"IOLANTHE."

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume XXX, Issue 11638, 10 November 1887, Page 2

"lOLANTHE."

♦ — (By the Harmonic Sooiety.) Wanganui appears to posses* an essentially music'loving and local institution supporting populace, for whenever they are op* pealed to for theu patronage they con* J gregate in large numbers, this being more ejpeoially the case when anything out of the o/dinary is attempted. For a long serieiof yeara the Wanganui Harmonic Sooiefcy has, ' been content with the production of oratorio* " efc hoc genus omnci" which did notpjoTei of sufficient eoope for their talent*, <~ and' grew tiring by th«;r repetition, und therefore in obedience to the unanimous desires of their friends and weU-wi»hers they; determined to place themselves on a pax with the kindred societies of the coast by\ essaying the prdduotion of an opera; : The . one selected for this important eyenjiT was ! "lolanthe," one of (Gilbert and Suilifan'a: latest master pieces, and with the" 1 aid of » manifold long and frequent reheariingn they got themselves in thorough trim for its production, which took place laßt nigfit at ; the Princess Theatre, where SYOry available space both upatairß and ! data* : wa«';',t|lete ; advantage of. Tae orchestra «ompaß«fd of \ the society's- compact and brilliant ; little band played the overture with; .'meat ! precision and vigour, which althtmga by ho \ means a taking bee from a popular rjaint of view they succeeded in. making inter eafinf,, Saving preffoua , the libretit&oC - I the opera it isnptiieoespary for osto ftpro* j ; duce ib here, but will merely confine ' <$iir*« ; ■ selves t) a criticism of the performance. ' Li The opening acepe ynai a.^ery eiiguguSg onftf ft and elioited congratul^l^^e, more especially if t when its appearance woe suddenly enhanced = ; by a bevy of sweet girl fayries whoi in' j i various brilliant oostumes, caikm tripping ) \ upon the stage. They sang' thefir opening l chorus charmingly, being |e<£ very'^occe«ffullyby Misses L. Kitchen, JH. ij«yß, iod H. Grerse, as Oelia, Leila, aM FiblS, 'r^lpeo* tively, Leila's solo h«re was, viry inicely suDg. Ab Queen of the : Mm .; Cordoza appeared thoroughly at honiej hb^j ? l -i withstanding that, Irom an ezturior rjoint^ . of view, it seemed a physical impossibility . for her to " curl inßid^ a butterouo, svi^ttg • on a cobweb, or dive in a, dew«dropi" "Ha* t then " she had no objection to stoxiuieM, ih moderation." bhe handled her . part, with extreme care and was eucceßsful in ,db|i»ii(« ing a well merited encore for heir apiofin fcba • Beoondaot "Oh, foolish fay." Mi|» Turner was equally successful ia her pourtbrayal of " lolanthe," and although at first apparently a. iittle nervous she Boon regained 'her 'wonted confidence, and gained a vooiferous recall for the ballad containing her apppftl to the Lord Ohanoellor ou behalf oC Strephon. The part of Phyllis wiw.undertaken by Mrs Culpan in her uaaiil pains* taking manner; her aofcicg was natiaral and, good, and although ia some pare thejnujib:___. wnß.too high for hot range, yet in like nflSfiV:*' she acquitted herself moat creditably., M*";j, Davidson, the gentleman who impersonated ' dtrephon, is new in the ranks of our 4ooal songsters, and owns a passable voics, whiflii he failed to do justice to last mght^ .ius . - lamentable Blip shortly after starttog oauiing , him presumably to loao heart. Thl prompter should be amartor in* S*|^ "cues" upon Buch ocoasionß.. »^ anticipate a great improvement in Sirephon to-night. Mr Allen in many respeats mad* a capital Lord Chancellor and 'but for a cer« tain stilted delivery and a hoarseness,- tho^ result of a bad cold, would have, been perfect. He is always painstaking in what he undertakes knowing that "to gain success k it must be deserved." Fox. the trio and dance, in conjunction with. Lords Mouat Ararat and. Tolloller, k renewal was insisted upon, the danoing oeing .especially •• fetching." The role of. Earl Tolloller was entrastei to Mr MoLean, \ who wo cannot remember to have heard ' in bett r voice. Bis eolos were giv«n with clearness and sweetaesa, but his aofciaaf was stagey. Mr Oulpan looked, acted, and sung well as the Earl of Mount Ararat, and proved a great acquisition. Mr Turner represented Private Willis with hie usual amount of ability. The chomssa all through, both by the peers and fairies, were well rendered, although at times there aeemed to be an indecision in the voices and a lack of sympathy between them and the' orchestra. The dresses, equipments and . accessories of the opera were everything that could be desired, the sceno representing the Houses of tariiainent being ex« (remely well finished. Great praise ia due to Mr Wanklyn, to whose untiring efforts m stage manager the sooiety owo the success of their acting. Messrs Holden and Collier, as conductor and leader, and Mrs Ralfe, jas pianist, are also deserving of a token of praise for their services. We think ib is rather bad taste on the part , of some of the performers to resort to local (illusions for the purpose of raising a laugh. "lolanthe" unadulterated as Gilbsrt and Sullivan wrote it we fancy would be much more preferable and appreciated. To-night the society repeat their performance of the opera, and we have no doubt that another, crowded house will assemble at the Prinoegt Theatre to witness it.