Salt Lake evening Democrat. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1885-1887, 1885-07-18
g PINAFORE" SULLIVAN.
The Great English Composer of Comic
Opera Arrives in Salt Lake City.
How the American Music Thieves Steal
and Produce His Operas.
The Production of ''The MikadO" i'm
London an Elegant Affair.

Sir Arthur Sullivan, of Gilbert & Sulli-
van, the well-known comic opera writer's,
arrived in Salt Lake City yesterday from
the East. en- route to California. Mr..
Sullivan is a medium sized, heavy, but
well-proportioned man, with black hair,
a face shaver, and ornamented with the
usual English mutton-chops. He is now
bound for Los Angeles, California, on
some private business connected with
his deceased brothers children, whose
interests he is looking after This morn
ing in company with Professor B. B.
Young, the celebrated composer viewed
| the sights of our city, and was greatly in
terested and pleased by the novelty and
beauty Of our surroundings.
The great comic opera composer gained
the "Mendelssohn Scholarship in 1856,
and is now but 43 years of age. Among
his numerous compositions which the
civilized world has learned TO sing and
whistle are "H. NJ S. Pinafore, - 1.-The
Sorcerer," ''The Pirates of Penzance, !"
Patience, " "Iolanthe," and "The Mi
kado."
1t is a fitting compliment that Mr.. Sulli-
van pays Salt Lake when he stops over
here for he may be assured that in no other
city in the world Of its size have his works
been received with more furore than they
have in Salt Lake. ''Pinafore,' pa
tience," ''Iolanthe," and others of Gil
bert & Sullivan's charming works have
never lacked high appreciation, and it is
no egotism to state that our home talent
has produced them in style unsur-
passed by many well known professional
troupes. We believe Professor b. b.
Young and Mr.. John White were the two
first gentlemen to appear in the leading
roles of 'EPinafore" in this city, and Mrs.
Jos. Siegel and Miss Emma White have
given charming renditions OF Josephine.
In conversation in regard to the pro-
duction of "The Mikado." the latest
comic opera, produced in Chicago last
week, Mr.. Sullivan said TO a reporter
at Just makes the cold chills run up nv
back when L think of it." Mr.. Sullivan
paid anything but compliment to our
existing, or rather our non-eXisting, in
ternational copyright laws, and said that
there was a time when America was
young and needed all the assistance pos
sible to give her literary start, but now
she was too great and wealthy nation to
get English patronage for nothing; that
at present the American authors were as
numerous as the English, and |
she should be above the present
practice Resented, he said, bought |
'"The Mikado" score for 81, and |
with the aid of amateurs, who IN
reality know little or nothing of Japanese
life and character, had the audacity to
present our play before the American !
people. This is Il rank injustice to me,
don't you know, as | am to a certain |
extent responsible, inasmuch as | am |
personally interested in the play and
have a reasonable right to demand, or at !
least expect, that it be not misrepresented |
before the people. 1t is an injustice to
the play and a direct injustice to Mr..
Gilbert and myself Why, when "The
was presented in London, March
18th, for the first time, we had about 200
Japanese come direct there, and were
busy for nearly four weeks alone in study
ing their dress and character, in order to
make the play true and realistic. Anna
tours cannot play those parts, and it is
ridiculous to think of it. The play took
elegantly in London.
Mr.. Sullivan was surprised to learn
that "Pinafore" is still being played in this
country, and said he did not think the
people would tolerate that any longer.
1T is very strange" he said, ''that when
come over here the theatre men, not
5he public, as L judge, seem to look upon
ne as an interioper; that have no right
o come here, and that all l am after is
he mighty dollar. That is not So
speaking from financial view,
ny compensation in Europe is what t
look to, and | do not depend upon my |
days for remuneration in this country.
What / desire here is to have Justice !
lone me, and my plays fairly presented. !
here is no money here in presenting :
heap plays, or, rather, good plays in a !;
heap manner. Everybody knows that, !
nd yet theatre men will persist in that )
IND of work"
Mr. Sullivan will leave for the West to- |;
borrow evening and may visit Salt Lake !,
n his return trip.