Punch, Or the London Charivari Volume 107, November 17, 1894 — John Shaqi
Punch, Or the London Charivari Volume 107, November 17, 1894Various
General
Punch, Or the London Charivari Volume 107, November 17, 1894
Various
English wit and humor -- Periodicals
Most of the _libretto_ of W. S. GILBERT'S latest whimsical opera,
entitled _His Excellency_, is evident proof of _his_ excellency in this
particular line and on these particular lines. Among principals, Mr.
BARRINGTON has perhaps a trifle the best of it; while the part given
to our Gee-Gee, _alias_ GEORGE GROSSMITH, is not so striking as his
costume, both he and Mr. JOHN LE HAY, whose make-up is wonderfully
good, being somewhat put in the shade by the gaiety of the two charming
young ladies Miss JESSIE BOND and Miss ELLALINE TERRISS, who act
with a real appreciation of the fun of the situation in which their
dramatic-operatic lot is cast. But, after all said and sung, it is the
brilliancy of the Hussars, under the command of Corporal, afterwards
Colonel, PLAYFAIR, that carries the piece, and takes the audience by
storm. The music by Dr. CARR would not of itself carr-y the piece were
"the book" less fancifully funny than it is, and did it not contain
some capital lines which are quickly taken by an appreciative audience.
There is plenty of "go" in the Carr-acteristic music for the dance of
Hussars; but the most catching "number" is a song of which the first
bars irresistibly call to mind the song with a French refrain sung by
Miss NESVILLE in _A Gaiety Girl_. Was Dr. OSMOND CARR the composer
of that air? or as "that air" sounds vulgar, let us substitute "that
tune." If so the resemblance is accounted for, and if he wasn't,
then it is only an accidental resemblance of a few bars that at once
strikes the retentive ear of the amateur. Scenery and costumes are all
excellent in _His Excellency_.
* * * * *
OUR "MONTHLY POPS."
In the New York _Critic_ a suggestion is made that it would be a
graceful thing for Editors of Magazines to bring out occasionally a
"Consolation Number," containing only rejected contributions. But
why not give the Editor's _reasons_ for rejecting them as well? This
would be such a "consolation" to the public, if not to the authors!
A specimen number might be made up somewhat as follows:--
1. "A Dream of Fair Wages."--A Rondel by TENNYSON KEIR HARDIE MORRIS
SNOOKS.
[Rejected as a mixture of bad politics with worse poetry.]
2. "Children of Easy Circumstances."--By [Greek: Ô]. [Greek: Ph].!
[An up-to-date story, with several risky situations in it; the
risk, however, has been reduced to a minimum by the gifted
Authoress having contracted to indemnify the Publisher and Editor
against any legal consequences that may ensue. Printed "without
prejudice," and should be read in a similar spirit.]
3. "On the Magnetisation of Mollusca." By LEYDEN JARRE, F.S.L.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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