"THE GONDOLIERS."

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 189, 19 January 1915, Page 5

"THE GONDOLIERS."

GILUKUT AXJ") SULLJVAX REVIVAL. A RRIIJ.IAXT rttOinVTKHS' ,' •"The Gondoliers," as stage,: \ li'.ght' by the J. C. Williamson Ope .. was the finest pkee of operatic - . li.it .has been produced in-New Pi ~;:i for a great many years. It cxti. . at all •'■ romts. The Gilbert and Sullivan operas. ■ still stand as lilie greatest of ligjifc lyrics, not only because of their delight- ; ful music and melodies, but because of the cleverness and quaint humour of the dialogue, gorgeous costuming and scenic I .settings, and line orchestral work. In each and every department the company now touring is fully competent to express the intentions of die brilliant com- .- posers. Xever has there been finer ihojriw work heard here, ar.d particularly appreciated was the work of i!;u male chorus. "The Gondoliers'' eontainjnvany ', solo gems, and these were mterprewl last night by artists whose singing was above the standard set by even'the best of recent touring opera combination?;:'" Many of tha delighted patrons of but"night's perforru'.nce dee'ared that ,i vcn. '. ; Kid they iheard no. more than .Mr F.d'-y. .ward McKeown'.s magnificent n.-nderin,* .'■: of "Take a Pair of Sparkling Eyes" they,, would have been amply rewarded. Mr McKeown has a great tenor voice, and' , .he lias fully earned all the enconiums - ' lavishly bestowed on him by the cVy puss for his work. His companion in fortune and misfortune, Mr Frank' Wilsen, also made a very successful appearance, and his acting earned tfi.r hearty plaudits of the audience. Miss ' Gladys Moncneff, for whom critics )>vodict a great future, used her line • j-v praiio voice to good effect in solo, .I'irl'. ' connected work, and delighted her a-i.l:-' ence, bjing associated mostly with tho kingly gondo.'icrs and Miss Katie May/ 1 vho is also an exceedingly aceonipli.i'i-'d' ■'.vocalist and dimsi ;i-,e. The principal, characters included Mr Chas. R. Wal-- ■■'■ enu as the Duke of Plaza-Toro. With-*.',:■ cut a versatile comedian in this vole'..■' the second part would be devoid of* sparkle, but Mr_ Walenn proved him-' self a prince of comedians, and the , audience fairly rocked in its unrestrained! glee, ,Ho is said to be the first "Duke".'. '■ who has helped to contribute to the '• fame of "The Gondoliers," and it can certainly be said that he got the utmost out of a part that was written and designed for just such a laughing disposition as Mr Walenn brings to bear upon the part. But all the parts wer* ■ '.veil taken, and/it is unnecessary to further in-lividuatisc. Rather would the 'writer dwell upon the effective rendering of the orchestral and chorus work throughout, the magnificent scenic -ejects, brilliant dressing, and the swift and smart repartee which are inseparable from a successful production of (he tpera, together with the excelh 1 !!.' ■nf tho ballets, which so delighted the audience. The audience was not as larg, as might have been expected at a revival of the work of these ever-popular 'writers, but it is safe to say tihat a so--,vrl •production, profiting by the •rent gained by the huge <mccef,r 'a-<fc night, would open to a packed the:!t:-.~