AN AMATEUR SUCCESS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 95, 12 October 1911, Page 8

AN AMATEUR SUCCESS.

"PIRATES OF PENZANCE." J Warm congratulations are tendered to' the New Plymouth Amateur Operatic j Society for its performance last night of Gilbert and Sullivan's famous comic! opera, "Tile Pirates of Penzance." From many points of view it was all that could be desired, and the weaknesses were remarkably few. There was a good audience, a remarkable feature .being that there were at least ten ladies to every man. The point of highest excellence about the production was the astonishingly good quality of the chorus work. The only flaw was occasional discordant tenor work, but with this exception nothing finer could be wished for. Choruses of well trained amateurs are invariably of higher excellence than professionals' work, for trained dancers cannot really sing. In point of music—chorus or orchestral, and many of the soli—the production was outstanding. It is an-1 ticipated that the particularly kind reception given to principals and chorus alike last night will give added confidence and eliminate those .small defects in. pose and speech inseparable from a first night performance. The delightfully piquant .satire of the prince of, satirists, Gilbert, calls for very special aptitude. Seriousness should never enter into the speeches. He who essays the interpretation of Gilbert should be. saturated in the intentions of the mirth specialist. The compelling feature o,f the work of Miss 0. Buckman as "Mabel" was its inuate artistry. Miss Buckman, like all players who are worth while, is nervous, for nervousness is an essential qualification of art. But she is wise to effect, and it is not sufficient for her to "sav her piece," or "troll her fey and get off," but to inspire into her work that verve and feeling which distinguishes art from mechanical entertainment. In the duet "Ah, Leave Me Not," Miss Buckman charmed with the excellence oif her vocalism the grace of her diction and the artistry of her method. This number is selected as one of the nicest examples of work that was evenly good. All "Mabel's" lyrics were sung with tenderness and conviction. For Mr. E. Clarke there can be nothing but praise. He 'essayed the role of Frederic ait the shortest notice, owing to the indisposition of Mr. HiTslam. At the final rehearsal Mr. Clarke was not word perfect, but last night, although at times obviously at a disadvantage through short study, hi 9 performance was wholly meritorious. He was in particularly good voice, too, singing with fine tone and conviction. Indeed in the soli and duets, of which there is so gTeat a wealth, he unquestionably added to a good local reputation. Mr. W. J. Smith made a breezy "Pirate King," possessing a useful and at times excellent voice, and a good conception of the needs of the character. His "I am the Pirate King' outstood, and he also gave excellent measure in the famous "Paradox" trio, illuminating it with effective gesture and natural heartiness. Mr. J. Somerville inspired into the character of Major-General Stanley some seriousness, and managed the famous patter song (sung more slowly than usual) with .some illustration. Mr. A. V. Slump, as the Pirate King's lieutenant, had a small opportunity to use a really excellent voice. It is indeed one of the best voices the society has. Mr. R. Hill Johnson, as the 'Sergeant of police, was, from any point of view, a success. He sings well, he acts well, he looks well, and he understands, and his work in that cherished Gilbertian song by which the whole world knowis "A policeman's life is not a happy one," was finished and artistic. The policemen's chorus itself was quite masterly, and the "business" not at all bad. Both Mrs. Dell and Miss 'L. Ainsworth as the two more prominent members of the general's huge bevy of daughters, gave graceful gliirapses of the characters, both singing nicelv. Mrs. W. H. Rowe was the "piratical maid of all work," and an excellent maid she was, silhouetting the points in both., lyric and speech artistically. The basses are a particularly good lot, and there is some fine material .among the sopranos. Tile costuming has been lavishly and adequately done, and, as before mentioned, the s'cenery from the brush o;f Mr. Bradbury is a fine feature. Mr. R. Neville Renaud is to be felicitated on the skill of his orchestra and the feat he has 'accomplished in the musical training for the production. Miss E. Warren's reputation as a pianist is enhanced by her work in this production. Nobody knows the troubles of a stage manager better than a stage manager, and Mr. T. Trebilco came through last night's ordeal smiling. Stage .managers don't usually get wreaths of bays, but Mr. Trebilco deserves one. To-night the company will again play "The Pirates of Penzance." Go and hear how choruses should be sung!