POLLARD'S JUVENILE OPERA COMPANY.

Marlborough Express, Volume XLIII, Issue 116, 14 May 1909, Page 5

POLLARD'S JUVENILE OPERA COMPANY.

When legitimate comic opera comes under consideration the works of Robert Planquette must be given a high place in the estimation. Only three operas of note were written by him—"Les Cloches de Corneville," "Paul Jones," and "Rip Van Winkle," each of which has claims perhaps greater than the quaint masterpieces of Gilbert and Sullivan, who, in collaboration, wrote for the most part around the topic or fad of the hour and brilliantly.. One might make so bold as to say that such works as "Les Cloches" and "Rip Van Winkle" will be produced again and again when future genera-. tions will not be able to comprehend, without the awkward explanatory note, what Gilbert and Sullivan were aiming at in such operas as "Patience" and "Pinafore." There is nothing outre about Planquette, who is master of the rare art of \vedding excellent music of the lighter order to substantially dramatic stories. Several of the numbers in "Rip" are recognised musical gems. "My Pipe," "The Game of Ninepins," "These Little Heads," "O'er the Billow," and the great choral number "Sleep, Mortal Sleep" will live for ever. "Rip" is a work that lends itself to lavish staging and mechanical effects. Judging by contemporary criticism Mr Pollard has taken full advantage of this, and his weird setting of the Catskill Mountains will be recognised as a masterpiece of stage craft. . ' '