The Great Partnership

New Zealand Listener, Volume 19, Issue 479, 27 August 1948, Page 12

The Great Partnership

HE last episode from 4YA in the tseries Gilbert and Sullivan, the Story of a Great Partnership was one of the most effective. It dealt with The Yeomen of the Guard, The Gondoliers, "and the last operas; with the open rift in the friendship of the, partners, and

the famous "carpet quarrel,".the last straw which broke the back of the partnership. It is seldom that sich a connected effort is obtained in a series of "productions heard at intervals of a fortnight. The effect of smooth-flowing continuity in the series was due to several factors. First, an entire hour was allowed for each episode; second, no

better cast, surely, was ever assembled for a radio production, nor any two actors so suited to their parts as those who» played the composer and playwright; third, the script was so well managed that it might be offered to anyone wishing to learn the secrets of a successful radio production. I am aware that other commentators have already praised these productions, but I must ‘express my own interest and pleasure in a series so dramatic, humorous, and exhilarating. I awaited each episode with the anticipation of any serial-fan, and didn’t miss one of the series-and I think this is a record for me, as far as the process of following up a radio series is concerned. The listener who wrote to’ praise Gilbert and Sullivan, as an antidote to carping criticism, need not fear that any commentator will fail to recognise either the genius of Gilbert and Sullivan or the expertness of the production dealing with their great partnership.