Iolanthe.

Hastings Standard, Issue 129, 24 September 1896, Page 2

lolanthe.

Sarcasm in small quantities is a rather dangerous accomplishment and one likely to land its indiscreet possessor in all manner of unpleasant complications in his personal relations with his fellows. Even when this sarcasm takes the shape of genius and its exercise is the means of putting sufficient "bawbees" in its owner's pocket to place him in a position to ignore the more petty explosions which follow in its wake, still there remains the fact that the sarcastic man by the injudicious use of his gift raises against him hosts of enemies, and this result even Mr W. S. Gilbert himself has not been able to escape. The operas of Gilbert and Sullivan are simply bubbling over with wit. Sometimes bright, merry, lighthearted, but often the keen, scathing Gilbertian wit containing a subtle poison which only develops after the barb has settled deep in the vitals of its victim. Everyone knows the cruel and indeed totally undeserved gibes levelled at the late Mr W. H. Smith, then first Lord of the Admiralty, as capable and as good a man as ever lived, when flaunted before the public from end to end of the Empire in the character of Sir Joseph Porter, and how the bitter satire tinged with sorrow the declining days of a life spent in the service o'f his country.

lii the same manner each of Gilbert and Sullivan's operas is written for the purpose of pillorying some social absurdity or time honored but effete institutions, but while one cannot always agree with Gilbert in the ruthlessness of his attacks his brilliant style of spitting his victims and keeping them squirming under the fierce glare of public opinion must command the admiration if not always the sympathy of his audiences. Thus we see "Patience" was a brilliant skit on the aesthetic rage of which that deposed apostle of ultra refinement, Oscar Wilde, was the leader. " The Priates of Penzance " poked ridicule at the English police force, "Princess Ida " was levelled at the earlier efforts in the direction of improving the social condition of women, and " lolanthe," the opera which the amateurs intend submitting to the public on next Tuesday night, is a particularly bitter satire aimed at the British House of Peers and the rigid class distinctions which prevail in Great Britain. However opinions may vary as to the justice or injustice of Mr Gilbert's other criticisms, a free, independent Colonial audience will heartily sympathise with the gifted author in his laugh against an hereditary house of legislators, and the ridiculous home class prejudices which happily are only slightly reflected in the colonies. In this work the incomparable genius of "the colloberateurs stands out prominently, establishing " lolanthe " a firm favorite with the music-loving public, and a queen amongst operas. Sir Arthur Sullivan's genius, which is popularly supposed to have reached high-water mark in " The Gondoliers," is, in the opinion of a large number of connoisseurs, quite up to that level in " lolanthe," whilst there are many capable of forming an opinion who prefer the dash and vim with which the author has Invested the lolathe music to any of his subseqnent efforts. Be that as it may, there is but one opinion amongst theatre-goers as to the merits of the opera to be produced on the 29th, and that is that the Gilbert-Sullivan combination has never been happier nor more successful in their work. The Amateurs are well versed in their parts, showing a keen appreciation of the meaning to be conveyed in the various characters, g.nd the Princess Theatre on the 29 th and subsequent nigijts should be packed to feedwrs.