THE HUMOUR OF GILBERT AND SULLIVAN

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXIV, 4 June 1930, Page 7

THE HUMOUR OF GILBERT AND SULLIVAN

INTERESTING; 'LECTURE ■'■■;

An interesting; discussion: oh Oscar. Wilde and his works! topk place at the! fortnightly meeting'of the ;;Workers ','.[ Educational Association, held last even-/ inf. ', :■'.' *- >■ ' - v i 'The secorid part a presentation of Gilbert; Jmd .Sullivan's comic opera, '"Patience,'',' ;orra!; series <;of gramophone records. , v : -the opera and the words of the-.songs :were given. . .' ■ \ ■■■ 4 .?,-''A, v .: ''- '■■■■■?'• V: ' The life,of Oscar Wilde and his peculiar- philosophy' were/ dealt with,, and! also the /.work he, produced;,: "Art./fori art's sake"' was'.' his' rriot to.' .;, ,In - the 1 pursuit,of hiS'desires Wilde overstepped the mark and was.:';sent. to prison.: While; in;gaol Wilde'jwa-bte 'De Prbfundis," ans on his release- "The B>al-; lad of Reading !Ga'ol,", extracts of,which; were read. ;"'■■ ) The I'comic. opera "Patience", as/all lovers of Gilbert and .Sullivan , Swill agree, is highly amusing. ,'Tlie clever' use of words and • their; syllables is a notable feature;. ; The'^character■-.■Bun-..-thbrne .j is; a caricature/ of Oscar /-Wilde"; who affected eccentric" habits and "dress, such as carrying a lily or a sunflower,, and- wearing puce .knickerbockers; In Bunthorne's song appears the line, "An attachment a la Plato - for a,. • bashful young ;/ potato, or a not-too-French French bean!" This!-shows-:the style of the tion. . ■•■:■■.•■• ■ ■ ■:-, '''■•/' ■;.: ; !'■•' •',;■ .',.; I