The Washington times., 1937-01-20
Doyle Cortes
In Double
Program

Experience teaches it is as easy
to write adjectives as any other
sort of word upon a typewriter and
hence the reason why legions of
descriptions like "flawless," SUI
perb," "gem-like" are pouring
forth in reviews of the D'Oyly
Carte Company's performances at
the National Theater.
This British outfits versions of
Gilbert and Sullivan are, for the
most part, worthy of the assorted
adjectives and last night was no
exception. 1t is enough to reveal
to Savoyards that on the boards
last night there sang Edwin and
Angelina in Trial by Jury" as
we'll as Frederic and Mabel in
THE Pirates of PenZance."
DOUBLE PROGRAM
Beyond that, there is little to
say aside from footnotes on de-
tails of the productions. The
D'Oyly Carte Company is fresh
and seemingly enthusiastic; the
costuming, settings, stage pictures
and business are in the tradi-
tion of Sir william; the orchestra,
under the truly inspired conduct
ing of Isidore Godfrey, obligingly
emits the melodies of Sir Arthur
as they should be emitted.
AS for footnoes: The first might
be to mention at least one of de-
partures from the normal Gilbert
and Sullivan script. Major Gen
eral Stanley of The Pirates" rs
sung so animally, vegetabely and
minerally by Martyr Green, re-
fers to a "Mauser rifle" instead of
a chassepot rifle.
Another footnote Is supplied by
your reviewers companion at one
of our most pleasant evenings IN
the theater. She it is who insists
attention be called to two matters.
One is that in any production of
Gilbert and Sullivan, whether the
company be good or bad. the prin-
cipal success of the evening cam
be traced, curiouSly enough, TO
Gilbert and Sullivan. The other
is that the capable, individually
apt chorus contains notable
share of handsome ladies-a fact
cuStomarily unmentioned in Gil
bert and Sullivan reviews.
AS for the players, it is con-
Sidered cricket to begin with
Green, whose knowledge of the
Savoy tradition fits him for the
role of pseudo-orphan, Major Gen
eral Stanley. Darrell Fancourt is
properly ferociouS as the Pirate
King and Sydney Granville proves
a thorough Gilbertian in his ap-
pearance as the judge in Trial oy
Jury" and the mournful Sergeant
of Police in The Pirates of Pen
Zance."
ROLES WELL SUNG
Your reviewers namesake. John
Dean. has the correct touches of
manly comic opera bearing as
Frederic. Perhaps we should COM
pare our ancestors with Major
General Stanley'S some time.
Brenda Bennett, a newcomer
here, deserves the hackneyed crit
ical designation of appealing" as
Mabel. Her voice is clear, sweet;
but it could have been a mite more
on the forte side in such spots as
Mabel's contrapuntal aria, go,
Ye Heroes, Go to Glory" during
the magnificent music of the en-
trance of the police. Assisting her
among the ladies are three really
delightful players. Marjorie Eyre,
Elizabeth Nickell-Lean, Kathleen
Naylor and Evelyn Gardiner, as
Ruth.
In Trial by Jury" that fanci-
full one-act frolic, excellent per-
formances were given by Leslie
Rands, Robert Wilson. Richard
Walker and Ann Drummond
Grant.
Truly, those who sat in the Ma
tional Theater last evening could
feel themselves agreeing with the
lines in Trial by Jury: Breath
ing concentrated otto, an existence
Ia Watteau!"
T0TTAr 1rANY 1FyTTTCANY