Gilbert and Sullivan Opera in Colour

Manawatu Times, Volume 64, Issue 132, 7 June 1939, Page 5

Gilbert and Sullivan Opera in Colour

“THE MIKADO’’ CAST FROM D’OYLY CARTE COMPANY (State: Screening Friday.) For 60 years, the biting wit and bon mots of ex-Civil Servant and dramatic critic Sir William Gilbert and the lilting music of Sir Arthur Sullivan have thrilled the world. Somewhere one of the much loved operas of these two famous gentlemen are always being enacted. The Rupert D’Oyly Carte Opera Company endlessly tours England and makes periodical visits to the Dominions. The first of the Gilbert and Sullivan Operas to appear on the screen is “The Mikado.”

Geoffrey Loye, responsible for the adaption and production of the film version, decided that he could look no further for his cast than members oi the D’Oyly Carte Opera Company. So, with the exception of Jean Colin, musical comedy and radio star who has made one or two film appearances, “The Mikado’s” cast comprises a number of people who have never before been inside a motion picture studio. But what they don’t know about Gilbert and Sullivan isn’t worth mentioning.

Kenny Baker, the American screen actor and radio star, of course, plays Nanki-Poo, and Jean Colin will be the screen’s Yum-Yum. The role of “Tho Mikado” will be enacted by John Barclay, familiar concert and musical comedy figure in England and slightly known in America. Constance Willij who plays Katisha is a noted concert and opera singer with numerous appearances at Covcnt Garden and Sadler’s Wells to her credit. Elizabeth Paynter (Pitti-Sing) has played with the D’Oyly Carte Opera Co. for five and a half years and is well known in English radio circles. Martyn Green (Ko-Ko| also has considerable Gilbert and Sullivan experience. Both Gregory Stroud (Pish-Tush), and Sydney Granville (Pooh-Bah) have toured Australia with the D’Oyley Carte companies and are very well known in England. Parts of the Gilbert dialogue and Sullivan music have been transferred from the opera to the prologue, but there is no word sung or spoken in the film that Gilbert did not write; no note of music is played or omitted that Sullivan did not compose.