No 13 — July 1979 Edited by Michael Walters
GILBERT AND SULLIVAN AS A RELIGIONp> Why, oh why, is G & S a religion and not one aspect of stage entertainment and why must DOC be its one true prophet (profit?) in some people's eyes. It is the criticism by S. Thoroughgood of ENO's Iolanthe that's got me going, its so obviously written by a True Believer, and like many people round here who consider it sacrilege for others to produce the sacred works, and even worse make a success of it! I haven't been able to see ENO's Iolanthe for some years but as one who knows it fairly well. .... I realise DOC do a good job but it must be difficult for them to sparkle in such a constrained environment, whereas ENO sow so much fresh light and so many of their audiences are laughing at the funnies for the first time. To be specific, surely the point of the fairies stomping about in Act 1 ? well their line rather suggests that they don't know why they're there after all ... Regarding the patronizing of such worthies as Anne Collins and Eric Shilling, has your reviewer ever seen them in any of their many parts? I suppose the fact that they are singing actors as opposed to comedians is a black mark? PHILIP BAILEY
[I am planning on editorial on the subject of G & S as a "religion" in a future issue, and had been before receiving the above, but in the meantime has anyone any counter?thrusts? Ed.]
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