The Portland daily press., 1880-04-06
MUSIC AND THE DRAMA.
PIRATES OF PENZANCE.


Gilbert and Sullivans new operate extrava-
ganza of the Pirates of Penzance received its
first Interpretation in Portland at City Hall
last evening, before an audience that CON-
pletely filled the large auditorium. While the
applause never rose to a furore during the
evening, several of the numbers were heartily
encored. and very many received the favor OF
the listeners. The opera will hardly prove as
popular as Pinafore, but the character OF the
music is of higher order, and its satire is as
delicate and effective, in its way, as that OF its
predecessor. y,
AS produced on City Hall stage last night
the opera was, no doubt, as well presented as
| it could be under the circumstances. The
superb scenery that marked its production at
the Globe and Fifth Avenue theatre, OF course
was wanting. But some very pretty enects
were obtained, especially the chapel ruins py
moonlight in the second act, notwithstanding
the great stone arches would tremble ana
shake at unexpectedly in awe and fear OF
the pirates--and the sound of the creaking
boards of the stage gave the lie to the idea OF
noiseless steal-a-way on the part of the police
men. But the stage pictures were lovely.
prettiest girls that have ever been seen on the
boards in Portland, most becomingly costumed
and their grouping was always in perfect taste
and with most artistic effect. When CON-
bined with the pirates, attired in their gay
dresses, and the lime-light delicately caressing
them all. the enthusiasm of the audience
broke out in loud applause. The chorus
throughout, in the rendering of their music
showed good material and excellent drill. The
orchestra led by Mr.. John Muilaly was effec-
tive, but it consisted of only small number
of-pieces so that we cannot say what the orches-
tration of the opera is really like.
AS for the music of the extravaganza, as we
have said before, it is evidently of higher
character that that of Pinafore. 1t is true
that the motifs of some of the principal airs
seem to bear familiarity to our ear as old
friends, not only in Pinafore, but to the begin
ming of the prison scene in Trovdtore, the
song Ma premiere femme" in Earbe Bleu that
of Bois-R in the Huguenots, and Lecocqs
are others that are worthy Of Mr.. Sullivans
fame as a composer. The grand choral in the
first act, unaccompanied, received, as it de-
served, a persistent encore, as did the pirates
chorus in the second act, with its admirable
climax as they extend upward their swords in
concerted music throughout is good. The
great humorous successes of the work were the
song of Major General Stanley at his entrance
IT know our mythic history" with its furious
velocity, and the accompanying lettering of
the chorus, like so many puppets in a hand
organ, which was exceedingly comical, the
laughing trio of Ruth, Frederic and the Pirate
Chief and the duo between Frederic and Ma
bel, while the female chorus sit around in
groups of two, and talk about the weather
while the lovers are indulging in sentiment
The scene in the chapel where the Major Cen
eral says:
Frederick in this chapel are ancestors-you can
not deny that. don't know whose ancestors they
acre, but know whose ancestors they are, and, as
their descendant by purchase IF may SO describe
myself, shudder to think of the disgrace that 1
have brought upon them.'
is very funny.
But we cannot dwell longer on this subject.
and executes very neatly Her waltz in the
first act, with its staccati notes, was exceeding
ly we'll given. Mr.. Donovan (Frederic) pos
sesses good tenor. Mr.. Brocodini has an
admirable baso-or baritone, for it appears
more of baritone-and rendered his opening
aria as the pirate chief with fine effect. Mr..
Ryley as the Major General-the exact oppo-
site of the Admiral in Pinafore-was very
effective, and the other characters were we'll
taker. We should not omit to mention the
policemen's chorus, which is one Of the num-
bers of the opera.
VERY MERRY MARINER.
A full house greeted French's Opera Com
pany at Portland Theatre last night and the
opera was given to universal satisfaction