Masterton Philharmonic Society.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume IX, Issue 2903, 19 May 1888, Page 2

Masterton Philharmonic Society.

" Trial by .Jury."

After last night's brilliant performance before an absolutely orowded Theatre, there being upwards of five hundred persons present, it must bo .admitted on all hands that the Masterton Philharmonio Society as a new musical organisation has achieved an enviable reputation, and there is now only left the, in comparison, easy task of maintaining it. We think the Society was wise to associate comic opera with its opening performance, for the Masterton public is one that would best like its music not too profound, and would need to be introduced by easy stages and by gradual education to anything in the direction of what is commonly termed " heavy." The members of the Society, too, would need muoh the same treatment, for many of them, although tlio audience last night would never have guessed it, are new indeed to music's teachings and melody's charms. Despite the wetW weather which

prevailed all day yesterday, it'was evident soon after the doors of the theatre opened at half past seven that ' thero was nothing to fear as far as p audience wa3 concerned, for thei'Mras simply an absolute rush for seat^somuch so that the ticket-taking provision was entirely insufficient, and many got in retaining their tickets, : and some, it is reasonable to sup- " ■ pose, -without at all burdening themselves with these, as a rule necessary passports. It might be here suggested thatas far. as the dress circle is concerned, there should be at least two if not three attendants. Last night wroug seats were taken under misapprehension owing to the absence of a qualified uslxorr The location of the different classes of ticket, holders is open to at least con- ' sideration,' it not improvement. The gallery is certainly not tho bo3t of vantage either to see or hear added lo which it is generally (though not so last night), badly ventilated or else draughty. The demand for reserved tickets was, as well, quite beyond its accommodation, and though . there are really only two good rows of seats in it, the whole available space : and more besides was eagerly taken before hand. It might thus be wjgply " questioned whether in future it I®ld not be better to reserve the front tflreequarters of the ground floor at 3s, the : gallery at 2s, and the present pit at Is. Before concluding our introductory • remarks, ive mustjomplinient the ; Society upon eecuring Mr B. W. Porritt as Honorary Secretary and Treasurer for the thoughtful, and admirable ■ , provision made for the reception of - the audience, and the general business arrangements were in a great measure solely in the hands of this gentleman, who if he cannot be spoken of as the " much travelled" can be alluded to as the" very energetic," in his CNfc bined capacity of resident advapSl : agent and business manager. The first portion of last evening's entertainment consisted ot a concert programme. The opening item was . an overture by Mozart, which was well rendered by the Philharmonic : Orchestra. This was succeeded by a " beautiful and familiar operatic chorus by that popular composer, Wallace, . which was very intelligentlwand ' effectively interpreted, thebasP&um and the side drum greatly enharioing the power, and body of th fortissimo passages. Balfe's "Sailor Sighs" duet by Mrs Hooper and Mr Coleman was also enjoyable, but the lady was evidently troubled by the bad acoustic properties of the stage and building, v and was not nearly in such good voice as later on in " Trial by Jury," when the drawback mentioned becoming, familiar wa3 overcome in the most gratifying manner. Prom the same ' cause, Miss Nellie Kibblewhite'spianoforte solo was almost inaudibWat ( times in the gallery, audit was quSa, impossible to form any conception. , whatever of its merits. The piano, , too, was not nearly powerful enough. . . . , for a large hall. In "The Yeoman's Wedding" Mr J. H, Bowe secured the first and only encore of the evening,and the audience by their emphatic applause amply testified to the singer s : popularity. Mr Bowe respond with " Annie Laurie." ."r .

"The Turkish Patrol" by the Orchestra was an intelligent illustration of the gradual approach and subsequent , disappearance of a body of soldiers, the pianissimo and fortissimo effects being cleverly realised. This item concluded the first half of the evening's entertainment. The interval of teu minutes was certainly lovers' timo in duration, but the audience were very good natured, and listened happily to the strains of a pretty waltz played at sight by. the orchestra. Just as the pit were beginning to become playful the curtain rose to " Trial by Jury," and then from the first note to the audience were spell-bound, and be taken even as a compliment'to the performers that applause was denied, for as a matter of fact the eager spectators and listeners were too much engrossed in the progress of the musical scene before them to even think of breaking the charm. We have already reproduced and therefore neafcnot again explain the plot of thiso™etta, which it may be said is one of the lightest of Gilbert and Sullivan's creations both from a musical and from a dramatic point of view. The opening chorus last night was rendered amidst considerable oxcitemeufc on the part of both vocalists and audience, and consequently was not so steady as it might have' been. The singers in what was a novel experience to many of them, rather neglected their music in having a look at the "house" in front, and at first did not settle down. The audience were greatly taken by the Court scone, and their comments for a few moffients on the various characters altogether prevented even the chorus being heard. The Court presented a most animated spectacle. At the rear were bariMgrs and attorneys seated at the usualwS while the whole front of the stage was occupied by the jury and by a motlisjf group of Court loungers and. fittnuenters. Among the latter. wei'#o be seen a Salvation Army lass, who never for a moment ceased selling " War-Crys," pestering everyone from the Judge to the policeman to prav ohaso her holy literature. Female vegetable' hawkers, venerable specimens of the Mother Gamp family, and most funny of all, the renowned Mary Ann Mumbles, who, impersonated by a gentleman not previously unkuown to dramatic fame, was the life and soul of all the fun. ( The jury were a most nondescript lot, and were moire like a lunatic asylum out for a holiday than anything else we know of. There seemed to be in their ranks more samples of imbecility than would be met with in a British jury of real Hfe, and this is saying a good deal. The audience were greatly diverted by their antics. The Salvation army was represented on it by an individual typical of the departedlfeain Buolsingham, and the way helidministered to all and sundry spiritual com-; fort from a black bottle was fearful /md and shocking to even the most prog® Thero was also a fop, the.character being, it is said, an art-study from real life. So natural indeed was this representation that we an told the origiual of the stetch, who was among %

audience, had to prick himself with a pin to assure himself of his own presence and individuality, while tiiose ?md softly murmured, "Fashioned so slendc.'ly, Young, a .d so tail'." Tlioro wore, as well, among the redoubtable twelve, other equally wonderful and intensely amusing individuals including a precious being oi the Biinthorne variety, a gentleman farmer, mine host of the" Pig's Nose," a quaker, Ac., &c. Indeed, so numerous wore the characters depicted, and so incessant was their stage business and funnyisms, that the musical portion of the performance was rather neglected by tho audience for the dramatic effects. Tho performance is supposed to last three-quarters of an •^Jiour; last nightit was compressed into 1 jjhout forty minutes, ami so rapid were '•jL/'" tho incidents, and so enjoyable the ' vocalisation that everybody was surprised when the finale came. Of the principals, taking ladies first, Mrs Geo. Hooper, as tho plaintiff, was perfection in the arduous character allotted to her, and her music and acting wore throughout rendered in an artistic and natural manner, which did much towards the opera's success. Set opening solo, " Time may cast a ifrade," and the introduced air, " Si Tu Savais," were gems of vocalisation, while the piquancy of action and the grace of the fair but slighted bride were sufficient to have won an oven more susceptible judge and jury than those she had then to deal with. Mrs Hooper's bride's dress of cream satin and lace was exceedingly handsome, and together with those the bridesmaids, all tastefully attired, made up a scene of charming and bewitching beauty perfectly irresistible. The defendant at one time during the course of the trial offered to mai'ry the plaintiff and a bridesmaid, out was told that would be 'burglace.' We think ho was very moderate in his aspirations with such attractive surroundings, Of the gentlemen, Mr Gant, as the Learned Judge, and Mr R, E, 0. Coleman, as the Defendant, must fairly share the place of honor between them, Both lmd an equally important role as central figures in the drama, and both ®tted themselves in a maimer which was very creditable indeed, and provocative of much pleasure to the audience, Perhaps from a musical point of view, Mr Coleman's singing would rank first, for lie sings with the graceful ease, the perfect phrasing, and a precision which would be hard indeed to equal,while Ins voice is wonderfully sweet and sympathetic, Mr Gant, while for vocalistic ability little behind, more than compensates by the amount of" go" arid experienced dramatic effect he throws into his part and his lifelike interpretation of the part M the Judge was exceedingly enjoy- • *tble. Mr J. 11. Rowe, as Counsel for the Defendant also rendered his music with marked ability and was in exceedingly good voice. His solos throughout were well sung, and his character was appropriately dressed, Mr A. EJ Bunny, the Counsel for the Defendant, Mr Gasldll tho Usher, Mr Jackson the Frogman of the Jury, and Mr EffW, Porritt, as Clerk of the Court, were each and all very good in their respective parts. Mr J. H. Kibblewhite, one of the jury, also deserves a word of praise for the manner in which he not only enacted his own "business," but beforehand drilled his fello.v-jurymen in theirs. Mr A. Koisenberg, the conductor, is to be complimented on the good results of his efforts, and last night's performance says much of his ability as an instructor, There was at times a disinclination to ignore his guiding baton, and on several occasions, especially in the choruses, tne time suffered iii consequence, but on the whole everything mpsed off very well. The scenery and appointments were suitable and reflected creditably on the ingenuity and skill of Mr A, M. Bradbury, who provided them, The orchestra, which consisted of about twelve instruments, was also very efficient, and Mrs Paige's accompaniments on the piano, played with that lady's accustomed taste and exprest, much helped the general good it.