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“His Excellency .”
Musical News vol. 7 no. 192, Nov. 3, 1894, p. 360
Much interest has been excited by Mr. W.S. Gilbert’s and Dr. Osmond Carr’s new comic opera in two acts, entitled “His Excellency,” which was produced on Saturday last at the Lyric Theatre. As far as the libretto is concerned, expectations may be said to be fully realised. The capital idea of making the vagaries of an inveterate practical joker the foundation of the book has been turned to excellent account by the humorist, and the various developments and incidents are furnished with a rational basis too often neglected in the present day by the librettists of comic opera. Mr. Gilbert has made his joker a governor of Elsinore in the year 1801, a position which accords the facetious individual peculiar opportunities for the exercise of his objectionable form of wit. It was, however, a still happier idea to make this governor employ the Prince Regent, who comes to Elsinore disguised as a strolling player, to personate himself, the more so as the Regent has come with the express purpose of finding out how far the complaints made to him concerning the whimsicalities of the Governor are true. “Fancy,” says the Governor with glee, “a sham Regent dispensing sham wealth and sham honours untold on all my sham friends, and then their disappointment when they discover that it’s only my fun!” How this thoroughly Gilbertian conception is worked out must be seen to be adequately appreciated. Mr. Gilbert’s lyrics are in his best vein, are full of quaint conceits, and often remarkable for the ingenuity of their rhymes, and the dialogue is no less witty than the verse.
Dr. Carr’s music has the great merits of refinement and scholarly diction, but it fails to echo the humour of libretto. Some of the trios and quartets are also neatly written, and now and again suggestive orchestral touches testify to fancy and technical knowledge. But the work as a whole presents the rare picture of a composer being over-weighted by his librettist.
The cast is almost an ideal one for a Gilbertian opera. Mr. George Grossmith, Mr. Rutland Barrington, Mr. Charles Kenningham, Miss Jessie Bond, Miss Alice Barnett, and Miss McIntosh, all carry the memory back to Savoy triumphs, and to these familiar names are added Miss Ellaline Terriss, a charming débutante, Miss Gertrude Aylward, Miss May Cross, Mr. Augustus Cramer, Mr. John le Hay, and Mr. Arthur Playfair. The composer conducted an excellent orchestra, and the mounting and ensemble are remarkable for artistic design and completeness.
Page modified 23 October 2020