Respectful Perversion: Gilbert and Sullivan
John Pemble, 16 June 2011
Something remarkable happened one night in 1920, during a performance of Iolanthe at the Prince’s Theatre. After the chorus had sung
To say she is his mother is an utter bit of folly! Oh, fie! Our Strephon is a rogue! Perhaps his brain is addled, and it’s very melancholy! Taradiddle, taradiddle, tol lol lay!
the man sitting next to Maurice Baring turned to him and said:...