"H.M.S. PINAFORE."

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XIV, Issue 229, 8 October 1879, Page 2

"H.M.S. PINAFORE."

One of the most enjoyable entertainments we have had an opportunity of witnessing in Nelson was given by the Opera Corap.ny last night at tbe Theatre Royal, which was crowded iv every part. The plot of the piece has been published before in our columns, and there is no occasion to repeat it now. It is only necessary to say that from beginning to end the opera abounds with humorous dialogue, and pretty, sparkling music, which fully accounts for the immense popularity it has gained. It opens with a sailors' chorus, and while it is being sung " Little Buttercup " (Miss Hunter) appears on the scene, with her basket of good things, and sings the charming little song " For I'm called Little Buttercup— dear Little Buttercup," which at once placed her on excellent terms with her audience. Bill Bobstay (Mr Lowe), the jolly old boatswain, has a capital voice, and acted throughout with much spirit, and a keen sense of humor. The character of Dick Deadeye appeared to us to have been rather misiuterpeted by Mr llodson, who represented him as the funny man, full of jokes aud antics, instead of one who was soured by the manner in which Nature had treated him in making him repugnant to his fellows by his hideous face and figure, and who therefore took delight iv seeing his brother seamen wretched, and marring all their schemes for enjoyment. Ralph Rackstraw, (Mr J. Grain) " a remarkably fine specimen of the British sailor," has an excellent voice, which was heard to the greatest advantage in his duett with Josephine " Refrain, audacious tar." Capt. Corcoran (Mr Harding) the " right good captain of the Pinafore " who is " never, never— that is, hardly ever— sick at sea,"' acted his part remarkably well throughout, and especially wben having to con- [ ceal his annoyance at the official vagaries of the «'F:r6t Lord of tbe Admiralty." Josephine, the captain's daughter, (Miss Leaf) was simply charming, her acting pretty and piquant, and her shging very pleasing indeed, and she certainly had the sympathies of her audience with her iv escaping from the match arranged for her by her father witb Sir Joseph Porter, KC.B., (.Mr Riccardi) " the monarch of the sea, the' ruier of the Queen's navee." Tnis geutleman possesses a fine voice and has a very exaggerated ideaof his official importance.and took his audieuce by storm ia the song in which he gave his biography, tracing his career from the time when he served as an office boy in an attorney's firm up to that when he appeared on the deck of the H.M.S. Pinafore in his present capacity. The moral which he deduced was greeted with peals of laughter and a loud demand for an encore. It ran as follows : — Now landsmen, all, whoever you may be If you want to rise to the top of the tree', If your soul isn't fettered to an office stool, Be careful to be guided by this golden rule: Stick close to your desk and never go to sea, And you may all be Rulers of the Queen's Navee. We have referred to the different characters in the order in which they appeared on the stage, and it now only remains for us to speak in high terms of the choruses, especially that most absurd one led by Hebe, (Miss Heath) which every now and then cropped up in the most unexpected manner " And we are his sisters, and his cousins, and his aunts." All these were given with the greatest spirit and precision, the effect being euchanced by the pantomine of the performers. The scenery, which consisted of the deck of the Pinafore, on which were seamen, marines, and a tiny little middy, while in the di.tauce was the town of Ports' mouth with craft of all kinds sailing about in the harbor, was most creditably placed on the stage, and when the curtain rose for the second act, and the same scene was represented by moonlight, there was a loud call for the artist Mr E Briggs, who appeared on the stage to receive the applause of the audience. " Pinafore " will .be repeated to night and we can cordially recommend it to all of our readers who want to spend a really pleasant evening with plenty to amuse and j eutertain them. I