THE GONDOLIERS.

Te Aroha News, 15 February 1890, Page 6

THE GONDOLIERS.

Gilbert and; Sullivan’s Latest. Another Savoy Success.

FROM OUR SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT.)

London, December 13. ‘ The Gondoliers ’ is a lighter, brighter, and in all respects'smarter opera than the «Yeoman of the Guard.’ It goes with a ‘ snap,’ which that production always seemed to me to lack, and no doubt benefits materially from the new blood introduced into the Savoy Company, and (though it sounds graceless to say so), the absence o the hitherto inevitable Grossmith. The truth is, of course, that Grossmith was always Grossmith, whether dressed as the First Lord of Admiralty, or as a mediaeval jester. No doubt Mr Frank Wyatt, who possesses an equally unmistakable personalty, would become just as tedious after ten years or so. Meanwhile, however, he brings a whiff’ of delightfully fresh humour with him. Sir Arthur Sullivan took his seat at the conductor’s desk punctually at eight on Saturday, aud the orchestra promptly dashed off. into a Tarantella in the composer’s liveliest vein. The curtain draws up on a delightfully busy scene. Mr Hawse Craven has given us the Piazetta at Venice just as it might have looked about 200 years ago. In the foreground are the two massive granite columns bearing the lion of St. Mark and statue of St. George. On the right is the Ducal Palace, and at the back, behind the gondolier’s station, we see the Grand Canal alive with xebecs and feluccas in full sail, and the island and church of San Giorgio Maggiore in the distance. The stage is alive with contradinas and gondoliers, and very soon the business of affiancing Marco and Guiseppe Palmieri, the pink and flower of Gondolieri, to their sweethearts, Gianetta and Tessa, is in full swing. This scene includes a bright chorusof contradinp, a burlesque of Italian recitative quite in the style of Bellini, and explanatory couplets for Marco (Mr Courtice Pounds) and Giuseppe (Mr Rutland Barrington).

We’re called gondolieri , But that’s a vagary. It’s quite honorary The trade that we ply. For gallantry noted Since we were short-coated, To ladies devoted, My brother and I! When morning is breaking, Our couches forsaking, To greet their awaking With carols we come. At summer day’s nooning, When weary lagooning, Our mandolins tuning, We lazily thrum. When vespers are ringing, To hope ever clinging, _ With songs of our singing A vigil.we keep. When daylight is fading. Enwrapt in night’s shading, With soft serenading We lull them to sleep. The wedding party having (literally) waltzed off after a twice encored dance the stage is left clear for the arrival of an illustrious if somewhat seedy family of Spanish grandees, the Duke of Plaza-Toro (Mr Frank Wyatt), the Duchess (Missßrandrum), their daughter Casilda and Luiz (Mr Brownlow), His Graces Private Drum and the call remnant of their smile. Duke. From the sunnv Spanish shore, His Grace of Plaza- f or’— Duch. And his. Grace’s Duchess true— Cas. And his Grace’s daughter, tooLuiz. And his Grace’s private drum To Veuetia’s shores have come : At,t. And if ever, ever, ever _ They get back to Spam, They will never, never, never Cross the sea again— Duke. At last we arrived at our destination. This is the Ducal Palace, and it is here that the Grand Inquisitor resides. As a Castilian hidalgo of n inety-five quarterings, I regret that I am unable to pay my state visit on a horse. As : a Castilian hidalgo of that description, I should have preferred to ride through the streets of Venice; but owing, I presume, to an unusually wet season, the streets are in such a condition that equestrian exercise is impracticable. No matter. Where is our suite ?

After some truly Gilbertian explanations on the part of Luiz (the said suite) as to the absence of halberdiers, a full band, and so,forth, the Duke to explain to Casilda (who is secretly in love with Luiz), why they have come. Duke. When you were a prattling babe of six months old you were married by proxy to no less a personage than the infant son and heir of His Majesty, the immeasurably wealthy Ring of Barataria ! Gas. Married to the infant son of the King of Barataria? It was ; a most unpardonable liberty ! Duke. Consider his extreme youth and forgive him. Shortly after the ceremony that misguided monarch abandoned the creed of his forefathers, and became a Wesleyan Methodist of the most bigoted' and persecuting type. ' The Grand Inquisitor determined that the innovation should not be perpetuated in Barataria, causßd your smiling and unconscious husband to be stolen and conveyed to Venice. A fortnight since the Methodist Monarch and all his Wesleyan Court wei'e killed in an insurrection, and we are here to ascertain the.whereabouts of your husband, and to hail you, our daughter, as Her Majesty, the reigning Queen of Barataria ! {Kneels). Duch. Your Majesty ! [Kneels). Duke. It is at such moments aB these that one feel's how necessary it is to travel with a full band. ! Cas. 1, the Queen of Barataria ! But 1 I’ve nothing 1 to ’wear ! We are practically penniless! , Duke. That point has not escaped me. Although I am unhappily in straitened circumstances at present, my social influence is something enormous ; and a Company, to be called the Duke ot Plaza-Toro, Limited, is in course of formation to work me. An influential directorate has been secured, and I shall myself join the' Board after allotment. Cas. Am I to understand that the Queenof Barataria may be called upon atany time to witness her honoured sire in process of liquidation ? Duch. The speculation is not exempt from that drawback. If your father should stop, it will of course be necessary to wind up. Then follows the thrice encored Duke s Song,’ a lively ditty not unlike the ‘ Judge’s Song ’ in ‘ Trial by Jury.’

Song - The Duke of Puazo-Toro. In enterprise of martial kind When there was any fighting He led his regiment from behind— He found it less exciting. - But when away his regiment ran. His- place was at the fore, O That celebrated, • Cultivated, Underrated, , . ■ . Nobleman, The Duke of Plaza-Toro! Ant,. Inthefirstand foremost flight ha! ha ! You always found that knight, ha! ha! That celebrated. Cultivated, Underrated Nobleman The Duke of Plaza-Toro!

and so on for numerous verses. After some love-making and a duet between Luiz and Casilda the Grand Inquisitor (Mr Denny) enters and explains how he stole the infant King of Barataria, brought him to Venice, and left him gaily prattling With a highly respectable gondolier : Who promised the Royal babe to rear. And teach him the trade of a timoueer With his own beloved bratling. Both of the babes were strong and stout, Of that the Inquisitor has no doubt, * No possible, probable shadow of a doubt, No possible doubt whatever.’ Unfortunately this highly respectable gondolier Suffers from ‘ a terrible (aste ror tippling,’ Which ‘doubles him up for ever,’ Before he can declare with a mind sincere, Which of the two lads was his offspring dear, And which the Royal stripling. 4

The children followed the defunct’s career and in due course became the pet gondoliers of Venice. One of the two is Casilda’s husband. Cas. Then do you mean to say that lam married to one of two gondoliers, but it is impossible to sav which ? Don Al. Without any doubt of any kind whatever. But be re-assured, the nurse to whom your husband was entrusted is the mother of the musical young man who is such a past-master of that delicately modulated instrument ( indicating the drum). She can, no doubt, establish the King’s identity beyond all question. Luiz. Heavens, how did be know that ? Don Al. - My young friend, a Grand Inquisitor is always up to date. (To Gas.) His mother is at present the wife of a highly respectable and old-established brigand, who carries on an extensive practice in the mountains around Cordova. Accompanied by two of my emissaries, he will set off at once'for his mother’s address. She will return with them, and if she finds any difficulty in making up her mind, the persuasive influence of the torture chamber will jog her memory. Tbe Gondoliers are then informed of their good fortune, and it is decided thp,t they must leave their sweethearts and rule Barataria jointly until their old nurso decides which is king and Casilda's husband. They resolve to take all their friends with them and rule on purely socialist principles. For everyone who feels inclined some post they undertake to find congenial with his peace of mind, and all shall equal be.

The Chancellor in his peruke— The Earl, the Marquis, and the Dock, The Groom, the Butler, and the Cook — They all shall equal be. The Aristocrat who hanks with r outts, The Aristocrat who hunts and shoots, The Aristocrat who cleans our boots— They all shall equal be ! The Nob!a Lord who rules the State The Noble Lord who cleans the plate— The Noble Lord who scrubs the grate— They all shall equal be! The Lord High Bishop orthodox The Lord High Coachman on the box— The Lord High Vagabond in the stocks— They all shali equal be! Sing high, sing low. Wherever they go. They all shall equal be! he party embark on board a large xebeque, the girls waving farewell. The musical finale is less pretentious than in many of Sullivan’s operas, but highly effective, especially a quartette for the gondoliers and their sweethearts. Oh my darling ! oh my pet! Whatever else you may forget, In yonder Isle beyond the sea. Oh! don’t forget you’ve married me.

The second act is occupied entirely with the doings of the Socialist Court of Barataria. On two thrones sit the two kings polishing up their crowns and making themselves generally useful. They have, however, one small grievance which Giuseppe explains thus ‘ Though we act. as one person we are in fact, two.’ The Prime Minister, however, won’t go into details or recognise two independent responsibilities. Giu. No ; but you can recognise two independent appetites. It’s all very well to say we act as one person, but when you supply us with only one ration between us, I should describe it as a legal fiction carried a little too far.

Anni. It’s rather a nice point. I don’t like to express an opinion off-hand. Suppose we reserve it for argument before the full Court ? Mar. Yes, but what are we to do in the meantime? Anni. I think we may make an interim order for double rations on their Majesties entering into the usual undertaking to indemnify in the event of an adverse decision ? Giorgio. That, I think, will meet the case. But you must work hard—stick to it —nothing like work. Giu. Oh, certainly. We quite understand that a man who holds the magnificent position of King should do something to justify it. We are called ‘ ltour Majesty,’ we are allowed to buy ourselves magnificent clothes, our subjects frequently nod to us in the streets, the sentries always return our salutes, and we enjoy the inestimable privilege of heading the subscriptions to all the principal charities. In return for these advantages the least we can do is to make ourselves useful about the Palace. '! ■ •

SONG.— Giuseppe. Rising early in the morning. We proceed to light our fire. Then our Majesty adorning In its work-a-day attire. We embark without delay On the duties of the day. First, w s polish off some batches Of political despatf hes, And foreign politicians circumvent; Then, if business isn’t heavy, We may hold a Royal levee. Or ratify some Acts of Parliament. Then we probably review the household ■ troops With the usual ■* Shalloo humps!’ and ‘Shalloo hoops!’ Or receive with ceremonial and state An interesting Eastern potentate. After that we generally * ho and dress our private valet—(lt’s a rather nervous duty—he’s a touchy little man) Write some letters literary ... For our private secretary— He is shaky in his spelling, so we help him if we can. Then in view of cravings inner, We go down and order dinner. Presently the pretty contadinas turns up from Venice and the whole party dance the Cachuca, which is the gem of the opera, and will be on every street organ a few weeks hence. The arrival of the ‘ Duke of Plaza-Toro Limited ’ (who has been successfully floated) with the Duchess, Casilda and a superb following of halberdiers, raises some Gilbertian complications with regard to the demi-semi married kings. These, however, are solved by the arrival of the brigand’s wife nurse, who explains that neither of the gondoliers is rightful monarch. When, traitors came to steal the royal infant she substituted her own small boy.

The villains fell into the trap completely— I hid the Prince away—still sleeping sweetly; I called him ‘ son ’ with pardonable slyness— His name, Luiz ! Behold his Royal Highness! (Sensation. Luiz ascends the throne, crowned and robed as King) and the piece ends happily for all. Luiz. When others claimed thy dainty hand. I waited—waited—waited—waited, Duke. As prudence (so I understand) Dictated—tated—tated—tated. Cas By virtue of our early .vow Hecorded—corded—corded-corded, DucflT Your pure and patient love is nqyy

Rewarded— warded —•.warded warded. All. Then hail, O KiDg of a .Golden Land, And the high-born bride who claims his hand— The past is dead, and you gain your own, A royal crown and a golden throne 1 To do justice to this exceptionally able libretto one must not omit a few lines illustrative of the ‘ Duke of Pluza - Toro, Limited.’ Casilda hurts her sire’s feelings by hinting that notwithstanding he’s, been ‘floated at a premium,’ and applied for—directly he came before the public—again, and again her new family may consider him ‘shady.’ The Duke (Limited) describes his new duties thus : Vi

RECITATIVE.— Duke. To help unhappy commoners, and add to their enjoyment. Affords a man of noble rank congenial employment ; Of our attempts we offer you examples illustrative: The work is light, and, I may add, it s-miost ro munerative ! • DUET.— Duke and Duchess. . Duke. Small titles and orders For Mayors and Recorders I get—and they’re highly delighted— Duch. They’re highly delighted! Duke. M.P.’s baronetted, Sham Colonels gazetted. And second-rate Aldermen knighted— Ducii. STes, Alderman knighted. Duke. Foundation-stone laying I find very paying : It adds a large sum to my makings— Duch. Large sum to his makings. Duke. At charity dinners The best of speech spinners. . I get ten per cent, on the takings— Duch. One-tenth of the takings. Duch. I present any lady W hose conduct is shady Or smacking of doubtful propriety— Duke. Doubtful propriety. Duch. 1 When Virtue would quash her,". I take and whitewash her, ' And launch her in first-rate society— Duke. First-rate society.! and so on through many verses to this great truth. In short, if you would kindle The spark of a swindle Lure simpletons into your clutches. Or hoodwink a debtor, .. You cannot do better Than trot out a Duke qr a Duchess.' The Grand Inquisitor has also a capital song about a golden-hearted king who. lived in wonder-working days of old, and Wished all men as rich as he (And lie was rich as rich could be). So to the top of every tree Promoted everybody. Lord Chancellors were cheap as sprats, And Bishops in their shovel hats , Were nlentiful as tabby cats— In point of fact, too many. Ambassadors cropped up like hay, Prime Ministers and suc h as they Grew like asparagus in May, And Dukes were three a penny. On every side Field Marshals vleamed. Small beer were Lords Lieutenant deemed. With Admirals the ocean teemed Allround his wide dominions.And Party Leaders you might meet . In twos and threes in every street j./. Maintaining, with no little heat. Their various opinions.

That king’s mourns the singer would have acted otherwise If he had been acuter. The end is easily foretold— When every blessed thing you hold Is made of silver or of gold You long for simple pewter. When you have nothing else to wear • But cloth of gold and satins rare, For cloth of gold you cease to care. Up goes the price of shoddy. • In short, whoever you may be. - To this conclusion you’ll agree, iWhen everyone is sombodee, Then no one’s anybody ! Of the performers it is scarcely necessary to say more than that the new comers, Mr Wyatt and Miss Decima Moore, made palpable hits and that all the old Savoy favourites were fitted as only Gilbert can fithis friends with parts. “ Fat” (in theatrical parlance) for everybody and plenty of it. The house was crammed with the conventional first night notabilities and the popular verdict seemed to be, that the collaborators had done right in reverting to their earlier methods. “ The Gondoliers” is at any rate a great improvement on both “ Ruddigore”’ and “The Yoemen.” Next to the Cachuci, two of the - ' most popular numbers in the new opera will b© the quartette, “In Contemplative Fashion’ (a marvel of contrapuntal ingenuity) and Marco’s song “Take a Pair of Sparkling Eyes.”