The Republican journal., 1910-01-27
Iolanthe; or the Peer and the
Peri.

Gilbert and Sullivan's Comic Opera Sue
cessfully Presented January 10Th and Goth
Under the Auspices Of the Belfast Par
lor Musical Society.
The Gilbert and Sullivan opera "Iolanthe"
was successfully presented in the Belfast
Opera House on Wednesday and Thursday
evenings, January 18th and goth by local talent,
and attracted large and enthusiastic audiences.
The cast was as follows:
The Lord Chancellor, Ralph I. Morse
Earl of Toloer, Orlando Titherington
Earl of M oun tararat, E. S. Pitcher
Private Willis, (of the Grenadier Guards,)
John Parker
Strephon, (an Arcadian Shepherd.)
VIM. Robertson Jr
Lord Chancellor's Train Bearer, NJ c. Murch
Queen of the Fairies, Susan Wescott
Iolanthe, Ia Fairy, Strephon's Mother,)
katherine C. Quimby
Celia, Marion Heal
Leila, Fairies, Katherine Brer
Fleta, ! Bertha Wiley
Phyllis, ian Arcadian Shepherdess and Ward in
Chancery,) Evelyn Frost
FAIRIES Frances Howes, vema Mitchell,
Abbie Doak, Ethel Flood, Louise Read,
Marion Knowlton, Edith Gium, Florence
Hill, Alice Whitten, Gode Curtis Emma
Pitcher Carolyn Hatch
PEERS.-Arthur johnson, A. I. Gay, Willis
Hazeltine, Elon Gilchrest, Chas. Merli-
am c, E. White, Frank Mixer, Luther A.
Hammons, Chas. Coombs Leon Beck
with, Herman Merriam Clarence Hall.
There seems to be but one opinion as to the
manner in which the opera was presented; and
of those, one and all, who took part, it was said
that he or she had never sung or acted better
ormade better stage appearance. It needed
larger stage to give the opera its full scenic
effect, but in all other respects the presenta-
tion was alike successful and enjoyable. The
costumes were made for professional presen-
tation of Iolanthe in Boston and of course were
correct in detail. The costumes of the fairies
were fresh and pretty, and so were their wear
ers; and the fairy trio-Lelia, Celia and Fleta-
did well their parts. Iolanthe when she rose
from the bottom of the river and shed her
weeds-not widows weeds, by the way--was
a dream of loveliness and her voice rippled
melodously and joyously as a mountain
brook. Strephon, for whom we are deeply
indebted to our neighbor, Searsport, was all
that could be desired in his part, and Phyllis
never acted with more spirit or sang with
better effect. Their dlet in the first act was
alone worth the price of admission" The
Queen of the Fairies maintained the dignified
mien due to her position and charmed her
hearers in the solo in the second act with her
cultivated voice. The Lord Chancelor's make
up was nimitable, as was his acting, and his
solos and soliloquies brought down the house.
Earl Mountararat and Lord Tololler did their
part in moving the audience to mirth in both
song and dance; and, take it all in ALL it was an
exceedingly well balanced performance of stel-
lar magnitude. The opera, written for audi
ences on the other side of the pond, contains
many illusions and hits that would naturally
be lost on an American audience but there is
enough remaining to tickle the ears of people
everywhere and the music is bright and catchy.
And that serves as a reminder that the orches-
ira should come in for its share of commenda-
ton. 1t was re-enforced on this occasion by
two of oldtime-if we may be allowed the
Xpression-musicians; past masters in the art
of drawing the bow-Mr. X. ?. Chase, bass
viol, and Mr.. C. o. Poor, cello The musical
director was Mr.. a. w. keene, formerly of the
New England Conservatory of Music