Messrs. Gilbert and Sullivan’s famous "pirates" paid their first visit to Derby last week, the opera being produced on Wednesday and Thursday evenings in the Corn Exchange. On Wednesday evening a very full audience assembled, but they were not a little disappointed to find that the orchestra, which had been provided to produce the instrumental portion of Dr. Sullivan’s charming music, consisted of nothing more than a piano! This certainly qualified very much the success which otherwise the performance would have to be pronounced, for the company of vocalists was a very fair one.

Miss Fanny Harrison finds in "Ruth" a character for which she is exactly suited. Miss J. Woodward is a pleasant little "Mabel," and most of the other ladies are well fitted for their parts. Mr. Walter Greyling makes a stiff and stately "Major General," but does not enunciate so well as the creator of the part, Mr. Grossmith. Mr. Federici, as the tender "Pirate King," and Mr. H. Bolini as his sensitive apprentice, sang and acted commendably.

The choruses were all well given, in spite of the adverse circumstances mentioned above, which showed that the company, like all those organised by Mr. D’Oyly Carte, had been thoroughly trained.

Page modified 22 October 2011