"F" ('Iolanthe' No. 1) Company in Brighton

The Era (London, England), Saturday, August 2, 1884; Issue 2393.

THEATRE ROYAL. — Proprietress and Manageress, Mrs. H. Nye Chart; Acting Manager and Treasurer, Mr. Thos. J. Phillips. — Though given for the third time during the past year, the reproduction of Gilbert and Sullivan's opera Iolanthe, this week, by Mr. D'Oyly Carte's company, has proved a decided success, the chastely written melodies and skilfully constructed orchestration proving as attractive as when first heard, while the pungent libretto was additionally acceptable to many from the recent struggles in political circles; the scathing satire on the Upper House being heartily applauded.

Miss Haidee Crofton sustained the title role, and gave a charming impersonation of the character. Mr. John Wilkinson made his first appearance before a Brighton audience as the Lord Chancellor, and was so successful as to elicit a hearty encore for each of his songs. Miss Fanny Harrison was very effective as the Queen of the Fairies; she gave her lines with point and no small elocutionary ability, while her admirable singing of her song, in the second act, "O Foolish Day," [sic] gained the customary encore. Mr. Hervet D'Egville was better with his lines than his vocal numbers; but was a very satisfactory Strephon. Mr. George Marler was again highly successful as Private Willis, and his only song has been nightly repeated. The Lords Mountararat and Tolloller have been ably personated by Mr. T.W. Hemsley and Mr. James Sydney. Miss Marion Grahame proved a charming and graceful Phyllis, and, though the vocal gems of the opera did not fall to her share of the work, she showed a keen appreciation of the spoken portion of the libretto allotted to her character. The minor parts with the choruses and band were very satisfactory.

Page modified 13 January 2012