GILBERT AND SULLIVAN

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 79, Issue 66, 18 March 1936, Page 9

GILBERT AND SULLIVAN

WANGANUI SEASON PLANS. Plans are uow open at the D.I.C. foF the three performances to be given next 11 Saturday and Monday by the wellknown J. C. Williamson Gilbert and • | Sullivan Opera Company, which will I present “ fhe Alikado” at the Saturday •| matinee, ‘‘The Gondoliers,” on Satur- ' i ( lay night, and “The Yeomen of tho • i Guard” on Monday night. These J operas represent the peak of achieve- ' i ment of the collaboration between Gil* ! bert and Sullivan. They both considered “The Yeomen” their best work in 1 rhe operatic field, and when it proved i a financial, as well as an artistic success, they were inspired, in cheerful ’ mood, to create the inimitably gay and 1 witty extravaganza “The Gondoliers,” r which proved to be the most successful of the whole series. It ran for 554 successive performances at the Savoy, and has been revived more often than any of the others. It was a special favourite of King Edward VII, and it was specially produced at Windsor Castle for Queen Victoria, being the first theatrical performance .to take place there. Many attempts to “place” the operas in order of merit and appeal have been made by means of plebiscites, but almost invariably “The Yeomen” and “’.l'lio Gondoliers” top the lists, with “'rhe Mikado” and ‘‘lolantbe” next. The present. Williamson company is headed by that excellent comedian, Air. Ivan Menzies, who will appear in the widely disparate roles of Jack Point and the Duke of I’laza-Toro. Other members of the company arc Misses Evelyn Gardiner and Winifred Lawson. Messrs. Godfrcv Stirling, Richard Wai son. Gregory tSroud ami Bernard ATanning.