The Washington times., 1928-02-24
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u POST
By FRANK BAER

pTOuuCL1OI1s pI0CASlOn dAlu SHutlAy
as lavish in pictorial attributes
as Florenz Ziegfeld, Winthrop
Ames, who is bringing "Iolanthe.' =
1.-THE Mikado," and 1.-THE Pirates
of Penzance," to the Belasco the
! impending week, Wtands projected
on the theatrical horizon quite
alone in his love OF brilliant musi-
cal satfre-a student Of Gilbert
and Sullivan from head to ankle.
Ames. now in middle life, is
something OF a stage mystery.
He is, to begin with, quiet,
retiring fellow; soft of speech; g.
shy sort; quaint in humor; an
adherent of beauty. With q per.
sonal fortune running into the
millions, Aines became a producer
by accident, but brought to his
early ventures such wealth of
impeccable taste and surety Of
feeling that the theater- going pub
lie soon found itself deep in his
debt for numerous nights of
splendor.>
AS for the Gilbert and Sullivan
REVEALS, let it be said without q
single reservation. Ames presents
the classics as Gilbert and sullivan
never saw them done. but very
likely 1onged to. "A sly, intimate
and yet fairy-like magic permeates
the Ames productions. Something
Of the whimsey and fantasy OF IA.
Al. Milne is ever apparent. Al quail.
ity that might rightly be called
mellow" His cases are flaWlesS;
his scenic pictures a delight; and
of the chorus personnel, never in
the modern theater has one ever
seen so many sirens.
Last year, one marvelled at the
convent-like innocence OF the en-.
senble, and yet, the histrionic and
terpsichOrean talents OF the
group excelIed even the best Of
ziegfeld or the finest Of DiIling-
ham.
The virtue outstanding in these
three revivals IS quality; they re-
fleet the distinct and individual
personality OF the man who con.
ceived them-Ames himself.
George Atkinson, publicist for
Mr.. Ames sends in a thoroughly
interesting account Of the history
of THE Pirates of Penzance,
which is peculiarly linked with
the early history Of the America.
Mr.. Atkinson writes:
1.-THE Pirates of Penzance1 had
its first actual performances on
December 80. 1879, in the Village
of Paignton, Devon, England, ~
the provincial s'Pinafore" COM
pany singing at the time In the
nearby town of TorQuay. The
Paignton Pirates was for copy.
right purposes only and was a
scratch" affair. The company
sang from their parts, which
were not yet .lplete, for Sulli-
van still was writing the over
ture in New York when the
Paignton production was over.
He only finished it q. M. on
the day of the New York
premiere, December 81, 1879. IN
that minor travelling company
which appeared in Paignton was
one r. Mansfield, who thus Gre
ated the role Of Maior-G General
Stanley in the first performance
Of The Pirates Of Penzance.1
Arthur Sullivan. w. s. Gilbert
and D'OyIy Carte had come to
America to produce "Pinafore,"
hoping to secure some Of the gold
that was filling the pockets Of the
piratical managers and music pub
fishers. "Pinafore" already had
been sung by dozens Of companies
all through the land, even by
eight troupes at one time in New
York; so there was not much
cream left on the milk. except the (
opportunity to show the American
public what the opera really was
like. The pirated ''Pinafores"
were mangled versions and con-
tanned many strange interpola-
tions, incorrect lines and wretched
versions Of the melodies.
Immediately "Pinafore" was put
on by the Carte company on De.
cenber i, rehearsals for The
Pirates OF Penzance" began. Sui.
Ivan, having left many of his
sketches for the music at home in
England, and there being no. time
to send for them, set to work COM
posing the airs, and when this
was done he had the entire opera,
to score. Meanwhile he was con.
Quoting rehearsals and fulfilling
many social engagements, which
latter was a large part OF his life.
Something of the stress of his
first American visit is revealed in
''Sir Arthur Sullivan" the new
biography Of the composer by his
nephew, Herbert Sullivan, and
Newman Flower, just published in
this country by the George H.
Doran Company.
"Our houses" Sullivan wrote,
"at 1.-THE 'Pinafore have fallen off
very much this week. All the
theaters are doing badly" chow
familiar that soundsD land we
shall have no profits until the
new piece comes out--so Gilbert
and I are reducing our expendi-
ture. We shall begin by not pay.
ing the postage of our letters
home! We hope to have the new
opera out on the 9th or the 29th.
It is called The Pirates OF PEN
zance' or Love and Duty"
A few days before Christmas
he wrote again:
cit is a. m. and I tear my
self away from my scoring to get
this off by the steamer City of
Boston, which leaves at II a. m.
I have finished the opera, of
course, and am now scoring for
dear life. 1t comes out on Tues
day, the 30th. If it isn't a sue.
cess it won't be our fault, for
everyone thinks it lovely-those
who have heard 1t at rehearsals.
If it Is success, of course it
will paw us very we'll = On