Opera Scotland

Old Guard 1895Mr Horace Lingard's Comic Opera Company

Read more about the opera Old Guard

Horace Lingard's company toured for several seasons with a repertoire of French operettas by Offenbach's successors.  Here we have a two week Dundee run - three performances of the Fife-born librettist Henry Farnie's adaptation of Planquette.  It alternated with three performances of Pepita (by Lecocq) and six of Falka (by Chassaigne).

The playing order was:

First week: Mon 09/12 Old Guard, Tue 10 Falka; Wed 11 Old Guard; Thu 12 Falka; Fri 13 Old Guard; Sat 14 Falka.

Second week: Mon 16/12 Pepita; Tue 17/12 Pepita. Wed 18/12 Falka; Thu 19 Falka; Fri 20 Pepita; Sat 21 Falka.

Further Scottish dates to be confirmed.

The 1890s was the height of the period when Dundee - formally created a city by Queen Victoria in 1887 (the first in Scotland) - was the city of Jute, Jam and Journalism. As well as several newspapers, there were a number of periodicals such as The Bellman and The Piper o'Dundee, some of which are preserved in Dundee's Wellgate Library.

The Bellman : Friday, December 13  1895    p8

Dramatic Notes - Her Majesty’s Theatre - The Horace Lingard Comic Opera Company

            The engagement of the Horace Lingard Comic Opera Company has turned out as was expected - most popular with all classes.  To those who have heard them in years gone by, their present appearance has recalled pleasant memories, and to others the martial music and stirring action of The Old Guard, and the tuneful ditties and boisterous fun of Falka have come as a delightful revelation, while the enthusiasm of the large audiences nightly shows itself in vigorously demanding many encores and calls before the curtain.  On Monday evening, Planquette’s 3 act military opera, The Old Guard, was produced, and went from start to finish with that smoothness and verve which might be expected from so experienced and capable an organization.

            Of Mr Lingard, as Polydore, nothing but praise can be said.  One who has played the part nearly 1000 times must be as nearly perfect as can be reached, yet withal he went through the part and trolled the numbers with as much relish and vim as if he was only yet catering for public favour.  Gaston, the young noble who enlists as a peasant, is entrusted to the capable hands of Mr Fred Parr, and whose finely cultivated tenor voice shows successfully in the various songs and duets, but perhaps more successfully in the latter than in the former.  Mr Frank Sutton, the possessor of a fine baritone voice, appeared as Captain Marcelle, and made the most of the part; while Mr George Ascot had not very much scope in what he had to do as the Marquis.

            Miss Rita Presano is an excellent soprano with a voice of splendid quality and strength, which she uses most effectively.  Her personation of Fraisette was marked by naturalness, ability and good taste, her rendering of “In the days of the old regime” being particularly admired.  Miss Olive Marston made a smart and dashing Cantiniere, and executed a dance which was encored.  The other parts were all well undertaken, and the several choruses and concerted pieces were rendered in a most creditable manner, the singing of the Marseillaise being specially effective.