THEATRE ROYAL

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2854, 18 May 1882, Page 2

THEATRE ROYAL

The Timaru Harmonic Society, under the leadership of Mr Ziesler, gave a performance last evening, on behalf of the sufferers by the recent disaster at this port. The subject selected was a dramatic cantata, entitled “ Hereward the Wake,” by W. Grist, music by E. Profit. The doors were open to subscribers and friends some short time before the admission of the general public, thus leaving scant room in the principal parts of the Theatre for those who came afterwards.' However, ample room was found in the pit. “Exclusiveness” on occasions when funds for a national purpose are wanted, is a mistake, and we feel sure, had this mistake been omitted, “ more grist ” would have resulted.

. The opening scene in the cantata is laid in Britain, just before the Conquest, which introduces the hearers to the young Viking Hereward,.and a lawless young band who form his following, introducing the chorus “ Salve Regina,” and the chorus and solo “ Bring forth the Beaker ” A quarrel with a Monk (Herluin) results in Hereward being banished by his mother (Godiva) for his sacrilege. The response of tlerewnrd, “ Heed not the lying Monk," and “ Farewell my Boyhood’s Home,” were capitally given. The audience is now introduced to, the great Saxon in his banishment, where lie makes Torpeda, (also a Saxon) his wife, a grand composition, “ Bridal March and chorus,” bringing the second part to a conclusion. The Yen. Archdeacon Harper said he had been asked to address a few words to them that evening. The object of the concert . was to .augment the. fund now being raised for the relief of the sufferers by the late deplorable disaster, and it had been arranged by the Committee that a collection should be made in the building, and he hoped a noble sum would be' collected for the benefit of the sufferers. To those who had witnessed the scenes of last Sunday, and the noble and magnificent heroism displayed, it needed no words of hisjo- commend to their attention the 'widows and others that were absolutely dependant oh the bread-winners so suddenly taken away, to induce them to open their pursestrings as wide as possible, and hot only these should engage their attention, but also those who were now lying, bruised and battered by the terrible sea. He thought it not out of place then to quote the passage, “ Greater love hath no man than this that he laydown his life for his, friend.” To those who had seen strong men die, men who had died doing their duty nobly, few remarks were needed.' It behoved those who were left to.look after the helpless. It bad been said by some that more money would be collected than was necessary. To such he said “ Wait and see,” and if such was so he was sure the surplus could be well disposed of. The history of this country was as yet unwritten, and we should leave to those who follow us some lasting memorial of the noble deeds that have been done and the'noble example that had been set. He- would like to see some simple memorial placed in the cemetery, not on any particular grave or spot, and he was sure the record would not be thrown away upon the children. He considered a portion of the fund would be well spent in this way. He would commend to the goodwill of the charitable the fund now started, and ask them to show by their generosity their solid appreciation of the grand and heroic qualities that had been displayed. The third part of the cantata returns to Britain and shows the country under the domination of the conquering Normans, the beautiful chorus, 11 Mourn Anglia,” fully expressing the scourge that had passed over the land—

Thy foes exalt in every gate, Our muted harps, our minstrel song No more the swelling note prolong, The trumpet call, the shout of biavo, Is hushed in silence in the grave. The condition of his homo being reported to Hereward, the Viking resolves to return, and gives expression to his feeling in a beautiful solo “ Short and blissful is the madness,” which was received by the audience with great applause. The return of Hereward was beautifully expressed in -the following “ Wafted by east wind,” the sympathetic music fully realising the passage of the Saxon fleet across the ocean. The conqueror summons the Saxon chieftain, who is now in the fastnesses of the fens of Ely, to surrender, and his reply : Go tell the Norman if his men Can conquer Ely and the fen The Wake will come and give his hand And own him lord of all the land. The combat is renewed with disaster to the Norman arms, serving to introduce the solo and double chorus, “ Hail! Saxons hail,” a martially written production,with music worthy of the theme, The Normans are represented as resorting to diplomacy to accomplish that which their arms have failed to exact, and by this means seduces the affections of the Viking Hereward from his wife, and the Saxon cause through the instrumentality of Alftruda. . .

Part 4 opens with tlio recitation and air, “ A noble prize to thee, my lord, I bring,” in which Alftruda extols the superiority of the power of her glance ever the mailed arms of the Norman host. The surrender of Hereward is followed by the trio, “Great Norman, thine is Hereward’s arm,” and the reception 1 by' the Conqueror of the Saxon Viking, rather as a guest than a captive. The chorus of Normans, “ Gleemen lift a trumpet strain,” expresses their delight at the surrender of the mighty Horeward. The favor of the Conqueror arouses the jealousy of his following, and some twenty Normans attack Hereward and Winter, the scene, with its accompanying music, finding expression in, Hark, a shout, my foes are on me. Traitor knights beset my walls. Winter, wake, my faithful brother, Our’s this day Valhalla’s Halls. The Viking succumbs to the onslaught, and dies regretting the sin of his double desertion. The mournful chorus of the Saxons, “ Weep for the Viking slain,” was impressibly given, the line, “ Last of the English, lie in thy long sleep,” finishing one of the sweetest choruses in the work. The concluding solo and chorus, “ A. glorious vision fires my soul, ” was a prophetic utterance by Torfrido, in which is expressed the future greatness of tha< Anglia which was then only in its infancy, and attributing the maritime successes of the groat insular nation to the Viking spirit of our ancestors. The Von. Archdeacon Harper announced, amidst applause, that the joint sum accruing from money taken at the doors, and collection insido the building, was some £54. The Harmonic Society arc to be congratulated upon the successful production of “ Hereward•” The work wont smoothly all through, and the audience frequently testified their approbation. Messrs Hilton and Gooch were the accompanists. It is a groat pity there arc some amongst us who cauuot refrain from

giving expression, especially on sncli an occasion as this, to parly feeling and National animosity, ft is exceedingly bad form to hiss simply because the refrain of certain stanzas are not to one’s taste. The honor and greatness of Britain needs no champion ; but the theory of evolution seems possible when the porcine proclivities of individuals appear so readily on die surface.