COMIC OPERA SEASON

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2376, 4 February 1915, Page 7

COMIC OPERA SEASON

"lOLANTHE" A BRILLIANT SUCCESS. "lolanthe," a fairy opora in two acts, by Sir W. S. Gilbert and Sir Arthur Sullivan. Principal characters:— The Lord Chanoellor...Charies It. \Valenn Earl Mountararat .Frank Wilson Earl ToUoller Edward M kcown Private Willis Albert Ravanugh Strephon G. ViUiers Arno < lolanthe ••- l lcarl uM Fairy Queen ... ... Ethel -Morrison Phyllia Gladys Mononotf Scintillating brilliance, sparkling wit, and exquisite satire are the constituent elements , of Gilbert and Sullivan's fairy opera "lolantho," which was successfully produced at tho Grand Opora House by the Williamson Comic Opera Company before a. largo and higlilyoppreciative audience last evening. As a whimsical satire on the Britisii Parliament, aud, incidentally, the British the opera 'is one of the greatest acnievouieiiLa ui ino lamous collaborators, and stands as high in the public favour as "The Gondoliers." 'With his characteristic and genial , irreverence, (iifbert makes deligntful sport of our national dignitaries, and his whimsical caricatures convert the frosted, stailiedglass constitutional official into an or(linary human being, with ordinary, frailties and cravings. So, in" "lolantho,".tho witty librettists jests with the House of Peers, and indulges in frivolous revels with the Lord High Chancellor.". . ■',- ■. ■

The. story opens in Arcadia. lolanthe, a fairy, uicurs the wrath of tho i-'airy Queen for marrying a mortal, and' is,, banished to the depths of a froggy pool for her indiscretion, but.as fairyland has become dull and stale without her, she is pardoned. Her son Strephon, a shepherd, is only half a fairy—. ns far as the waist —and his mortal legs are a source of worry to him, for while his fairy half can penetrate a keyhole, bis legs, being mortal legs, refuse to follow.. Strepndn loves, and is loved by, Phyllis, a ward in Chancery, and the Lord Chancelloi refuses to consent to an alliance between his ward and a, common shepherd. In fact, the Lord (Jhancellor longs to possess Phyiis, and in pursuit of his desire is compelled to apply . to himself to marry his ward.' Strephon invokes the aid of tho fairies, and they decide that he shall enter Parliament, and with tho aid of fairy influence, pass all the Bills he likes to introduce. There is a rift in the lute then, for Phyllis, whose heart, by the way, is besieged by a bewildering galaxy of- Peers—Earl Tollo'ler and Eari Alountararat being the principal contestants —perceives Stropkon kissing his mother —who looks young enough to be his young sister—and declines to believe that a girl who looks like seventeen can possibly have mothered her lover. .Then the scene changes to the palace yard at Westminster, where the gay comedy finds a happy culmination. lolanthe is the Lord Chancellor's wife, but is forbidden by her vows in fairyland to reveal her identity to him. But she breaks her vow for Strephon's sake, , and is only saved from death by the confession of the other fairies that they, in their weakness, had meanwhile married off all the Peers. , The Fairy Queen, unable to bring herself to slay the lot, forgives her, and solaces iierself by marrying the sentry. ' And the House of Peers goes up sky-high, wings and all. • - ■ The performance last evening, all through, was very good.indeed,- and the opera went with a swing from the rise to the fall of the curtain. As the Lord High Chancellor Mr. Charles Walenn was excellent. His acting bad the essential Gilbertian touch,. Ms enunciation was so clear and distinct that the wit of the author lost nothing in the telling, while his songs were sung with inimitable drollery. Mr. Edward H'Keowu, ae Earl ToUoller, end Mr. Frank Walenn, as Earl Mountararat, though not heavily burdened, had opportunities for good work in the songs allotted to their respective opportunities of which they made excellent use. Mr. Wilson, in the song, "In Good King George's Glorious Reign," had easily the .most popular number of the opera. Having regard to the present international struggle, and the coincidence of name in the present occupant of the British , Throne, the song chimed with the public sentiment, and was received with the greatest enthusiasm. Neither Mr. Wilson nor Mr. M'Keown, however, is beyond criticism. Mr. Wilson is apt to allow an air of casual indolence to envelop his personality as he moves about the stage, as if he were a trifle bored, while Mr. M'Keown, is inclined to be stiff and unbending, a fault much leee noticeable in his work in "The Gondoliers." As Private WilIjs, of the B Company, ■ Grenadier Guards, doing sentry-go at Westminster Gate, Mr. Albert Kavanagh had very little else to do but look what he was, a typical soldier, minding his business ae sentry, and oblivious to his surroundings. -He"has one song, which he sings in a manner which suggests that the atmosphere of his role has affected his spirits,' for it lacks that 6oupcon of animation which imparts a "go to a good song. Mr. G. Villiers Arnold b seen to \his greatest advantage in "lolanthe," where he plays Strephon. He does conscientious work, eings his songs well,' and uses a very pleasing voice to advantage. But he has the air of being nervous, and a- curious habit of following with his lips jthe words of he or ehe to whom he is for the moment talking, and a noticeable restlessness of the eyes rather sharpens this impression. Miss Gladys Moncneff, who made such a favourable impression iu "The Gondoliers," was delightful as Phyllis.' She has a very fine voice, and her singing is'clear and vibrant, while her acting is exactly suited to the role of a dainty and elusive maiden who balances the hopes of rival suitors with provoking impartiality. Miss Pearl Ladd as lolanthe, was excellent, and her singing left nothing to be desired. Her great opportunity—and triumph—is the scene with the Lord Chancellor when she reveals herself. As the Fairy Queen, Miss Ethel Morrison was given the role of a kindly martinet, maintaining a firm discipline over fames and men, but quite human withal, and she filled the role acceptably. "lolanthe" will be repeated this and to-morrow evening, giving place on Satuvday evening to "The Mikado.