The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1881-05-25
Pinafore at the ndnsio Ra11.

Our musical critic has furnished US the follow
ing account of the opera: The second performance
of Pinafore by the Amateur Musical Society took
place at the Music Han last Saturday evening be-
fore full house. Considerable Improvement was
apparent this occasion over the first perform
ance on Thursday evening, especially in the dia-
lOgue and recitative parts Much of the indistinct
ness of utterance observable the first evening had
disappeared, there being however, still some room
for improvement in this particular, which
familiarity with the acoustic demands of the
building will doub less remove.
The rising of the curtain discloses lively scene
on man-of-war's deck lot of smart sailors in
white zig edged with blue, rubbing up the brass
work and hauling ropes. The man-0f-war's men
with sundry bitches to their pants which are
nearly skin tight above and correctly wide below
the knee, gather together and sing the rollicklng
chorus that opens this famous operetta. The stage
effect is very satisfactory and natural, especially
considering the small amount of room,-the
quarter deck to the left with the mizZen-nast and
yards the brass guns on the main deck, the cap
stain, bulwarks and portfolios with the blue tos-
sing waves beyond, the distant horizon and the
clouds, and the Jolly sailors with their 1Olller
Boatswain now devoting their enthusiastic atten-
ton on little Buttercup who has come aboard with
her basket of wares. Dick Deadeye appears upon
the harmonious scene like thunder cloud carrying
with him turmoil and trouble. Deadeye, SWIVEL
eyed, triangular sort of man-of-vars man, person.
ated by Mr.. Holdsworth, was one of the great sue
cesses of the performance, and abundantly afforded
the artistic contrast, doubtless intended by the
authors, as foil 20 the more pleasing features OF
the play. With the appearance of Ralph Rack
straw the smartest lad in all the fleet, the plot
begins: Little Buttercup on hearing his name IS
shattered with remorse, being reminded of the
long ago little practical joke when she
mixed those children up" fhe part of little
Buttercup by Mrs. Harnden was very successfully
delineated. the acting being capital and improve
ment over the first performance IN dlstlnctness OI
utterance being easily noticeable. She was ap-
propriatey dressed in short dark-blue dress, with
red neckerchief and sailor hat the back of the
head. The appearance of Captain Corcoran from
the quarter deck opens the indescribably funny
occurrence between the Captain and his crew, IN
which the former Sings with considerable effort at
dignity, his own virtues interspersed with com.
pliments to the crew, but which Is made difficult
by the occasional good natured uprOarlous inter-
ruptions of the latter, especially where the gal
liant commander mentions that he is "never sick
at sea, :" and though ne occasionally says, "bother
1t, he never uses " big, big d.. This character
is well interpreted by Mr.. Swanzy who adds to a
sympathetic voice commanding figure that well
sets UfI lis Uniform If may criticize, 1t seemed
to me that he did not get mad enough at the dis
covery of his daughters intended elopenlent with
Rackstraw. The plot thickens with the entrance
of Josephine whose interview with her father, the
Captain, is brought back into the healthy satire
of the play Just as it verges on the sentimental,
by his thoughtful and earnest injunction to her
TO retire and mediate over the photograph of Sir
Joseph Porter, h. G. B., by way of reaching a
reasonable frame of mind
The arrival of the Admiral's boat with his
dozens of sisters cousins and aunts and the merry
entrance of the latter followed by the magnificent
Admiral with cousin Hebe attended III state by
trusty relocated marines introduces in full force
the rest of the drdmatis pey'soHg and offers
pageant worthy of the applause with which it
received. The brilliant costumes of the ladies,
the gorgeousness of Sir Josephs uniform and man
ner, the simple dress of the sailors, and the
rigidity of the marines, with Dick Deadeye and
the mldshlpm1te appearing IN unexpected places
made most effective and interesting tableau. In
the recital of Sir Joseph and his interrogatons of
Captain Corcoran and the sailors, the satirical
character OF the play reaches Its hlgh water mark
while the occasional choruSeS from the assembled
company are almost beyond criticism. The musket
drill of the marines Is remarkable for precision,
and the extremity to which 1t Is carried appeals
to the popular delight in effective hits. These
impassive marines are wonderfully got up; the
whole squad looking so like to a hair, that their
friends in the audience find almost nsurmount-
able difficulty in telling one from another. 1he
first act ends with Rackstraws Intended-or as
Deadeye appears to think pretended, attempt at
suicide, and his happy concliation with Josephine
Miss. Florence Luce, who personated the part OF
Josephine deserves much credit for her faithful
and sympathetic rendering of that character. On
this occasion she showed increased ease and
of manner over the first evening" which
may also be said of all the leading characters.
Miss Bernice Par1e, IN Cousin Hebe, showed much
fidelity to the theory of the character, and con-
realized the high-minded pride and salts
faction of the first cousin. The Ruler of the
Queens Nayee was rendered by Mr.. I. Il. Walker,
whose admirable personation of stiff, pompous,
particular as well as good-natured old gentleman
was i'll keeping with the motive of the play. MIR.
Harnden. as Ralph Rackstraw, with his impas-
stoned acting and melodious voice was a great
success. Perhaps, however, he appeared too much
with his new dignity as Captain,
when he and Corcoran were changed back aglin
or ''unmixed." l think on the other hand that
Mr. Swanzy as Captain Corcoran showed becom-
ing depression on losing his position and uniform
at one blow M. Atkinson, the Boatswain, was
an inspiration throughout the play, and contri-
buted greatly to the abandon of jollity, which IS
its great feature His solo, "For he is an English
man. was very.taking, though the triumphant last
refrain hardly sustained in the full tones to
which it is entitled.
congratulate the Amateurs upon their success
and believe they are pleasing the public too well
to be able to satisfy their demands with only four
performances 1t is very gratifying to feel that
our home resources are equal to the satisfactory
of a play of this kind. With our new
theatre and SO competent body of performers as
these have shown themselves to be, we may feel
that We shall not want for occasional
similar entertainments in the future.
S..-:,.I 57,f.-.e