PATIENCE.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume X, Issue 3121, 5 February 1889, Page 2

PATIENCE.

The Masterton Amateur Operatic- \ JP Society had a fall dress rehearsal 6f '. fei : "Patience" at the Theatre Eoyallast . : . night,-. The scenery'-lias just .been; ".'■"■' completed by Mr A.: M. Bradbury '".. who was specially engaged for the - : work, Thecurtainrises and discloses'- ■ the exterior of Bunthorne Castle, In -'.;' the gloaming, stretched on the lawn. '■':' ' in front are some twenty -love-siok maidens,.in aitistio"postures< .'.'-. testhotio'dresses adopted by those who ' ■■■ • '■■■. were earned by the (esthetic craze ~- ' some time ; book ; |n. England.' This picturesque group ; is discovered by -,.-':■ Patience, a village milkmaid. The '.'■' maidens are singing a plaintive ditty, and accompanying themselves iipoil ' Ai'chaic instruments.''Patiencefails lo understand the meaning of all she, . - sees' and hears and is about to. retire'Jß when the maidens invite her to come amongst them, and make an effort to' " - explain their aim and object, At this ,'■ juncture the Dragoon Guards, who ' - have just halted in the village appear' upon thosccno but are rejected by the maidons, who "caro nothing: for' '■'■'-: ' fleshy men of full habit "The Guards . are greatly enraged at this proceeding . "".' and the 'opportunity is to- ;■ * introduce some capital songs inVhioh dire vengeance is 1 sworn against >-j'. Bunthorne who has captivated.:''.J(Kthe hearts of the maidens.] The second act is a' glade with a '.->'.■ placid lake showing. 'huthe. diskiice';' •:■ , Lady Jaue (one of the maidensjf ia ."• i just discovered singing, and a<fcompanying herself on the' - violin Jello.' ■: She is : still true to Bunthbrnej but ' " the other maidens have tranfered- ', their affeotions to another' fesljietuv ' ' poet, Grosvenor by name, ' Sfomev :; light and pretty music follows.- 1 Jhieihi officers of the dragoon guards, (induing'that their bright and hai'dsbme '■'• uniforms would not attract the : ' maidens, adopt theteathetio costume .■• and present themselves in' suits of '- " cobwebby grey velvet" and sing a': : ' - very pretty trio. - Being new.at' the (esthetic business they very naturally make some very grave mistakes, but eventually succeed, in captivating tiro of .the maidens. The opera closes ■' with ■';■' -Bunthorne being discarded, or, as he' terms it "crushedagain," and he ■■■ has to be contented with a tulip all his life. - The (esthetic art receives a severe How, when Grosvenor and the ladies reform, and once more become common • place people, and • return to the ways of this every-day ; ' ; world. The singing thbughout is. excellent, and, the performers aro/Bl ably supported by an efficient and'""X full orchestra, under tho able "i ship of Mr Pearson,; jjff\