MR. W. S. GILBERT.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXV, Issue 202, 24 August 1904, Page 11

MR. W. S. GILBERT.

If is sornr time sine- -thp popular aiifhor rf "Thr Pirntc* of Penznnce." ; "H/M. = . T»in»fore," ami othrr equally. woll-liiinwn musical plnys has delighted London audiences with a production from his versatile pen- anr! the nn-noun.-foment of this now play of his (wisiil nil Ibo more interest find curiosity from thfi fact thfit it? nature was kepi n most profound secret until the Ip--i t'lir.nto, ?::>'- a Tionip paper concerning Mr W. S. 'flilbfi-rs new play, "The Fniri;■«' Pilomwi." whioh has recently been produced in London. The utmost- prt'ffHitioTis wore taken to jruard against <!'■<* smallest eluc cseapii'LT us to it> character before the right time. Rehpar>s»ls wore conducted with Hie iron curtain clown, and all doors approaching the etage were locked

to eveTTir.e except those actually re- j quired by the author and manager. I Mr Gilbert :s always as secretive ns . this when bringing out a new plaj ; but there is <">ne thing—when at t the secrc: is divulged, it is alwnys son? ethiug wr'. 1 . worth waiting for! I Like that other eminent plaj Wright, j Mr Henry Arthur Jones. Mr Gilbert j n-.skrs a point of personally cdnduotrug; ail rehearsals of his own playsj and see- j inn that- everything is carried out to \ the letter as it is set down 'jn the li-[ brrttn. | Kvery prop., every actian. eveiy j ge- ture must be "just so." and m*k> be- j rid» any artist vviio dare excufja him-' sei; with "Oh. it'll be all right on the j nirrht!" \ During the dress rehearsal of "Jiis play "The Pirates of one of the ■ actors, on being esked to sing, and nnt | hum through, a line of recitative, made; use of the above remark. ! Mr <iilbert flared up. and thundered o-.i. "It's for the public to ji'dge wt">ther it's all right on the night! I'm here ■ to see that it's all right at cue dress rehearsal!" ' An instance of Mr Gilbert's ' c perniclc*. ety' , ways where rehearsals are concern- ] ed i- given in a little story told by "i1.A.1 , ." I At a dress reliearsai of "The Sorcerer."' at the Savoy, the •well-known , netcv Mr Rutland liirriugton, in the : ecclesiastic attire of his character, spoilt! an otherwise dignified entraarco by bring-! ing in with him a small, flighty-looking ca)ie. Hi- was about to dmp languidly into sonar, when Gilbert, who wa« eon-J I ducting the rehearsal from the orchestra, called out: '•Til like io know what yon think you I represent—fho Church or Tattersall's?" "Why! what's the matter?" inquired actor in surprise. "Matter!" retorted the author angrily—"that cane! That cane!" "Oh: won't tins do just for now?" , pleaded V,: Barrington. I "It. may do for yon!" shouted Gilbert. ' "But as ). have done, nothing to deserve I it. this rehearsal dijesn't go on till j you've got the proper stick!" And it d'dn't. A tnessenger was sent off post haste to search the Strand for j '}; • required article, and not until he reI t'.'.nieil, p.ccompuniedS by an ebony stack wii h a plai" ivory handle, ■was the rei hefTPiil allowed to proceed! Mr Gilbert ta,kfs great delight in occasional liille sp-in-Ing matches, and one night, at a partyi, he was trying in vain for a long time- to "Gnaw" Sir Francis Burnand, < he renowned editor of ' "Punch." But it was no good — Sir Francis wasn't, having any. A little

later in tfee evening, however, Mr Gilbert wer.t np to him. and said. Ah, Burnnnd. it must he rather gratifying to be editor of a paper.like yours, and. have so many good things sen: up for publication!" '•Yes." replied "Punch's" editor, compietelv off his guard for the moment— "yes, I must confess it is extrem iy gratifying!" , . "Then why on earth don't you r"t <> ra in?" cried Mr Gilbert. Quick repartee is certainly not one of Mr (filbert's weak points. After a large dinner party one evening. Mr Gilbert was standing near the front door, waiting for his hat and coat, when a swagger young man came up to Ivin, and, taking him for one of the men-servants, said: "Here! Just call mc a four-wheeler, will you?' . The dramatist looked him up and down, and then said coolly: "Well. I certainly couldn't call you— er—handsome!' .