THE "PICKWICK" CANTATA A Successful Operetta Suitable for Amateurs.

Te Aroha News, Volume VI, Issue 360, 17 April 1889, Page 3

THE "PICKWICK" CANTATA A Successful Operetta Suitable for Amateurs.

London, February 15. Tub so-called "dramatic cantata"' o^ " Pickwick," produced with such success last week at the Comedy Theatre, will be ♦' a boon and a blessing" to musical amateurs all over the world. It is, indeed, admirably adapted for private theatricals, as the scene (M.r Pickwick's apartment in Goswell-Rtreet) is simple, the music full of melody and easy to learn, and there are only four characters — Mr Pickwick, the Baker, Mrs Bardell, and Tommy Bardell. The favourito number (soon, alas ! to be heard on every piano-organ) is the " Baker Roll," with which the enamoured man of loaves announces his advent : — Bakhw. —Morning breaks, I must awake her, Tn the yeast the sun's a baker ; You are crumby and lull weighted. Hear your balcor-laureate troll— Would you crusty bo if mated ? Listen to my baker-roll ! Did French bred man oomo a-wooing. Ho would say, " Jc suis a toi."

Mrs B.— But the baker parley-wooing Swears he lovos me more meulfois.

Bakkk. — Arab calls his lover! one merely "Milk-whito Steed," and strokes her head.

Mus li.~ Ah ! a baker's wife should clearly Nothing be but thorough-bred.

And so on for half-a-dozen verses. Exrollent, too, is the builesque parody on " My Queen," which AFrs Bardell pings reflectively, "My Next." Here is tno last verse — Will he be bVd or with curling lock on, Will he bo slim or stout or fat? Will ho bo six feet two with his socks on, A man to "look up to?" no doubt of that. Will he be always home to dinner. With what's sot before him never be vexed. Will he but there bo a saint or sinner? Ho who speaks first is— my next, my next. Tho Baker speaks firsb. Wenus of widows, don't be coquettish ; Answer, say yeb, dear, do not be pettish. I have the license, answer I pray.

Away !

A Pickwickian symphony and trio precedes that hero's entrance. Mr PrcicwicK (\yithout)— Will you oblige me with m,v gaiters? I've packed up all my other pairs ; I'm in a stnto that's almost natur's, So cannot appear downatan s !

Mrs 13.— 01 i. yo i^ods and small whitebaiters 1 What s Mr Pickwick without his gaiters?

Mr Pickwick ha<* two capital songs. One is a " romance " on the dangers which, Tommy may encounter on his journey to' the Hotol in the Borough : ,

I paid him a shilling to go on the job F .r awar in the midst of the Borough. Who'd kidnup the httlc one merely to rob The boy on the job of the bob in his fob. Far away in the midst of the borough ?

Befcter sfcill, however, is "The Happy Valet "— Mr Ptcfcwicic— A travelling bachelor needs for sociei y Someone whoso knowledge is marked by vurioty. Valet, expe ienced. famed for sobriety, And let his name, John, Robert, or Sam ; Up in the morning 1 with strict punctuality, Never unwell, with the greatest vita lily. Character free from the slightest rascality ; There's your exceptional " valet rfc n)iam," Genuine valet, not "valet tie shavi."

Then he must chuckle when j ou'ro at your rnmmicst, Also be solemn when your at your ( J ummiesf\ ■ Chcei*(ul, respectful, when your at j our chuin'JlltPSt, Never presume to take a Hbertcc. He must be hairdresser, butler, confessor, Polisher, brasher, and not amud-spccK-shunner, Carpenter, courier, gamekeeper, lecturer, And, on occasion, your secretaree. The duet out of -which the misunderstanding arises is one of the most melodious numbers in the cantata - Mi s Bardell, toll me true, In your experience, ma'am. Pray tell me does the keep of two Add much to one's expense, rua'am?

and feo on. A charming comic minuet, beautifully' danced by Mr Arthur Ceoil (who looks aa if bed jusb stepped oub of one of Seymour's sketches) and Miss Lottie Venne, follows,, and then comes another Bardell ballad — Is it a fairy vision, Voices in the air? Am I in field Elysian, If so, how came I there?

The "Bardell Bolero," which follows, excifced shouts of laughter, and was twice encored. An explanation in recitative leads to Mrs B. fainting in Pickwick's arms, and the Baker enters, warbling satirically : Beg your pardon. Ami in the way ? Having lost the Baker, Mrs B. turns to Pickwick. Mrs B. — Oh ! Mr P.. one word from you. Mb P. (sternly) : One word from me. I'll say it-~Pooh !

Mrs B.— What, pooh ! From you! Do you say pooh?

Mr P.— l do. I do. And menn it too Mrs B. (menacingly) : You'll hoar from me anothor flay. Then something more to you I'll say.

And the cantata ends with wedding bells and a repetition of the baker-roll, the faithless man of loaves and flour warbling of Mrs B. : Who proposes first, may take hor, Not to-day, though, for this Baker. * Tra la la la. Booseys have just published the score with piano accompaniment for 2s 6d.

Mrs B. -Not to-day, Baker ! Away ! But the Baker is obstinate : In half an hour I shall return Heie to your bower My fate to learn.