"THE MANDARIN"

Kaipara and Waitemata Echo, 28 August 1914, Page 4

"THE MANDARIN"

This township was en fete on Tuesday night last, when the Helensville Musical Society staged the above opera, which, to say the least, was no small undertaking. The Society was considerably assisted by some of the most talented school children of the place, the Misses Adeline and Hilda Ganley (premier danseuses), and Messrs E. McCormack and Harold Piper, of Auckland. By the time the curtain went up, the handsome Theatre was well filled, when Mr J. Carter came forward and asked the audience to stand up and give " God Save the King," which was enthusiastically rendered.

The opening chorus, "Slow and Stately," by the Mandarin's court ladies and his retinue of officials, Public Prosecutor, Counsel for Defence, Foreman of Jury, Jurymen, Lantern and Standard-bearers, and others, was just a little shaky at first, but improved as it proceeded. Then the recit. by the Usher (Mr L. L. Bailey) with chorus, " Belold, behold your Mandarin," was given, when in marched the Mandarin (Mr Claude White), who was made up with much pomp and seriousness, and his daughter Yung Shi (Miss Maud Rimmer)— the life of the whole performance—took up their stately seats, and gave the recit. "Such as you see Me," with a good chorus, followed by '• In Pekin I was Born," after which a number of Chinese children sang the nodding chorus, "Wang-a-lang-chang," with good effect, especially in the Chinese trot round. Then the prisoner, Lieut. John Smith (Mr I!. McCormack), was brought before the Court in a cage, and charged with the. heinious crime of being a foreigner After being found guilty Smith is let out of the cage, the ladies all swarming round him, and feeling what he's like one going to the length of trying to cut off a lock of his hair. But SmiMi, who cannot talk the lingo, takes it all in as a joke, until he finds he is sentenced to have his head cut off, Solo and chorus, " What is the Verdict," followed by the Mardarin with "You have received a very patient hearing, the Court doth sentence you to be beheaded " ; ladies' chorus, "We all Protest, we all Protest." Yung Pihi then gave a song, "O Bliss and Happiness," in capital voice, which is considerably enlivened by the chorus. The Mandarin then becomes generous, and tells the prisoner his sentence is commuted into three years in the canque without food or drink, when Smith is then put into the wooden pillory and looks a curious guy .too. Smith here renders his first solo, " Now this is a Predicament," when the Chinese dance round to the chorus, " Ta-ta, we really cannot Wait." He next" gives (very seriously) "I have been in unpleasant Positions Before." Yung Shi )who has a sort of hankering after Smith) then comes forth and assists him with '•Good-bye my Own," which was received with quite an ovation. Following on, So-Fah (Miss Hilda Ganley) who is strangely drawn to the foreign invasion, takes a hand and makes love with offers of marriage, only to be soundly rebuked by Yung Shi, for daring to talk to her future husband. The duet, " Your future Husband," by Yung Shi and So-Fah, was very nicely rendered, apparently without jealousy. Smith afterwards rendering " Dear, dear, Dear," during which period the ladies have set him free, and the three produce the trio, '• Yes, Peace is Passing Lovely," with ta-ste and precision, after which Smith drops on one knee and kisses the hands of Yung Shi and So-Fah, singing "This lowly but becoming Attitude," when the Chinese ladies enter and are startled, everybody singing to everybody else. The valse song, " Now this is Strange," by Doh-Ray-M.e (Miss J. Caundle), was pleasingly rendered in sweet tones of surprise, because everybody else had brought a fan for the interesting man and to cheer up the poor fellow, who is in reality bound to marry Yung Shi. " Bright is the Dawning " (a valse song and chorus) by Yung Shi, was all that could be desired, in a stong soprana voice, Smith (Mr McCormack) taking his part as a lover. Here the Mandarin, his jury and attendants silently enter in mute astonishment, and the big fellow declares he will instantly execute them all! The Mandarin afterwards sings his best song of the evening, " Why this Conduct ?" having a good chorus of " Oh qh, oh, torture U5 with Mustard Plaster." A red-coat in the distance is sesn. The British Grenadiers arp coming to frighten the whole plot, when the young Chinese enter with tea chests, and, singing their chorus, make up a remarkable scene by building a rampart of their chests, munitions qf war being served out ; Smith in the meantime is bound by a rope, Then enters Colonel Coldsteel (Mr Anderson) and CaptainBluff (Mr S. White) with their Squads of British soldiers and sailors, while the Chinese conceal themselves behind their rampart. The double chorus is also given by these soldiers and sailors, and so the piece proceeds, Col. Coldsteel (Mr H. giving "When the sky is all Serene " with vim and in good voice, with a '• Ready, present, and Fire " by' his army. The Mandarin is next brought along in the dreadful cage propelled by the sailors. History does not record the reason why, but when released by order of the Colonel he appears to be staggeringly funny. Anyway, he is sentenced to stand as an advertisement in a London tea shop for two years, at which he collapses, the only alternative being that he gives his daughter in marriage to the highly respectable 'foreigner, Smith, which he readily does, ai;»d so the story ends with a China Tea song by Miss H. Chamion, who has quite a charming voice. The finale, " All is Fair," by Yung Shi and Doh-Ray-Me, with a strong chorus and

handsoma setting, were excellent. At this time there must have been between 60 and 70 on the stage, which is a large and commodious one.

In their various places, Messrs H. W. Stringer, A. B. Cameron, and Tukukino, enacted their parts with distinction, while Miss Maud Rimmer and Mr McCormack also contributed the patriotic songs, " Land of Hope and Glory," and " Britannia's Sons," in a manner for which too much praise cannot be given. The dancing of Miss Adelaine Ganley in the Highland Fling was cleverly executed, and with her sister, Miss Hilda, the audience was treated to a genuine and graceful exhibition of the Tango, besides other dances. These young ladies deserve great praise for their contributions towards the night's entertainment, and especially for the manner in which they tutored the eight girl sailor boys (all in white pants and jackets), who so cleverly went through the time-honoured Sailors' Hornpipe with all its quaint and historic actions. These were re-called and called again. Mr Harold Piper, as pianoforte accompanist, had his work fully cut-out the whole evening, and the only pity is there was not a string orchestra ;to assist him, however, the gentieman froiM Auckland, as well as Mr E. McCormack"' from the same city, will long be remembered as good stock in Helensville's best efforts in comic opera. It must be distinctly stated that the Mandarin, as a " comic," is not to be compared to the Mikado, which teems with laughable situations and effects.

Mr J. Carter acted as conductor in his usual proficient style, and everyone has to be congratulated on the great success of the opera, more especially Miss Maud Rimmer, who, together with the other principal ladies, was beautifully attired in silks and satins of the Chinese pattern. The chorus singers also looked as nice as ripe apples. Messrs Becroft and Lambert were responsible for the various stage effects, for which a meed of praise must be given.

God Save The King,