GILBERT AND SULLIVAN.

Waikato Times, Volume 112, Issue 18803, 26 November 1932, Page 16 (Supplement)

GILBERT AND SULLIVAN.

SIR HENRY LYTTON’S FAREWELL. 48 YEARS IN OPERA. Sir Henry Lytton, after 48 years in Gilbert and Sullivan opera, began his farewell London season when he went to the Savoy Theatre on October 3 to play the Duke of Plaza-Toro in “ The Gondoliers,” says a writer in a London paper. He may be a little sad at the thought of retirement, but if so, he did not betray it when I went to interview him in his London flat. On the contrary, he began to talk cheerfully, gaily anticipating his jubilee with the Savoy operas—an event that occurs early in 1934. He was talking, too, of a pro-

vincial tour next year, when he hopes l to bid farewell to all the audiences he has met so often in the great cities of Britain. Audiences Show Appreciation. “ And audiences generally In this country," he said, “are becoming more demonstrative. They show their appreciation more readily than they did some years ago. They applaud more freely nowadays. Their appreciation, indeed, makes me believe that the films will not harm the theatre. Moreover, although there are many poor pictures, I am sure that, taken as ■a whole, the films have done much t.o create an Improved demand for healthy entertainment. " Looking back on 48 years with the Savoy operas,” Sir Henry went on, “ I love them as much to-day as I did when I first joined the D'Oyly Carte Company. I know every line of all the music and every word of all the Gilbert and Sullivan works. A Memory of “ Ruddigore.” “ Which reminds me of an Incident I had almost forgoteen. It was at the end of a performance of ‘Ruddigore,’ more than 30 years ago, a performance in which I had been mixing my words a little and making one or two slips. I apologised to W. S. Gilbert, and added: ' You see, Mr. Gilbert, I \ have played In the opera so often that i I really know, the plot backwards.’ ! ‘ Ah,’ replied Gilbert, ‘ that may be—- ; but that’s not the way we want it.’ " j An Incident which Sir Henry i specially remembers occurred in Dublin : during a performance of “ The Sorcerer.” “ I was about to descend to Hades,” he recalled, “and the flames were leaping up when the trapdoor stubbornly" refused to open. ‘Hell’s 1 full,’ yelled a voice from the gallery. ! There has been some 'amusement bej hind the scenes as well, and many I famous people have called to see Sir j Henry in his dressing-room in an inj terval or when the nightly show was | over. “ Lord Snnkey, the present Lord Chancellor, pad me a visit, in my Savoy Theatre dressing-room a few years ago,” he said, “and tried on the wig f wear In the Tolanthe’ character of Lord Chancellor. He was astonished to find how perfectly it fitted his own head. Lord Chancellors, you know usually see the fun of their Tolanthe counterpart. Both the late Lord Birkenhead and (he late Lord Gave, when they held the office, have . laughed with me about it, though'neither of them dressed up in my costume or tried on my wig." Part Ho Lovos Dost. I asked Sir Henry which, of all hs parts, was the one he loved the best. “ When some people are asked whch of ail the operas Is the one they most enjoy,” he said. “Ihcy often say, ‘The I one I saw last.’ I find myself saying the same when I wonder which role j I most appreciate." Then lie talked l of Jack Point, in “ The Yeomen of the J Guard." And that, I am convinced, is ! really his favourite part.