AMATEUR OPERA

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2577, 27 September 1915, Page 3

AMATEUR OPERA

"LES CLOCHES DE CORNEVILLE" SUCCESSFUL "FIRST NIGHT." "Les Cloches do Comvillo," a comic opera Lu three-acts, by Robert Planquotte. Oast: — > Henri < (Marquis do Corneville) ■ Mr. Frank Charlton Grenioheux Mr. Harry Dunn The Bailee Mr. D, A. Kenny Gobo Mr. Alva Shaw Christophe Mrs. H. D. Bridge Gaspard ....'. ••• '• Mr. H. G. Shakes Manetto Miss Marie Fix Jeanne '....; Miss Beryl Goring Gertrude Miss Ruby .Tackson .Susanne Mrs. Mentiplay Catherine '. Miss May. Mason. Scipion ; Miss Marie Fix Cermaine .. Miss Anno Sullivan Serpoletto Miss Isabel Wilford Many moons hare waxed and waned since.the merry, sparkling melodies of. "Les Cloches de Coruoville" first -delighted the ears .of wondering Parisians. ■Tiiat was at the Folies Dramatique away hack in 1877. Up till that ,time Robert Planquette had been known as a facile writer of- chanson and music for tiiio cafes'and cabarets of Paris, but with tho production of' "Les Cloches" he rose at once to he esteemed us the equal of his contemporaries, Audram and Offenbach l . Its , supcoss. was: instantaneous; all Paris within aweek .or two was whistling the most popular melodies, and wnen it was transplanted to London 1 the following year-the same - electric success • was ! achieved.; Ever since "Los'- Cloches" has been played somewhore' or' other in some part/ of the world. Though , its style has become old-fashioned, and, to -modern eyes, . just.'; a little , stilted, its delicious melodies, splendid choruses, clean.'-humour, and:■ .well-defined dramatic interest, liave served ,to keep the old opera 'aliyej particularly ' 'with amateurs, who regard it as a. safe standby. 'The Wellington Operatic Society .Was not ill-advised when it selected; the work, as Saturday evening's performence; demonstrated. Not that it was by any . means a " perfect performance. Amateurs should not, in sneer justice, be criticised on their _first performance; Everyone is over anxious,-and. in many cases that anxiety acts on ; the nerves, and incapacitates the performers from showing to tho best advantage.. This Was' tho 'case; on Saturday. Perhaps the most common fault, and one that is made by professionals oh first nights (which we very: seldom see) was that of not I waiting for the applause, some of the lines being entirety lost by being spoken through the' "bis." Ail the characters should speak louder and with mora animation, and pay niore _ attention to , ehunoiation in.- their singing. Oh some occasions only those who had purchased books 'of-.- the words .knew what. wa's toward in that regard. On.; the other side of . the picture, the chorus' is probably the best tho society has; ever had, and the ensembles were distinctly inspiriting to hear... 'The- tono was ever so fresh and bright, v and if ; they could only be' persuaded to watch Mr. Page's baton a little more cjosely ;the" pleasure given would bo enhanced. There was a' tendency' i-o; bolt oh occasions; hut to -hear snch chorales as "Let Our Torches," "Silent Heroes," and the merry ensembles of the finale of the first act, was a rare treat, whilst .tie stage piotures-presented .were. distinctly arresting in their picturesque-' ness. A

The oast was especially, interesting, inasmuch as they were each . and all tyros in amateur opera, • not one of the leading principals having played a; responsible paVt before. TJnder such circumstances some indulgence is duo in measuring the value of tlioir per- ' formances; ./with: :audiences may. effect much within a night or two. The dominating . character-vis- • that ofGaspard, fie ..ancient miser,, who "is' thought io be no end; of a rogue in hoarding up, the revenue of '-the rCoriie--ville , estate, legitimately left to his wre,'and of which he. is able to render a strict account, though loathe"-to part; with his beloved gold on the return of the young Marquis de Conieville. This part, ma2e famous in England by tlio lato Shiel Barry, was enacted b,v Mr. H. G. Shakes, who skilfully and with;iine intensity represented the varying moods of the mean old "tyrant. Mr. Shakes was inclinod to make, Gaspard too feeble Sn the first acty where he . is .really a very hale old party, able to climb up; the old chateau and play the. ghost .nightly, to the alarm; of the' villagers. iWere he made, a little .more robust, tlio change to the broken old man in the last act would be much more effective. 'Mr.' Shakes was quite forceful in tho big dramatd scene where Gaspard loses his reason at the end of the second act, and was: accorded an ovation, well deserved in one so young and inexperienced. He;,was, however,. at- his best aV the frail, emaciated wreck: of .his .former self'in the final act, where his memory plays hide-and-seek ' between the' bars of : "Tooral Looral." . . His make-up -xeis good,and there,: were, gl'inpses" of comedy, in the man as well

as the part. Miss Annie Sullivan made a. very sweet Germaine, nea,t of figuro and attractive in feature, and sang with delightful ease and confidence. wo number was hotter sung in'the whole opera than the haunting "Legend, of the Bells" by Miss Sullivan, whose softtoned, musical; mezzo voice was always in tune.' There were times when her dialogue and lyrics were not. very well defined. Enunciation, is a first essential in interesting an audience. Miss Sullivan promises to be a valuable acajiisition 1 to the society. Another extremely valuable discovery is Miss Isabel Wilford as Serpolott-e, who has' all the flair and aplomb of a soubrotte of experience. - That her fine work did not alVays "get over" was because she is a soubretto in miniature—-iii perspective. Her-singing voice is small and peaky, so is her speaking voice, but her acting was .surprisingly finished, her movements natural and,easy, and her I pose .as arrogantly flippant n£\Serpo* lette's should be. It was Miss Wll- - dainty grace, and forwardness more than her singing that made the solo "I May Be Princess" .such a success. She was also pleasing in'tho "Cider .Song"' in the first'■ act,; when simulating; the airs of the grand lady Serpoletta would like to be. Mr. Frank Charlton was rather stiff and; solid as the Marquis, but sang the music (which is written very high for a baritone) very well indeed. More animation in action and dialogue would improve his performance. The same remark applies to Mr. H. Dunu, who has a tenor voice of good quality; which lie as yet hardly knows how to use. Mr. D. A. Kenny made a highly-amusing Bailee, and Mr. A;-, Shaw as Gobo must bo credited with an eccentric comedy performance of some quality. His dance in the last act delighted the audience. Mrs. H. D. Bridge cut a handsome figure as Christophe, and Miss Marie Fix acted ,witli spirit as Manette and Scipioii. The: orchestra was patchy in its work, j but will do better. to-night. Indeed, there is every reason to •conclude that I this week's season will be the most successful in the history, of t/he society. The chorus teems with Wellington s prettiest girls, and the manner in which j they .carol t'he tuneful clioruses that | star the opera is a compliment to the I training they have undergone under the direction "of Mr. Bernard F. Page, who made a successful debut in Wellington as a conductor of "opera. The scenery is exceptionally picturesque, notably the fishing village of t'he first act, and the gloomy old chateau of 'the second; the 'groupings and ! Stage movements speak volumes in praise of Mr. Tom Pollard; and tEe costumes, both of principals and chorus, are. extremely: pretty and picturesquely true to period. The Maypole Dance, which commences thei last 'act, is a; feature that -added a- rustic charm to the .raise en scene. '■ . -. •.•'.'."Les Cloches de. Corneyille ' : will be performed at the Grand Opera House forthe : rest of the, • week. Jlio whole of the profits aro to be devoted to the Wounded Soldiers' Fund.