MUSIC IN PATEA.

Patea Mail, Volume IX, Issue 1133, 2 January 1884, Page 2

MUSIC IN PATEA.

Tlx© Sorcerer, The above amusing opera was produced for the first time by the Harmonic Society last night. A considerable measure of success attended the performance, and there were some faults. The plot .of The Sorcerer, briefly stated, is as follows: Sir Marmaduke Pointdextre, an elderly Baronet, has a son, Alexis, who is in the Grenadier Guards. This young gent leman becomes betrothed to Aline, the daughter of Lady Sangazure, and to celebrate the betrothal, a festival is held by the villagers. Alexis is overwhelmed with his happiness, and determines to try if he cannot bring about the union of the whole village in the bonds of love and matrimony. Accordingly, much against Alines will, the services of Mr J. W. Wells, the senior member of a well known firni of

family Sorcerers, are called into requisition; That gentleman has a specialty, in the shape of a love philtre, that seems the very thing Alexis wants. It is guaranteed that whoever drinks it will fall in love with the first person of the opposite sex met after the potion has been taken. The sorcerer mixes some of the philtre in the teapot while the villagers are assembled, and all partake"of it. The results are, of course, comical. The wrong people pair off, and there is considerable confusion. The only one who does not find a lover is Dr Daly, the vicar, who, however, is surrounded by so much lovemaking that his heart is a bit touched as well. Meanwhile Alexis has demanded of Aline that she should drink the philtre in order that her love may be tested. She refuses at first, but in his absence she takes a draught of the amatory mixture. On her way to meet Alexis she sees Dr Daly, and metaphorically speaking throws herself into his arms, to the astonishment of the worthy vicar and his evident gratification. Alexis comes on the scene, and finding Aline and the vicar love-making, denounces his promised bride as faithless The villagers assemble, and Dr Duly explains the position. Fortunately, he has not partaken of : the philtre, and is thus able to return Aline to her lover. In order to restore things to their proper order, Wells declares that either Alexis or himself must become a sacrifice to Ahrimanes, but the villagers being of opinion that having caused all the mischief he should bo the sufferer, he gracefully yields to the popular voice. With the disappearance of the Sorcerer, everybody returns to their true love, and a feast is ordered in celebration. The cast last evening was—-Sir Marmadnko, Mr E. C. Horner; Alexis, Mr J. G. Rose; Dr Daly, Mr G. D. Hamcrton ; John W. Wells, Mr W. L. Weiss; Notary, Mr G. H. Norman; Lady Sangazure, Miss Bremer ; Aline, Miss Hirst ; Mrs Parllett, Miss Hawken ; Constance, Miss B. Hirst. Previous to the - curtain being raised, Mr Tennent, the conductor, stepped upon the stage, and bogged the indulgence of the audience on behalf of one of the ladies who was suffering from a severe cold. The lady had, however, agreed to go through her part, to save it being omitted. (Applause). Speaking of the ladies, first to claim attention is Miss Hirst, as Aline. Her performance throughout was very satisfactory. She displayed considerably more animation than usual, and succeeded in proportion. The lady who played Lady Sangazure was so manifestly suffering from a cold, that the audience could not do other than sympathise with her. However she acted tolerably well under trying circumstances. Mrs Parllett, the pew opener, and Constance, her daughter, were sustained by Misses Hawken and B Hirstrespectively. Both ladies acquitted themselves with credit, singing their music carefully and being well up in the text. Indeed in the latter respect the ladies put-the gentlemen to shame throughout the opera. As Alexis Mr Rose was, we think, overweighted. He was imperfectly acquainted with his lines, and in parts the music was manifestly too high for his voice. He omitted one ballad altogether, and much of the dialogue lost point and force through being mutilated or left unsaid. Mr Weiss was even vyorse in this respect than Mr Rose. The part of Alexis is a difficult one, and it must not be supposed that its rendition last night was without merit. Far from it, but perhaps it suffered somewhat by comparison with the recent performance of Ralph in Pinafore by the same gentleman, in which he was excellent. The John Wellington Wells of Mb Weiss was not altogether successful, His “get up” was extraordinary for a modern business man with an office in St Mary Axe. Did it not strike Mr Weiss that Wells is a commercial traveller, a real downright bagman whose volubility is only equalled by his assurance. . Fancy walking the streets of. London with a skull cap, black velvet tunic with a magnified spider in scarlet 1 on the breast, bare arms, and black silk stockings. Why, Mr Wells, (as costumed last night) you would have been “run in” at once and- the respectable firm of J W Wells and Co, Family Sorcerers, would have come to “ simmery ” smash owing to the enforced absence of the senior partner in a lunatic asylum. No, Mr Wells is an “every day young man ” and not a necromancer of the dark ages. We must, however, give Mr Wciss -credit for acting a tryingpart very intelligently. He was, as we said before, very imperfect in his lines, but ho sang well, the only fault we have being a want of “go” which accompanies a pushing man of business such as he whs supposed to represent. As Sir Marmaduke, Mr Horner re-, minded us very much of the Admiral He is too vigourous. “ Fifty years ago” says Sir Marmaduke to his son, “ I madly loved your future mother-in-law.” The picture Mr Horner gave us throughout the evening was in point of strength and vigour that of a man of forty; Mr Horner, we know, cannot help having a fine vdice, but still there is with him a want of gentleness which detracts from bis success. The Notary was well, played by Mr Norman. His make up and bearing were capital, and he gave prominence to the part. Last, but by no means least, is the character of Dr Daly. It was perhaps the best effort of any of the gentlemen, and more deserving of praise. Mr Hamerton is an actor of more than average ability, but he has* if he will pardon us sayhig it, a too great tendency to allow the exuberance of his spirits to come to the surface. We could look at Mr Hamerton as Dr Daly or any other serious character, and enjoy his performance, yet we should always be prepared to see him wink at his audience or do some other comical trick to make them laugh, Once or twice last night he, spoilt what would otherwise have been, a very capital piece of acting. His singing was very good, notably in the ballad “ Time was when love and I,” which was kmdly applauded, His revering.

of the famous “. So and So” was also t effective. The most successful item in the whold opera, was, we think, the quintette between Alexis, Aline, Sir Marmaduke, Mrs Partlett, and the Vicar, when Sir Marmaduke announces that he is going to marry Mrs Partlett. This went capitally, the voices blending nicely together. We liked Alexis best in the ballad “ Love feeds on many kinds of food I know ”; Aline sang best during the incantation scene, although she gave “ Oh happy yonng heart ” very sweetly. We think the choroua entitled to a word ol praise. Numerically they are not very strong, but all endcavouied to do the best they could, and accordingly there weie no great hitches. They had the benefit of the assistance .of Miss Sparkes, who kept them well together. The scenery had been painted specially by ;Mr Clark, and gave evidence of his cleverness with the brush. The opera was well mounted, the dresses being, with the exception mentioned above, appropriate and handsome. Taking the entertainment altogether, we should bo disposed to call it a success. But how fur it was a success, only those who; have seen the Sorcerer as given by a professional company can judge. It is a difficult opera, and requires firstclass voices, and some good mechanical effects. For instance, the incantation scene last night was not very effective, while in the last act, Mr Wells ought to have been shown descending into Hades amidst coloured fires and other effects. Of course, we cannot expccL. everything to bo done by amateurs, and therefore wo say they are entitled to credit, more especially as most of them have probably never seen' the opera performed. We should like to see The Sorcerer repented at an early date, and having embarked on this,class of music, we would suggest to the Society to try something other than comic—say Maritana. That is the most charming of all English operas, and not one half so difficult as The Sorcerer. We had almost omitted to mention that during the interval Miss Sparkes, accompanied on the piano by her brother, rendered a charming little ballad with her accustomed taste.' She was loudly encored, her singing evidently meeting with the favour of the large audience. After the performance, Mr E 0 Horner came forward and asked the audience to pass a vote of thanks to Mr Tennent, this being the last concert that would be given under his regime. As they all knew, lie had been most persevering during the last six or seven years, and if it had not been for Mr Tennent, he did not think the society would have continued. He thought it was only due to him that we should wish him health, prosperity and happiness in his new office. To Mrs Tennent also wore due a hearty vote of thanks. She had been most assidious in her attention to the interests of the society, especially-in the Sorcerer, and they had no idea what work she had had while they were getting up to their present pitch. Recalled for three cheers for Mr and Mrs Tennent. These were heartily given and acknowledged by Mr Tennent in a few words. A verse of the National Aniliem - having been sung, the audience departed.