"PIRATES OF PENZANCE"

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22351, 24 February 1936, Page 12

"PIRATES OF PENZANCE"

PRESENTATION TO-NIGHT

After a highly successful season "The Gondoliers" will be replaced at His Majesty's Theatre to-night by "The Pirates of Penzance," preceded by "Trial by Jury." "The Pirates of Penzance" has an American interest, it being the only one of the Gilbert and Sullivan operas to have its true premiere in tne United Statqs. "Trial by Jury," which is staged with "The Pirates of Penzance," ran for nine months when it was first produced in London in 1875. Devoid of dialogue, it was tho first opera written by tho famous pair. "The Yeomen of tho Guard" will be presented on Wednosday night and will conclude on Saturday. This opera is considered by many to be the masterpiece of the Savoy operas, although Gilbert was dubious as to its success when it was first produced. Ho was afraid that the public, so used to the gay nonsense of such operas as "Ther Pirates of Penzance," would take a dislike to the deeper plot and heartbroken jesting of Jack Point. His fears, however, were groundless, for London took this work to its heart, and it achieved the greatest success of any Savoy opera to that date. "lolanthe," the fourth offering during the present Gilbert and Sullivan season, will bo presented next Monday night and will conclude on the following Wednesday afternoon. Booking arrangements are advertised.