"F" ('Iolanthe' No. 1) Company in Hull

The Hull Packet and East Riding Times (Hull, England), Friday, May 2, 1884; Issue 5195.

"IOLANTHE" AT THE THEATRE ROYAL. — This fascinating opera by Messrs. Gilbert and Sullivan has been attracting large audiences at the Royal this week. The company, though scarcely up to the average of those selected by Mr. D'Oyly Carte, is, nevertheless, a fair one all round, and the performance is meritoriously gone through. Next week Mr. Sim's new and successful drama of "In the Ranks" will be presented by a good company. The play, we believe, fully maintains the author's high reputation as a first-class dramatist.

The Era (London, England), Saturday, May 3, 1884; Issue 2380.

THEATRE ROYAL. — Lessee, Mr. Wilson Barrett; General Manager, Mr. Alfred Cuthbert. — This week Iolanthe is again delighting large audiences. With the exception of Mr. George Marler, who is again well to the fore as Private Willis, the principals are all new. Miss Alice Barnett as the Fairy Queen strove bravely to battle with a severe hoarseness, but had to succumb in the second act; her place was filled by Miss L. Fountain, who, although extremely nervous, plainly showed that with care she will make her mark. A more sprightly and telling performance than that of Phyllis by Miss Marion Grahame we do not wish to witness. Miss Haidee Crofton is to be complimented on a highly successful performance as Iolanthe, and the three attendant fairies receive all the support necessary from Miss E. Gwynne, Miss M. Levison, and Miss Geraldine St. Maur. Mr. Hervet D'Egville played with genuine humour and sang well as Strephon. The Lord Chancellor was Mr. John Wilkinson. The parts of Mountararat and his confrere, Tolloller, are ably undertaken by Messrs. T.W. Hemsley and Jas. Sydney. The chorus is a most powerful and efficient one. On Tuesday and Wednesday evenings the part of the "swinger on cobwebs" was undertaken by Miss Vincent, and with admirable effect. Cups and Saucers, capitally given by Misses E. Gwynne and Miss Vincent, and Mr. E. Vernon, serves as a lever de rideau.

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