New-York tribune., 1889-12-22
THE GONDOLIEPS.
A FIRST NIGHT AT THE SAVOY WITH MR.
GILBERT AND SIR ARTHUR SULLIVAN.
London, December Il

London, December |.
There are first nights and first nights They
vary in many particulars but ] suppose every
body would agree that first night at the Savoy
is one of the most interesting events of tho
theatrical year. 1t is not necessary to say that
it is more or less brilliant than first night
at the Lyceum; it is different. and each of the
two audiences has physiognomy of its own. Per-
haps the atmosphere is slightly more serious at
the Lyceum Mr. Irvings admirers assume on
these occasions an attitude that may almost be
called religious; it is certainly devotional At the
Savoy there is disguise Of the fact that people
come TO be amused. The remarkable gifts of Sir
Arthur Sullivan and Mr. Gilbert are put frankly
at the service of the laughter-loving public, and
the bill Of fare is made up OF the lightest of light
comedy, and of music which nobody would call
heavy. The audience comes prepared to do its
own part, and everybody has smile on his or
her face An air of gayety pervades the cheerful
and we'll lighted auditorium. and last Saturday
was exception to the rule.
Certain people are always TO be seen in the
same places The stage box on the prompt side
of the lower tier holds Mrs. Ronads and her son
and her married daughter. Mrs. Ritche, and Baron
Rirsch and Lady Lister-Kaye and other friends.
Next to it is Mrs. GilbertS box. Mr.. Gilbert is
and down the room while the great question of
success or failure is being answered Mrs D'Oyly
Carte's box is next; her husbands duties will not
let him rush off with Mr.. Gilbert; he is all over
the theatre all the evening, in front and behind.
and keen TO hear what his friends think from
the first moment Mr.. and Mrs. Mackay are
opposite Mrs. Ronalds Next to them Mr.. Reuben
Sassoon one of the Sassoon family who gave that
marvellous entertainment to the Shah last summer
at the Empire Theatre. Then come Lady Ran
dolph Churchill in pale blue and Miss lsnaga
in pale blue, and Lord Dunraven and Sir William
Gordon Cumming, not yet in pale blue, but
black. Mr.. Frederick Lehman is above with
his daughter, Lady Campbell; then Mr.. Alfred
de Rothschild and Sir Rivers Wilson. Lord
Londesborough was on the other sdc-one OF tile
most assduous of first nighters'
The stalls were full of people known to every
body: legal, dramatic and social celebrities
thought entitled TO mention; the more famous
of them, Mr.. Clement Scott, Mr.. Archer. at whom
Mr. Robert Buchanan has lately flung some of his
hardest adjectivescS Intellectually Mr.. Moy Thomas,
and many more. Mr.. Lucy is recognizable from
afar in his usual electric condition. is Mr..
ComAns CAR, and the smooth head Of Mr.. j. X.
Robinson, who beams through his spectaces on
the world with as much benevolence of aspect
as if be were complete stranger TO the daily
ferocities of a certain GladstOnan organ in Lon
don. But no politics tonight. Sir Charles and
Lady Russell are in the very centre of the stalls
orgetful of the Parnellites and of them forgotten
In the same row sits tall, dark, distinguished
looking man, who used in times past TO be known
as Lord Salisburys Manners lie was then Mr.
Henry Manners, and private secretary to the
Prime Minister; whose present private secretary,
Mr.. Macdonald, is not far away. Mr.. Henry
Manners is now the Marquis Of CRANKY and Lady
CRANKY is with him; once admired in London
society as the beautiful Miss Violet Lindsay. and
now admired not less, but more. / ain told Sir
Lefel Griffin, the author of an astonishing book
on America, is here, with a young bride Cap
tain Shaw of the Fire Brigade, is visible so are
Mr.. and Mrs George Lewis; and Mr. Frank Lock
wood fresh from his victory over the Press
Agency, which could find nothing better to do
than libel the genial Mr. Frank Burnand.
The musical world is here in numbers The
one most interesting to you is probably Miss
Florence st. John. who to have sailed the
other day for America, but could not from illness.
You will presently hear her in New-York and
satisfy or reverse the verdict of London which
long since agreed that Miss ST. John is the Jeanne
Granier Of the English stage. Here. too. are all
those lights of the dramatic world who are not
busy on their own stages; ana many. many more
Of many more worlds. The pit and gallery
do not allow you to forget them. They are i'm
tremendous force; east wind and fogs have not
diminished in the least the power Of their lungs.
and they express themselves at every critical
moment without the least reserve. The stalls
and boxes are all very well, but if YOU want TO
know the fate of piece give ear, as Mr. Ilalstead
saws. 70 the voice of doom that thunders from the
Dit. If dared, would quote Mrs. Langtry. too,
who has been known 10 say that she cared little
for the stalls I" il is that dear dirty gallery
which really appauds This is a night when
wen the Jersey Lily might reconsider her opinion
The stalls and boxes have shaken of their wonted
-epose OF manner. aud the whole house echoes !