“H.M.S. PINAFORE.”

Globe, Volume XXI, Issue 1661, 17 June 1879, Page 4

“H.M.S. PINAFORE.”

Mr H. Towle’s operatic class made their re-appearance at the Theatre Royal last night, the work chosen for their second venture being Gilbert and Sullivan’s comic opera “H.M.S Pinafore.’’ Out of materials flimsy as gossamer the united efforts of author and composer have succeeded in constructing a Work of unquestionable merit. The music possesses all the characteristic features of Arthur Sullivan’s style. It is light, sparkling, and melodious, with quaint phrases running through it that haunt the ear long afterwards. Considerable constructive skill is •bown in the concerted nieces, which are tolerably numerous, and there is a bizarre originality about one or two of the melodies that stamp the character of the entire burletta and make one wish to hear it all over again. The choruses are simply perfect, the harmonies being nicely balanced, and the instrumentation showing the hand of a thorough maririan. Some of the solo* are sweet and tender, and account in a great measure for the great popularity the opera has achieved in both England and America. The plot, though slight, is exceedingly funny, and sparkles with the (rue “ Bab ” ballad wit. The hits, at naval administration are conceived in the happiest vein, and provoked shouts of laughter, even at this distance from the Admiralty. The success of “ H.M.S. Pinafore ” nevertheless hung in the balance, at least as far as Christchurch is concerned, last night during the first aot from the excessive timidity and mavoaise honte of one or two of the leading performers, who exhibited a gaucherie and indecision that went far to weary tbe audience before they hod time to enter into the spirit of the thing. As a setoff to this the orchestra acquitted themselves admirably under the baton of Mr Edmonds. They played with a precision and crispness that was of immense assistance in carrying the piece through successfully. The scene, admirably set and painted, represented the quarter deck of a xnan-o'war anchored off Portsmouth. Captain Corcoran {Mr H. H. Lang) has a daughter, Josephine, who is beloved by an ambitious A. 8., named Ralph Eaokstraw (Mr H. Towle), by whom Bis passion is reciprocated. The captain wishes her to wed Sir Joseph Porter, First Lord of the Admiralty (Mr J. Holmes), who is also in love with her. Sir Joseph has a first cousin, Hebe (Miss Arethusa May), who has matrimonial designs on him, and lastly there is Little Buttercup (Signora Venoata), who aspires to the affections of Captain Eaokstraw. The evil genius of the story is another A. 8., Hick Headeye (Mr Walter Hill) who conspires against everybody and is a species o£ Mephistophelian Wormwood. These amourettes led to a succession of ingenious complications, which must be seen to be appreciated. Ultimately Little Buttercup sets things right by divulging the fact that she exchanged Captain Corcoran and Ralph Rackstraw in infancy, and matters are balanced by their changing dresses and positions. The new-made commander pairs off with Josephine, the Captain with Little Buttercup and Sir Joseph with Hebe. As mentioned previously the music was very taking. The first gem was “ Mrs Oripps,’’ sang by Little Buttercup, which was heartily applauded. A good scona, “ The nightingale sighed for the moon’s bright ray,’’ by Ralph, with a very effective chorus sang with aplomb. Ralph follows this with a pretty aria, “A maiden fair to see,” also very nicely sang by Mr Towle. The succeeding number was a recitative, song, and chorus by Captain Corcoran and sailors. The air is lively, and the way it was sung was perfectly satisfactory to the audience. One of the prettiest melodies in the opera was a song by Josephine, “ Sorry her lot who loves too well.” Sir Joseph Porter’s first song, “ I am the monarch of the sea,” with tho chorus of “His sisters, his cousins, and his aunts,” was another of the songs likely to become popular. Another song and chorus by Sir Joseph, which bore a strong family likeness to the Judge’s song in “Trial by Jury,” was one of the liveliest, but was not done justice to by the vocalist, who might have been singing a hymn as far as he exhibited any appreciation of humor, though the lines of the song bristle with wit of the true Gilbert flavour. The qualifications of a British seaman furnished a good opportunity for a capital trio for male voices, and was exceedingly well sung, though here again a little more animation would have made it more telling. The first act terminated with a taking dnet for Josephine and Ralph, with a well worked up finale for all the characters. Up to this point the opera, as a whole, had gone very flat, the gentleman who played the captain, although singing very well, being almost inaudible in the dialogue, and Josephine (Mrs Talbot) being apparently overweighted both by the musical and dramatic requirements of the part. She looked exceedingly pretty, as did Miss Arethuse May, who appeared to great advantage as Hebe, singing the music allotted very creditably for a first appearance n opera, and more than making amends for any vocal shortcomings by her arch acting. Mr H. Towle was in very good voice, and made a good part of Ralph, but the part of the opera, as far as acting went, was the Hick Headeye of Mr Hill. Ho has rarely ever played better, and he was warmly and frequently applauded. The second act opened with a very pretty serenade *Fair moon, to thee I sing,” sang by Mr Lang, who had apparently made up his mind in the interval between the acts to “ go in ” for acting, and the result of his determination was a marked improvement to the opera, and shewed that tho singer really possessed the qualifications of an actor as well, and to the termination ho materially contributed to its success. A comic duet between the Captain and Buttercup brought the house down, the words being as funny as the air quaint. A scena for Josephine was succeeded by an effective trio, and then came the very best buffo song in the opera, or rather duet, entitled “ The merry maiden and the tar.” Mr Hill and Mr Lang were vociferously encored, and had to repeat it. A good ensemble led up to an octette and chorus; another legend for Buttercup brought on the finale, in which all the characters sang the most striking melodies of the opera, blended in the most artistic manner. As a whole, “H.M.S. Pinafore ” is calculated to tax to the utmost the abilities of professional actors and vocalists, so that it is scarcely fair to gage its merits by a semi-amateur performance, creditable in many respects though it was. Uo doubt nervousness had a groat deal to do with the dragging of the first act, which in any case would have gone much better but for the interpolation of songs foreign to the opera, and introduced presumably to lengthen it. This was a mistake, though it gave Signora Yenosta, who was in grand voice, an opportunity for displaying it in the “ Bay of Biscay,” This artiste rendered invaluable aid to the opera, and was warmly applauded. The piece was wonderfully well put on the stage, the costumes being new and appropriate, and tho scene a perfect realisation of tho deck of a man-o’-war. “ H.M.S. Pinafore ” will be repeated this evening, and on Wednesday night Yerdi’s grand opera seria “Ernani ” will be produced.