THE PIRATES OF PENZANCE COMPANY.

Kumara Times, Issue 1623, 9 December 1881, Page 2

THE PIRATES OF PENZANCE COMPANY.

The Pirates of Penzance Company open to-night at the Adelphi Theatre with the opera of that name. It is described in the title bs melodramatic, but it is really a mingling of sentiment and grandiloquent morality, with action as incongruous as would that of Don Quixote if he were to visit these " pale glimpses of mnon" armed cap a-pie and mounted on his comparison Rosinante. The langhter excited by the piece is not broad, Falstaffian, or of the loud guffaw of the gods, but thete is a steady gentle ripple of enjoyment that leaves no room for ennui. This is partly due to the delicate richness of the humo.i and the refinement of the music, which has that universality of character (always indicative of true genius) that popularises it in all climes and amongst all nations—and it is seldom that music of that kind is hit upon. Your Italian will not tolerate French, nor German operatic music; while the German can rarely see anything in any music except that of fatherland. Those who have witnessed the "Pinafore" will beforcibly reminded of that plot by that of the Pirates, arid also by some passages of the music, but especially in the character of Sir Joseph Porter and ALijor-General Stanley. From what dan be gathered from contemporary prints, the pieces performed by the couipany are well mounted, the scenery good arid appropriate, and the dres-es at once: sriitable and picturesque. The plot of the opera is amusingly absurd. It is almost needless to dwell on the treat the' public may expect when we state there are artistes such as Signor Cat-mini Morley (tenore robusto), and Miss Leaf, supported by such talent as Barry O'Neil, Porter, Amy Johns, Alexander, Wilkinson, and Lissant, with Mr Sydney Wolf, Pt.A.M,., as conductor.

The usual pi-ices admit to this grand entertainment; but family packets of six tickets for dress circle can be obtained at a reduction.

We arc requested also to state that so soon as the retuvns of the Parliamentary election irom Stafford and Goldsborough are in, the managers have arranged that they .shall be announced from the stage of the Adelphi Theatre j so that the correct totals will be heard at the earliest possible moment.