"THE PIRATES OF PENZANCE."

Press, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20496, 15 March 1932, Page 12

"THE PIRATES OF PENZANCE."

KIND-HEARTED VILLAINS. GILBERT AND SULLIVAN SEASON. "How quaint the ways of paradox,^ At common sense she gaily mocks.' (Frederick.) And here's a paradox —that < the Victorians, who are regarded by this generation as the dullest and most self complacent lot of people wlio ever lived, could laugh—and laugh at their own foibles as pilloried by Gilbert in. the ISavoy Operas. And 1932 can laugh at those foibles, too, despite the fact that the modern world has inherited every one of them. Gilbert takes tho people of a sober world, and turns everything topsy-turvey, until it must dance, Btill upside-down, to the airs of Sullivan. He mocks at everything that seems typical of Victorianism, the infallibility of law and order, at flagwaving nationalism, at the beauty of being sentimental, at pride in being able to see the other man's point of view, seeing that to most people these things ato mere attitudes that have often to be abandoned when they are placed against reality. But there is no malice about it: the incompetency of the major-general in "The Pirates of Penzance" would never incite a mob to rise for the purpose of slaying majorgenerals, and his representation of timid policemen has not yet started a hue and cry for the recruitment of a heartless police force. "The Pirates of Penzance," which was so admirably played last night, is in the main a satire on tho false sentimental attitude of the period, an attitude that still lurks in holeß and corners, though it is doubtful whether it | often forms the motive of action. Here are pirates who fail to make their business pay because their kind-heartedness compels them to release all orphans; here pirates and policemen join in singing "Yes, the trees for very love, wave their leafy arms above," and kneel in the worship of poetry; here policemen realise that felons have feelings similar to those of honest men; here an appeal to a sense of duty is sure of success; here is even a dig at royalty, when the pirates yield at the mere mention of the name of Queen Victoria. But there is no heavy use of the big guns of mockery; all is airy, musical, done with grace and a smile, never lumbering or guffawing. The success of the performance at j the Theatre Royal last night was due, not to the ability of any one star, but to the company as a whole, who had caught the essence of Gilbert. The ensembles were excellently sung, and out of these arose the high lights of the individual performers. Mr Bernard Manning, as the pirate king, used his voice well, with ease that fitted his need to be quixotically both fierce and tender. Mr John Ralston's police sergeant was a delight, a creation worthy of "Punch," ampje of voice and form, carrying an atmosphere of authority that still could bend to smile at the ladies. Mr Clifford Cowley was the ossential horrible pirate lieutenant, red of scraggy beard, and toothless of mouth, with voice and manner fitting. As the major-general, Ivan Mcnzies was the type of the major-general, but ho seemed to think it necessary to add to the words Gilbert wrote for the part. Leo Darnton, who was the pirate apprentice, was in good voice, and in "Ah Leave Me Not Alone," with Miss Maisie Ramsay, achieved a notable success. Miss Ramsay's ' admirable artistry, shown here and through the opora, was really at its best in "Poor Wandering One." Miss Evelyn Gardiner, as the pirate maid of all work, was admirable, with a command of both vivacious and serious mood, that, allied to her singing, livened a difficult part. Misses Dawn Harding, Rona Wimpney, and Mary Ilotham, as the general's other daughters, revealed again, the. good quality of the voices of the company. And tho orchestra, under Mr Gustave Slapoffski, though unobtrusive, was rightly so, showing , a fine sense of the needs of the moment, keeping the mood of the whole bound to its essential musical unitjv /

"Trial by Jury,"*' which preceded the major piece, is a trifle, but a trifle every bit as amusing. Mr Phil Smith, who replaced Mr Menzies as the judge, had a quizzical air, and a fittingly bright mischievousness. Mr Tom Broderick, the handsome defendant, and Miss Marie Bremncr as the plaintiff, were pleasing, and the fooling of Mr John Byrne, as the usher, was in the right tradition. The others —Gregory Stroud, Clifford Cowley, Leonard Gotting, and Nancy Home—together with the jury and the audienee. took the whole along with gusto. . "The Pirates of Penzance" and "Trial by Jury" will bo repeated at the Theatre Eoyal this evening.

"THE YEOMEN OF THE GUARD." To-morrow afternoon and evening and on Thursday night, the J. C. Williamson, Ltd., Gilbert and Sullivan Company will stage "The Yeomen of the Guard," the music of which fringes on the high standard of grand opera, and it unfolds a very interesting story, which, without any music at all, would make a successful comedy drama. "Ivan Mensies." wrote a Sydney critic, "always light and spontaneous in the operas of pointed jest and sparkling comedy, proved himself in the role of.Jack Point in "The Yeom«n of the Guard" not only a brilliant comedian, but an actor able to create an-1 reflect deep feeling." Many enthusiasts of the Gilbert and Sullivan operas declare that "The Yeomen" is by far the best work of the famous collaborators, and it is stated that the present organisation gives a particularly fine performance of it. Miss Maisie Ramsay, who will appear as Elsio Maynard this afternoon and to-night l , created a furore last night as Mabel in "The Pirates," particularly in the dumber "Poor Wand'rmg One," and it is said that her singing and acting in "The Yeomen" greatly assist to wake this opera one of the most successful of the series. To-morrow night Miss Marie Bremner will appear as Elsie Maynard. Mr Leo Darnton has a good singing part in Colonel Fairfax, and so has Gregory Stroud as Sir Richard Cholmondley. Mr John Ralston has achieved one of his best successes in the important role of Wilfred feliadbolt, and Miss Mary Hotham's excellent contralto voice is heard at its best in the part of Phoebe Meryll. Miss Evelyn Gardiner is said to be fine as Dame Carruthets, and Mr Bernard Manning will once again portray Sergeant Meryll. Mr Tom Broderick will appear as Leonard Meryll. An outstanding feature of "The Yeomen of the Guard" is the Bplendid work of the choristers. On Friday night the company will stage an additional representation of the popular comic opera "The Mikado." whi<-h attracted record audiences iast week and on Saturday afternoon and evening "H.M.B. Pianofore" will be staged, preceded by the musical farce Cox and Box" On Monday afternoon and evening "Pa'tience" will be staged, and on Tuesday night the season will be brought to a with a special gala performance of The Gondoliers." ■