The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1893-10-31
GILBERT AND SULLIVAN.
The New Opera Produced in London
With Much Success.

or, Flowers of Progress" Gilbert and
Sulivan's new opera, was produced at
the Savoy to night. The thealer was
| filled with the most brilliant audience
ever seen even in this most fashionable
theater The seats in all parts Of the
house, except in pit and gallery were
allotted long ago. The struggle to get
into the unreserved parts of the house
was tremendous -Four ladies took up
positions outside the pit doors as early
as 10 A. NJ, with the prospect Of ten
hours wait
When Sullivan took the conductors
seat the audience rose and cheered
Justify for several minutes, and then
there was hushed silence for the spirited
overture which gave much promise OF
the good things to come. The per-
formance from first to last, proceeded
without a hitch, and ended in general
pronouncement that the opera is one of
the best, if not the very best, Of the
Gilbertian series.
The scene is laid in the South Pacific
islands. There are two acts. The
first reveals a palm grove in the gardens
of King Paramount (Mr. Barrington),
and the second the palace throne-room,
magnificent piece cf staging which
evoked cordial applause. The electric
light was never before SO charmingly
utilized for decorative purposes as in
this throne-room.
The plot, in its main features, is
simple, but is made dcubly interesting
by numerous subordinate harmonious
incidents. lara (Miss Nancy Mackin-
tosh), the Kings eldest daughter, has
been to Girton, where she received
English ideas If civilization which she
persuades her father to adopt She
has brought with her SIX typical Eng
lishmen, described as "Fluwers Of Pro-
gress," namely, British Lord Cham
berlaln, Captain of the Life Guards,
a Naval Captain, Company Promoter,
Member of Parliament and a County
Councillor. The King makes these his
Cabinet Council, and by their advice
Utopia is converted into Limited
Liability Company, run on joint stock
principles.
Naturally the women show more
readiness to adopt the faults than the
virtues of the English model, but the
new arrangement answers so well for
the general welfare that the military,
naval, medical and legal interests,
which have now little employment, stir
lup an insurreCtion Revolution is
averted by the discovery of cara that
one thing has been omitted Zara's
speech is a good example OF the satire
which abounds in the opera
Government by party! Introduce
that great and glorious element, at once
the bulwark and foundation Of Eng
lands greatness, ard all will be well.
| No political me asures will endure,
because one party will assuredly undo
all that the other party has done. In
experienced civilians will govern your
army and navy. No social II forms
will be attempted, because out of vice,
squalor and drunkenness no political
capital is to be made; and, while grouse
are to be shot and foxes worried to
death. the legislative action of the
country will be at a standstil. Then
there will be sickness in plenty, endless
lawsuits, Cr.wded jails, in,erminable
confusion in the army and navy and
unexampled pr, sperily."
| With the t psy-turveydom character
lzing the GilbCrtian opera, this advice
is accept d, and leace is restored.
The opera comes nearer to being a
political social satire than the Others a
Gilbert. The European thrones are
not spared. One character declares in
song that:
The spotless King and Prince
Have disappeared some ages since
The Company prone tiers are ruth.
less'y assai'ed. Their method is de
clared to be to have as small capita
as ross bic since dat is the lega
measure OF their personal liability
Having started the concern,