European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - March 4, 1962, Darmstadt, Hesse Gondoliers Al London s traditional Home for Gilbert and Sullivan operettas the Savoy theater and by John Krueger is London Bureau to was As if the world were coming to Al an end. Prophets prayed on Mountain tops holy men bathed in Rivers. For the first time in British history the top sacred operettas of Gilbert and Sulli Van were going to become Public property for the past 50 yetis. Only the d Only carte company had been allowed to pro Duce the works under a copyright inherited from lyricist sir William Gilbert the copy right oldest monopoly in the history of the English Quteau a laced up the d Only shows in a tight victorian Corset to pre vent Gilbert s Felirs of unnecessary and exaggerated suited thu lovers of tradition to a t. Every season d Only has played to packed houses at burnt1 and abroad sol Hurok has just booked Mother stateside tour. The London Mecca has been the Savoy Heater leading to the use of Savoyard to also mean an ardent admirer actor producer etc., of Gilbert and with the expiration of the copyright the faithful expected the worst like Man a the stars and stripes Rock n Roll Yeoman of the guard or twist Princess in the u.s., when the copyright never applied there had Al ready been a hot Mikado. Half a million ardent Amateur disciples Drew up a petition to extend the copyright of this National heritage to d Only i perpetuity. The company made it Clear it had nothing to do with the petition which was rejected. The management denied there was Ariy War with the other companies undertaking is productions. In fact d Only rendered assistance whenever asked. The company put out a statement saying it looks Forward with interest to the future and fully appreciates the opportunities and increased employment that Al these new productions will give artists producers. And musicians. Such statements did Little to Tran Qullie the innermost ring 61 hard Core fanatical addicts who seemed to believe that the operettas were handed Down from some sort of Sinai. With the critics it was a different song and dance. They solemnly pronounced once Art has become a ritual it is dead As Art an they were counting the Days to Freedom from d Only .,.they weren t disappointed but neither was the old guard so Good rejoiced one writer after seeing Sadler s Wells but rest assured pointed out another no liberties have been taken. Then sir Tyrone Guthrie who has declared that if the Gilbert and Sullivan operas cannot survive a certain amount of mauling they cannot be masterpieces launched his "h.m,�. Pinafore at he majesty s theater Tii London. A Lively and fresh period musical hailed a critic who emphasized however that traditionalists did t have much to complain of a sir Tyrone has treated the piece As he would any classic giving it the atmosphere of us own time As seen trom the stand Point of our own and he has brought to it both respect and Delight was the explanation. The pirates of Penzance sailed in after Pinafore and it was reported that the audience gave the production a warm reception and seemed reluctant to leave. The article also praised the Lively move ments of the chorus previously stereo typed in a semicircular feel he added that thl innovation impossible in Gilbert s time because sing ers weren t trained foe it in one which Gilbert himself would have introduced if he were working in the theater wrote this librettos with Stag directions and sir Arthur Sullivan the music for 14 comic operas called the most popular series of musical plays Ever produced and which set the style of comic opera in England and America for a v the new form of entertainment com Bining satire of grand opera with social satire met with enormous popularity " the wit and. Dash of the verses combined perfectly with the witty dashing melodious music in keen insight acutely comic characterizations ludicrous Paradox ical situations summed up one authority adding that the Patter song Wes one of the most successful innovations in these fresh and charming Gilbert and Sullivan were brought to Gether by impresario Richard d Only carte. Their first joint Effort waa trial by jury produced in 1875. To addition to the Savoy Heater. D Only carte built the Savoy. Claridge and Berkeley hotels with his share of the proceeds Sullivan died in 1900, Gilbert in 19cu. The letter s death was caused by a heart attack while trying to have a drowning girl. Pop
