"Piratical Tour" Recalled

Radio Record, 25 March 1938, Page 19

"Piratical Tour" Recalled

EARLY WELLINGTON PRESENTATION OF GILBERT AND SULLIVAN

N one of Wellington’s secondhand book shops the writer purchased for threepence a Gilbert and Sullivan Souvenir of 1881. It consists of a libretto of "The Pirates of Penzance," and the front cover boldly announces "R. W. Cary’s Pirates of Penzance on their Piratical Tour of New Zealand. Written and composed by Messrs. Gilbert and Sullivan, The sole right has been purchased by Mr. Cary for New Zealand, any one infringing it will be prosecuted. Wellington, James Hughes, Steam Printer, Engraver, ete., Lambton Quay, 1881." The twenty-four pages within contain the familiar. words of the musical numbers and the dialogue of _ this popular favourite of favourites, but the remaining three cover pages have interesting advertising announcements: ‘‘Woods, Crosbie and Co. (City Company), Meat Preservers, Carcass, Shipping and Family Butchers. By appointment to. their Excellencies, the Marquis of Normany and Sir Arthur Gordon." "Charles -Hill, Manufacturing Hatter," and "A. R. Hislop, Watchmaker and Jeweller." . All the advertisers’ premises -were on Lambton Quay. . Considering the first London production of "Pirates" was at the Opera Comique on Saturday April 8,

1880, it was commendable enterprise on the part of Mr. Cary to be touring New Zealand with the opera in the year following. The custom of our New Zealand forbears was to buy the vocal scores and libretti of the Gilbert and Sullivan operas as they appeared and memorise words and music of the same in their respective homes round the piano. By the time the opera company put in an appearance the said company would have as audience a band of enthusiasts capable of giving any cues that were needed. "The Pirates of Penzance," coming immediately after "H.M.S. Pinafore," was not originally produced in London, but had its "copyright" performance at the Bijou Theatre, Paignton, on the coast of Devonshire on Tuesday, December 30, 1879, a day before the American production at Fifth Avenue Theatre, New York. The latter performance was under the personal direction of the triumvirate, Messrs.: Gilbert, Sullivan and D’Oyly Carte. In London "The Pirates" had a run of nearly four hundred nights, and has ever since maintained its strong: hold on the affections of music-lovers eyerywhere, or at any rate of the Gilbert and Sullivan disciples, which is nearly the same thing. A recorded musical presentation of "The Pirates of Penzance" will be heard from 2YA on Sunday, March 27.