The new. operetta produced at the Opera Comique last night – the joint production of Messrs. Gilbert and Sullivan – is really a comedy set to music. The libretto, written by Mr. Gilbert is one of the richest and rarest humour, full of effective incident, and giving scope for almost unlimited stage effect. The music by Mr. Sullivan is quite up to the standard of the libretto, and in some respects goes even beyond the tuneful composer's lyre.

"Patience, or Bunthorne's Bride," the name of the new piece, is a caustic satire upon the æstheticism of the day. Twenty young creatures feed upon love, and are in love with one æsthetic creature. The story is developed through a series of amusing incidents, all tending to castigate the æsthetes and the unreality of æstheticism. Mr. Grossmith is Bunthorne, a "fleshly poet," who is an æsthete, because it is fashionable.

Mr. Gilbert has caught up some curious conversational turns and expressions of æsthetic society, and we find people are "consummately utter," are "I truly utter," and "quite too all but" – the elevated nonsense peculiar to the worship of the lily. Mr. Sullivan has followed with a series of mock heroic compositions pitched in the key of grand opera, but containing most exquisite music and catching airs. Almost every song is a gem, in fact the operetta is gemmed with delicate and sparkling melody which, coupled with the brightness of the dialogue, and the beauty of the scenery must command great and prolonged popularity for "Patience”.

Page modified 13 March 2011