Evening star., 1880-02-14
w. s. Gilbert as a Stage Manager.
A REHEARSAL OF THE PIRATES OF PENZANCE.
Tphi1adeIphia Press

Frede3'ick, the piratlcal lieutenant, finally
appears Just as the ladies, having arrived at
the conclusion that they are ''the I1rSt human
beings who ever set foot on this enchanted
spot" are about to remove their shoes to wade
along the beach In fact, each has one shoe
removed when Frederick appears and informs
them that they are not In absolute solitude,
and when he further informs them that he is a
pirate one of the funniest episodes in the piece
shoe in her hand, hop back in terror on COW
cred foot. But this has to be well done for
effect. The first hop was not success
Not that way, ladies; not that way,' shouts
Mr.. Gilbert, and brief pantomimic example of
his idea is given as an accompaniment.
It is not success-the lesson-so far as the
ladies are concerned.
Mr. Gilbert gets impatient and chambers over
the seats to the stage, where, pirouettlng on
one foot, he hops three skipS and triumphantly
adds Its quite easy know now try that"
Mr.. Gilbert gets impatient. ''It's so simple,
you know" he explains, as he again hops
across the stage, with an airy disregard of ap-
you can't get that idea right, you know!"
And these models of professional patience try
to get the ''ideah' right. But they don't to
more and the ladies' also hOp-it's quite hop
era, somebody suggests, and is Immediately re-
war led with the compliment Every good-very
nance is not perfected, and 1t is only after ten
minutes hard work that it is satisfactory to all
concerned.
actively at work poising the ladies, and then
the pirates get ready and come on. seizing the
ladies as If they were fragile pieces Of china
which would crum0le at touch.
"Oh! nonsense Come now, you know pi-
rates don't seize ladies that way" observes Mr..
Gilbert, at the same time giving a practical
Of how any 9rtho
seize accordingly, with firm grip and with
something like pirattcal energy. The ladies
quietly resign themselves to their fate
-hyyIn To- 90 InI
don't submit to pirates so easily. Struggle.
now; won't you, please?" and the author gives
his hands sounding bang to emphasize the
The ladies..struggle in a aladylike manner, .:No
no! no! You must struggle more than that"
urges Mr.. Gilbert; and as he speaks he Illus
the grasp Of bold, bad pirate. 'sThat's the
idea, you know"
By-and-by he gets them to realize just what
he means, and the Aajor-General at last makes
his appearance. Seymour begins the little dta-
logue which precedes his song of the 'Model
Major General, " and the other characters who
take part in the dialogue are on hand with
spiritless.
Not that way" expostulates Mr. Gilbert.
"Cant you say 1t so? Here we are again!'
The King Immediately responds, ''There we
Mr.. Gilbert gets impatient. 'Not There we
are again, but Here we are again. Begin that
Mr.. Seymour begins it again, and gets up to
the critical point, when the gentleman who /,
to Play the King once more repeats, 'sThere
We are again."
Here-here-here we are again. Now d,
please remember that, will your"
And then the gentleman remembers 1t an
the fun goes on. 1t Is all action and Mr. GIL
bert's voice is heard continually reprovtng one
encouraging another and giving advice to a
third. He apparently never wearies, and has
his own ideas about every bit of the stage busl-
ness-and capital ideas they are. His greatest
annoyance Is the listlessness OF some OF the
than usual to-day, he said to the ladies: "Look
here now. ladies. Those ladies who have
speaking parts are your mouthpfeces. They
speaking parts-which you never win be 50
long as you don't pay attention to your bust
ness" There was an immediate revival Of in
terest on the stage.