Royal last uight -when two of the brightest and most amusing works of Gilbert and Sullivan, "Trial by Jur.V and "H.M.S. Pinafore," were presented, by the J. C. Williamson Comic Opera Co. Both come very early in what, arc now known as the Savoy operas, "Trial by Jury" was, in fact, the first joint creation by the illustrious partnership, and "Pinafore" was the third, a lesser known opera, "The Sorcerer," coming between. "Pinafore" definitely established the fame of Gilbert and Sullivan throughout the world, and its charming melodies and rollicking fun exercise as potent a spell to-day as in 1878, when the opera was first produced in London, For the plot and the characters in "Pinafore" Gilbert drew largely upon his own "Bab Ballads" relating to the good ship "Mantelpiece," and her polite and thoughtful commander, Captain Reece. Sullivan rose to the occasion right nobly, and although at the tinie a very sick man and suffering from acute pain, ho nevertheless composed a series of airs and melodies of peculiar charm and appropriateness. Extraordinarily exact preparations were made to launch the Pinafore in a fitting manner and a perfect production was achieved. The action takes place on the quarter deck, and the author and composer of the opera, when Pinafore was in the making, paid a special visit to Portsmouth, and by permission of the Naval authorities made sketches of every detail of the quarter deck of Nelson 's famous old flag ship, the Victory, and from those sketches designed the setting which has been followed faithfully ever since. The company last night gave the impression of« entering joyously and whole-heartedly into the performance. Mr James Hay, as Ralph Rackstraw, the sentimental and democratic sailor, was certainly in much improved form, and nothing better has been done by him during the present season. He employed his magnificent voice unsparingly, and he fully deserved all the hearty approbation he received by his singing of the enchanting madrigal, "The Nightingale Sighed for the Moon's Bright Ray," the ballad "A Maiden Fair to' See," and with Miss Strella Wilson, as Josephine, the duet "Refrain Audacious Tar." He also achieved a fine effort in the Englishman song. Miss Strella Wilson was in fine form as Josephine, and she had full opportunity to exercise her powerful and tuneful voice. Her singing of the ballad "Sorry Her Lot Who Loves Too Well," gave to the audience a special pleasure, and she took a notable part in several most delightful concerted numbers. Mr Charles Walenn was Sir Joseph Porter, the First Lord, j and he played the part in the glorious traditional manner. His clear articulation would have pleased Gilbert himself, who always insisted upon the vital importance of that quality, and the celebrated song "When I Was a Lad," was sung in a manner which enabled everybody present to follow the words perfectly. Mr John Ralston, as Captain Corcoran, was surprisingly good, and his songs, "I Am the Captain of the Pinafore," and "Fair Moon to Thee I Sing," were given with very fine effect. Miss Williamson was Little Buttercup, not as rotund as is sometimes seen, and the part was most adequately played by her. Mr Bernard Manning made a sufficiently grotesque and dynamic Dick Deadeye, and Mr Lance Fairfax was quite a proper bluff and burly Bill Bobstay. The part of the charming Hebe was taken-by Miss Mabel Gibson with every success.. Notable numbers sung were the glee, "A British Tar is a Soaring Soul," the ensemble, "Oh Joy, Oh Rapture Unforeseen,"■ the duet, "Things are Seldom What they Seem," by Buttercup and the Captain, the splendid trio, "Neiver Mind the Why and Wherefore," by the First Lord, Captain, and Josephine, the duet, "Kind Captain, I've Important Information," by the Captain and Dick Deadeye, and the ensemble, "Carefully on Tip Toe Stealing." Tho chirpy part of the Midshipmite was taken by a little lady who suffered an undeserved anonymity the choruses were given with splendid vigour. . l In "Trial by Jury," Mr Bernard £*r» g ' ?, 9 tho Jud « c ' a » d Miss Path Russell as the plaintiff, sustained with credit the leading parts.

"PRINCESS IDA" TO-NIGHT,

idyllic stage picture*, and the melodic chirm ?L m ?VV he ,?- umber * (Particularly thSJS hat fall to Miss Strella Wilson) make Princess Ida ' worth seeing and hearing As Queen of the feminine colony Miss WH son ts at her best, and gives a most impres- ' fnrn"!!r en {°^ r ] P characterisationT T n Invocation to Minerva" and "Life is But a Broken Toy" her beautiful soprano voice r s hMr , d '° <? n advantage. There are many Z e 'i, U • d .WJ 0 ™) d3msel * among ?he duellers an the Adamless Eden, and they appear to most advantage in the second actafter the male interlopers break in As Hilarion, the lover- of the princess, Mr Jas Hay has a part to his liking, an d he simrs Mr Oh.R \\\ °»" " OM ,'-" King Hildebrand, Mr Chas Walenn as King Gaina. and both these veteran artists give clever displays Misses Winifred Williamson (Lady Blanche) and Path Kussell (Lady Psyche) "are iS coil (Cyril), Lance Fairfax (Plorian), Bernard «&* and ' John B^ne (SeyaihLc»i;i The . re . ,s ,fome exceptionally fine orchestral music m "Princess Ida," and the instrumentalists, under Mr G. Slapoffski, do full justice to it. "Pirates of Penzance" will be staged to-morrow afternoon and evening, this being the final appearance.