"LA MASCOTTE"

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3198, 24 September 1917, Page 7

"LA MASCOTTE"

. AMATEURS IN DELIGHTFUL COMIC - ; opera: • t ''Ia Mascotte," a ,comio v opera in three Sets, by.:Audran. English translation by - H. B. Farme and E. Reece. Cast:— taurent XVII Mr. A; W. Newton ' i'riteliini Mr. Herbert. P.: Wood Pippo Jlr. Len. C.. Barnes Itocco '.Mr. Alva Shaw Varafante llr. J. Elliott jlatheo : ....' Mr. 0, H. V/yatt Guiseppe liieut. Valentine Fiametta" Miss -Isabel WilfOrd Bianca Miss Doroths*' Saunders Angelo - Jliss Ellen -Millar Luiei ' Miss Marjorie Saunders Bepno' Mrs. H. . ». Briaee (Jarlo Mis 6 Dons M Cormlck Marco .... 1 Miss Ethel Smith Paola . .: : Mrs , Alexander ' \ntonio Miss-'-Siuliiie-Broton {.Bettina 'Miss G. .Helen (3ard'ncr ■ After Witnessing the very admirable performartces of Audran s comic. ..opera • % the Wellington Amateur., Operatio Society, on Saturday, evening, ..thfere -is ■little save' congratulations to . offer... the society on ; ifhat niay lave .been.«onsider«d to have been a somewhat arfibitioua and dariAg choice. As it.was, the amateurs roS6 splendidly to the demands-ot-itis work, , and not only fired the vhst audience present with .enthusiasm for " the- p6rf6riners,. but as a * production probably exceeded that of. any previous effort. from, a purely spectacular point *ljt view, :tlianks in the mainj'tft- the - ex*iperienced .hand. of Jlr. Tom .Pollard, and the good'fiiaterial that 'was placed at I'iS , disposal. Audraai's opera'has a delicioUS--3y Melodious scoro. to begin with," and io add to its many virtues it'Ms a plot rich , in .Comedy, scenes .that " give, plenty of fetope for suniptuous dressing Quite dazzling to the eye. There'is a glad i-iot of colour in the peasants and King's ; suite in the initial farmyard scene; the second act'is a palace'6cene—a marbled interior, draped with golden satin, with a throne caponied with purple velvet— and through this stately hall . moves • a ikalaidosoopio train of trijn*iigui'ed pages, richly-apparelled courtiers, ladies-in-Vaiting, and' soldiers,- forming a seriesof stage,pittures that will not easily be 'forgotteli. Then,-'in. diitinqt contrast, the story in the third act is transferred to shady woodland,:where, under the phadow of ihe trees, an army brilliant jn scarlet tunics, white doeskins,, anil ; £litteiing Spears, celebrates. a faMous rictory, and- executes- a spectabnlar military" match, under changing lights ( of a charaoter not seen for a long time, and about whioh'all.Wellihfitiiii Avill be talking in the course of a day <sir two. This anarch, which v\>as planned .by Mr. Pollard and. executed by fifty pretty'girls, Seated ft-furore, and had to l;e .repeated ■ iagain; and again. The dressing of tho «pera is. an Outstanding feature.; In .the cOlour schemo there ai'e llaring contrasts ■And happy harmonies iii plenty, but ithere is not ,the slightest trace of amateurishness, either in the-inHhner 1 di their, making or the iyay they,are. worn. The local girls Swaggered delightfully iiv their 'unaccUstqriie'd. 'habilamehts, ond : , succeeded past all expectations in sustaining the spirit of the opera.' , The opera is based upon tho fortunes of the unfortunate King Laurent XVII, Iwho is pursued by bad luclc, 'and w'hoiio entourage become positively ■ giddy -j'*turning round threo- times" in order to avert disaster. -Tho ICing whilst bunting happens, to . visit the farrn 'of Itocfio, whose prOyefbial ill-luck has just ibeeh changed by the : arrival of a raasCotto ill the form..- of" A pretty rustic ianied. Bettina;, This, ■ knowledge ' tho 'Kihg 'gains falling into'a -vat 'if iew viine in his anxiety "to taste. it. Ho is offered another .coat,' and there . in the pocket, ho finds a letter-that tells, :ihim about' the , mascotte.' . He promptly annexes Bettina, and takes Bocco off to iconrt as w'ell, leaving disconsolate : on the farm Pippo; the shepherd, Bettiua.'s ]over. : Bitt Pipjio is'a'lad of spirit "and good looks; "whose masculine charms hayo already caught the eye of Princess Fiametta, 'a petulant, ' way ward ..creature, who is one of Laurent's misfortunes, -so that when Pippo penetrates the court in BSarch of his lover and. is persuaded 'thafc. has- deceived'' him', ho ' listenseigerly to the bold advances of the Princess, who openly' flouts her dandified '.liver, Prince rritellmi; Even the lung cdnseflts to the mesalliance-froposed by •bis daughter, in order that Pippo may not ' wiA . the mascotte,' for the. legend' goes that, if ■ she marries tbe man she loves her magio po#er ceases,' I'Yitellini is furious at being snubbed, and Bettina, ' learning'; of her Mover's ■ perfidy, consents .to marry Laurent, a train of Events that lead to a dramatic" finale. In the'second act, ' where Fritelli'ni deolares war. The final act'sees Bettina. as a vivandiero in. the victorious ; army ot i'riteliini, in which Pippo has jl3en to bea captain.' Laurent, Eocco, iind tho Pi-incess, down on their luck, wander, in as strolling musicians and dancei's,' lookihg.'for their lost' mascotte/ Eocco, finding Pippo, persuades him that 'if he marries •Bettina his luck will' depart,, but Laurent' checkmates him,': the' marriage . is v consummated, the Princess begs' for-" .giveriess *of,! the' Pi'ifice,' .afld all- cids . happily. •';■ , 1 ■ "The society has,been singularly happy; in its cast. ' lL 7 nfOrtuiiately' Miss Helen s Gard'ner (of Dunedin) was unable to -do herself justice'on Saturday owing to . a slight, affection >of ..the -throat, and, on that account' three, qf ; hei- numbers were:, bnijtted. .Histrionically,' •> however,-; .her perforniance was; charmingly natural • and' unrestrained.' , in' : the- delightful. . "Glou -Glou" duet in' the I 'first act she-

Sftflg the music most sweetly ifi the halfvoice, and was artistically supported by Mr. Len Barnes, who, with admirable discretion, subdued his manly tones to Miss Gard'ner's strength, with entirely pleasing results. Miss Gard'ner acted powerfully too in the sceno where she thinks her lover is false, and gives wearied consent to Laurent's pleading, resolving to get even with him "when she is his mother-in-law"; and in the final.act' as the dainty vivandiero she was as neat and trim in action and' figure as she was charming in manner, lliss Gard'her's performance bhould be a notable one when her voice fully returns. x\nother highly creditable performance was that of Miss Isabel Wilford as the Princess Fiametta, easily the best this young lady has given up to the present. Her Wilful ways and snappy manner as she snubs the i rince and' defies her Royal pater were part of a spirited performance that found a ready appreciation. Miss Wilford also sang arid danced well in "The Attractive Girl" scena of the last' act, in which she figures alltiringly in the gay trappings of a zingari. . Mr. A. W. NewtoUi who is all animation, added to his long list of good cotfedy performances by making Laurent a very lively and eccentric, old chap, whose punning humour kept the. audience in a constant state of giggle. Mr. Newton fduiid favour in the catchy lilt, "Wise Folk Have Always Noted," and was extremely amusing'in the ctfurt scene_ where, his dress is.torn to Shreds by his. daughter and mascotte, : who cordially detest one an&theiv The gaiety of the <;pera was also enhanced by the lugubrious humour of Mr.. Alva Shaiv as Rocco, a spare, angular figure,, without any centre of gravity who cherishes a. comic • Hatred of. the King for having originally purloined' his mascotte. Mr. Len Barnes as Pippo gave a fine, vigorous performance, free from any nervousness; in gesture juSt a little awkward. here iind there: ..He has a sterling baritone, voice of great compass, and both as an ac.tor and. singer is full of promise. He made a- favourable impression in the Wj- . fiend," jsahg the air Oftho Saltarollo dance frith great abandon,, and was encored for a very delicate interpretation of the...afietta, "Mine Own. ..Mr. Herbert "Wood was- admirably suited as Priilce I'riteliini. His diotioii was the best on the stage, and his sweet penetrating tenor found fino expression in that oharming ballad, ' Love .is_Llind, and also in the military song, The Tap of- the. Drum," a number that fired the audience to enthusiasm, in, its Tvitli the spirit of the times. Mies Dorothy >Saunders as Bianca danced with splendid-abandon iii tbe court scene, and the'principal young lady, who danced the 'solo in the fii«t act, _ deserves men- : tion;- .Minor., parts sustained by Aiiss -Ellen Miller, Miss Marjone Saundexs, Mesdauies H. D. Bridge and Alexander, aiid Miss Paulina Brown were all wen played. Mr. "W. J. Beck's scenery is a feature of the production, aftd tho judicious • lighting arrangements should 1)0 credited to Mr. 'A. DenUce and ln. staff. The orchestra wad satisfactory, it tue orchestration was the'reverse, llie latter is old-fashioned, and altogether too tlnn for modern ears. At times it gave liext Ito no support 'to the singei-s. llie playing Of the overture wasi altogethertoo subdued-it was • witli difficulty that it could be heard at all at times. That the orchestra was adequate in numbers and fluality 'was evidenced when it dul get ft:oliance to play out, as. in the inarch of the last act (by Von Suppo), and in the irierry finale of the first i.ud last acts. Mr. Bernard F. Page presided aa conductor, and Mr. .T. F. Woodward was leader. . The chorus - saiig splendidly, and was most thoroughly drilled The moving pictures _ these seventy or, oighty people made in f«rty square'feet of spaed won the admiratioh of the entire .audience, none more than thoso with a knowledge of stage technique. ,Tho work of Mrs. James Hannah as designer and Hiss Sinclair as costumier deserves the. highest commen. dation, . While the brilliant work of J!r. Pollard is apparent in every detail of the P ™La Ct Mascotte" will be played for' the tfhole of• this week. The booking is excellent, and there is no doubt whatevei that the society is in for. a good season.