REAL COMIC OPERA.

Evening Post, Volume CI, Issue 151, 27 June 1921, Page 3

REAL COMIC OPERA.

Commencing oh Saturday next at the'1 Opera House, J. C. Williamson's Ltd., will inaugurate an 18 nights' season of Gilbert and Sullivan opera, commencing with "The Gondoliers." Possibly of all the works of the immortal Arthur Seymour Sullivan and William Schwenk Gilbert—generally known as "Gilbert and Sullivan ■"—" The Gondoliers ", is the most alluring. The music lilte and sparkles in true Itajiani fashion, and all who know, tlje song, " Take a Pair of Sparkling Eyes," to mention only one of the many charming numbers, will find it hard to,believe Sir Arthur'Sullivan's assertion ' that it was written slowly and with difficulty. It was at a performance of " The Gondoliers." that Sullivan met with an 'amusing experience. He had strolled into the dress circle1 in the course of the opera,,' and,, sitting down, abstractedly began to hum the song being sung on the stage. Whereupon an irascible old gentleman in front turned on him, and hissed: " Sir, I paid my money to hear Sullivan's music, not yours." Sullivan accepted the rebuke with all meekness. The special qualities whioh make for success in. the J." C. /Williamson Gilbert-Snllivan Company are an equal capacity for singing and acting, and the ability to dance a gay-spirited, yet at times supremely-courtly, measure. There can be no doubt that Gilbert and SulliN van operas hold! first rank in the regard of theatre-goers. "The Gondoliers" wijl be presented for the first five nights, and will be followed for the next four nights by "The Mikado." The box plans for these operas will be opened at the Bristol on Thm-sday morning next at 9 o'clock.