"Iolanthe"

Feilding Star, Volume IX, Issue 73, 8 December 1887, Page 3

"lolanthe"

A notice of the Wanganui Harmonic Society's recent performances of " lolanthe" may be interesting to our readers in view of the proposed production of the opera in Feilding tonight. Place mix dames I The Fairy Queen (Mrs Cordoza) looks and acts the part well, and her magnificent contralto voice is thoroughly adapted to the low music she has to sing. lolantbe (Miss Turner) is an accomplished singer; and, in her last song when she appeals on behalf of her son to the Lord i Chancellor, fully redeems any little Prefects in the pathetic portions of her dialogue. 'Cetia (Miss L. Kitchen), Leila (Miss Leys), and Pleta (Miss E. Gerse) are all well suited to their parts, as respectively the saucy fairy, the gentle fairy, and the dignified fairy. Celia and Leila have some pretty solus, and Fleta's By- play is very clever. The other fairies look lovely in their Grecian robes, and are all well up to their duties, whether those be to dance, or to sing, or to abuse those "very wicked Peers," or to make love to them. Phyllis (Mrs Oulpan) could scarcely be excelled in her lively and difficult role, in which she often has to receive the wooings of a whole stageful of lovers at once. Strephon (Mr Davidson), Phyllis' first lover, was a little nervous on the opening rounds,, and thus made a slip or two in his words, but on the last night he was perfect. Mr Allen's conception of the Lord Chancellor is a lively and amorous, though "just and kindly," old gentleman, "anxious to maintain the dignity of his distinguished position," though apt, on occasion to forget it — notably when, on hearing of hie probable success with Phyllis, he relieves his feelings with a dance, much to the astonishment of Lords Tolloller and Mountararat.. The parts of these two noble Earls are allotted suitably to Mr McLean and Mr Culpan, respecti rely a haughty and an easy-going peer. The audience thoroughly enjoyed their, affectionate dialogue in the second act. Mr McLean has several pretty solos in the first act, and Mr Culpan a very effective mock-patriotic song in the second. Mr Turner, who plays the sentry, has a funny song, and is suitably rewarded by the gift of a pair of wings, and the hand of the Fairy Queen. The "dignified and stately" Peers are performed by a collection of gentlemen of all shapes and sizes, in coronets and robes of great brilliancy. Some of the groupings on the stage are very effective from the masses of contrasting color ; while some of the movements, when fairies and peers are all on, present a very kaleidoscope of bright tints and shimmering gold and^ silver.. The first fairy scene, the peers r procession, their offering of their coronets to Phyllis, and the quarrel scene, are among the most notable displays in the first act. In the second, the entrance and circular processions of fairies and peers, each night, excited applause, and the " Don't go" scene, deserved more than it obtained. The sad retreat of the fairies, when deserted by the peers, moved all hearts ; and the "Aiaiah" scene was very telling. The final, with its solos, choruses, and dances, must be seen to be appreciated. • _