THEATRE ROYAL.

Globe, Volume XXIV, Issue 2490, 30 March 1882, Page 3

THEATRE ROYAL.

"PATIENCE." The long-expeoted performance of Gilbert and Sullivan's latest produotion "Patience" took place laat night before a moat unsympathotio audience, to unsympathetic as to but feebly welcome alike old favorites and new aipirants for pnblic favor. The production of the pieoe was on a scale whioh has not hitherto been seen here, the parts throughout, not alone the principals, but the acoesaory ard subordinate ones, were filled in a manner deserving the utmost credit, and the piece was put upon the stage in a manner whioh which would not have done discredit to a London theatre. Yet, as has been said, there was a glcciality about the audience whi must have rendered the work of thoso engaged in the produotion of the pieoe very much more difficult than it wonld otherwise have been, owing ta the utter unresponsivenen of the audience. It would be imj 'Y , s on a first hearing of the opera to do that amount of justice to it* production which it deserves, alike from the feet that it is entirely new, and also that ti properly appreciate it one must witness it two br tbrca (imes. Tne remarks upon it on this occrion p-re tber.fnre necsEsarily general, but speaking of it ei a whole, it may be said that the performance was throughout a genuine and pronounoed tuoccES. Every point—and this is a piece full of gocd things—was m?de with great effect, and every ono in their r:jpc;tive parts acquitted themselves excellently, so much so as to nuee the audier:r3 'n f»ti ti forget the fiigidity which seemed to envelope them, and applaud most enthusiastically. F«rat then as to the piece it:elf. Speaking ?-i gc-isr. - ' * iter, here and there the music hss a strong likeness to parts of " The Pirates of Penzance." Taoso who were familiar with the latter opera, and also with others by the rime compo:srs, could ]-*t r'ght in ps-*i rccofcc'se bi*" whioh reminded them of them. This was more particularly noticeable, it may be remarked en passant, in the opening chorus, "Twenty lcc-siok maidens." Tb'i bears a strong resemblance to the chorus of the daughters of the general in " The Pirates." The music in the or.2ra es a wnole is excellent, more the song, " I cannot tell what tbii love may be ;" the duet, " Prithee, pretty m»'den," and the sestette, " I hear the eoft note." In what may be csllcd the highly comics', style of musio, nothing could be more laughable then the quintette, "If Sapbir I ohoore 1 1 marry," and the duet, "So go to him." This latter is intensely funny, and the art'stic way in whioh it was sung added, if possible, sti" more zest to the humor infused by the author. Mies Alice Kaon, who played the pa»u of Patience, possesses a charmingly fresh, sympathetic voice of great range and power, and is evidently an educated musician. Her opening solo, "I cannot tall," wes. sung with great ski'l and effect, and in the duet, " Prithee, pretty maiden," the gem of the opera, her fine voice was heard to great advantage. This secured the first enoore of the night, and it well deserved it. The song, "'XVue love," was also very prettily sang, and in the ensemble whioh closes the first act Mies Bees' high notes rang out fuU and clear. In the second act Miss Eees sang the ballad, " Love is a plaintive song," very artistically, the only objootion to it being the introduction at the end of a cadenza, whioh hardly seemed in keeping with the oharacter of the ballad, Whether this was striotly the composer we are unable to say, but with this exception it was an excellent specimen of pure vocalization. The dialogue, which throughout the part is full of humor and satire, was well given, and, as a whole, Miss Bees may be congratulated on having made a most successful debut. For the part of Lady Jane no better representative could be imagined than Mdlle Andree Navaro. To borrow the words of the opora, she was throughout intensely soulful, entering most thoroughly and completely into the humor and spirit of the charaoter. A considerable portion of the dialogue falls to the share of Lady Jane, and Mdlle Navaro gave it with a point and piquancy whioh made her oharacter stand cut in bold relief. In the second aot h?r 'cello playing was a splendid bit >E business, well worked up, and most .rtistically carried out, and she sang the Ecitative, " Sad is that woman's lot," and the fallowing song, "Silvered is the raven hair" excellently. But it was in the duet with lunthorne, "So go to him," that Mdlle. lavaro achieved her greatest triumph. It ri not alone her singing which wes good, bit her aoting which completely brought d(wn the house and evoked the compliment of a double encore and the only floral offorin; of the evening. In this the composer has exielled himself in humor and fun, and Mdle. Navaro appeared to have so entirely caight the spirit of it that, equally with Mr Venon, she was really splendid. Mdlle. Na-aro fully shared with the prima donna the honors of the evening. The rapturous madens as pourtrayed by the Misses Eldred, Beaie Royal and Lillie Ford were excellent, and this trio of ladies deserve very great prase indeed for their rendition of the parts filiated to them. Mr Vernon's Bunthome is a study. With great powers of faciil expression and histrionic ability the jart could not have been better filled had the tuthor written it especially for Mr Vorron. His music, too, was sung throughout rith a keen sense of humor, and his impersonation must be seen to be appreciated to the fill. Signor Verdi, who was in splendid voice, olayed Arohibald Grosvenor most artistioally The duet with Patience in the first act, ha song in the second, "A magnet hung,' 1 and the duet with Bunthorne, " Whe> I go out of door," were all given with g:eat effeot. Signor Biccardi, who his many fiends here will be glad to weloome once more, payed the Colonel with his usual care and suoiess. He sang the patter song in the first act very well indeed, and the same may be said of the song, " When I first put this uniformon." His musio in the sestette was also art stically rendered, and in the trio whioh ociurs in the second act, he was heard to advantage. Mr Beaumont was the Duke, and gave a capital rendering of the part. His solo, "Your maiden hearts," was nicely sung, and in the quintette, too, he was very good. Mr Forde, though only having a small part in tbe Major, made a great deal out of it both vooally and histrionically. The choruses were excellent alike in tune and time, and the dresses most appropriate. The scenery, 100, deserves high oommendation, both seti being exceedingly good. The orchestra, under the baton of Signor Giorza and the leadership of Signor Tramaglia, did their part it the work in a manner deserving of high prtise. Mr Williamson has effected a number cf alterations and improvements so as to add t» the comfort and convenience of his patrons, and it is to be hoped that his enterprise will meet with the reward it deserves. The opera will be repeated toi night.