[Illustration: _Sir Arthur._ "Then _Box----_"
_Sir Author._ "And _Cox----_"
_Both._ "Are satisfied!"
[_Curtain._]
A great deal is expected from the collaboration of Sir ARTHUR SULLIVAN
and Mr. F. C. BURNAND, more especially when the work is staged at the
Savoy, and is brought out under the direction of Mr. D'OYLY CARTE. The
brilliant audience that gathered on Wednesday night for the first
performance of _The Chieftain_ evidently came full of expectation, and
as evidently went away filled with satisfaction. Twenty-seven years ago,
when they were boys together, B. and S. (that sounds friendly and
refreshing) brought out an early version of the opera which they called
_The Contrabandista_. After the rehearsal of the new piece had gone
forward for some weeks, ARTHUR SULLIVAN stumbled over this rather
difficult word and sprained his ankle. Whereupon F. C. B., with
characteristic promptitude and originality, changed the name to _The
Chieftain_. That is the call-boy's narrative of events. However it be,
since the opera has been entirely re-written, enlarged and beautified,
it was natural to bestow upon it a new title. On the first night _The
Chieftain_ stormed the passes to public favour, and appears likely to
occupy them for some time. Nothing brighter in colour, fuller of life,
more musical, more mirthful, has been seen at the Savoy since its
palmiest days. Sir ARTHUR and Sir Author are perfectly mated, F. C. B.
brimming over with genuine humour, and A. S. pre-eminently displaying
his rare gift of expressing humour in musical notes. The cast is a very
strong one, which is fortunate, seeing the appetite of the audience is
insatiable, and only exceptional strength could meet the demand for
encores. Where all excel it is difficult to particularise merit. But
Miss FLORENCE ST. JOHN and Mr. COURTICE POUNDS in the French duet, Mr.
PASSMORE from first to last (especially in his Bolero dance, one of the
funniest things for a long time seen on the operatic stage), Miss EMMIE
OWEN in her graceful movements, and the sextet with its merry music and
its laughing dance, are things to see and hear.
[Illustration: "Up in the morning early."]
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