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''Cryptoconchoidsyphonostomata,〔The word Cryptoconchoidsyphonostomata does not appear in the Oxford English Dictionary and is presumed to have been a bit of scientific-sounding nonsense coined for this play; the four Greek-derived components of the word mean "hidden shell tubular pores".〕 or While it's to be Had'' was a one-act play styled a "successful romantic Extravaganza", written by R. H. Edgar and Charles Collette, an actor who also starred in the leading role of Plantagenet Smith and wrote the words and music of the play's hit song. It is chiefly remembered today as the curtain-raiser at the Royalty Theatre on the night of 25 March 1875, the night of the premiere of Gilbert and Sullivan's first opera produced by Richard D'Oyly Carte, ''Trial by Jury''. ==Background== ''Cryptoconchoidsyphonostomata'' had been tried out in matinées at the Vaudeville Theatre and had premiered on 18 January 1875 at the Holborn Theatre "on the occasion of an amateur performance for the benefit of a charity."〔 It opened at the Royalty Theatre on 27 February 1875 as a companion piece to Offenbach's ''La Périchole''.〔''The Era'', 28 February 1875, p. 8〕 Linda Verner, who played the First Bridesmaid, and later the Plaintiff, in ''Trial by Jury'', played Polly in ''Cryptoconchoidsyphonostomata''.〔Stone, David. ("Linda Verner" ). ''Who Was Who in the D'Oyly Carte Opera Company'', 2002, accessed 17 June 2008〕 Collette's song from the play, "What an Afternoon!", was published separately. The simple form of the lyric, with its title repeated every other line, caught the public fancy:
The success of the song prompted pirating of the words and music. Collette successfully sued a man named Goode, causing one paper to comment that the song should be retitled "What a Goode Afternoon".〔Short, T. Duff. "Law", ''The Musical World'', 9 February 1878, p. 109〕 ''Cryptoconchoidsyphonostomata'' was replaced at the Royalty, after 25 March 1875, by other works for the remainder of the run of ''Trial''. Nevertheless, it was popular and was repeated elsewhere, including at the Olympic Theatre on 10 July 1875, starring Collette. In 1881, it was presented at the Imperial Theatre.〔"Dramatic Gossip", ''The Athenaeum'', 14 May 1881, p. 666〕 Colette appeared in nearly 20 productions of the play between 1875 and 1881, revising the script over the years.〔Walters, Michael. "Crypto", ''W. S. Gilbert Society Journal'', Vol. 4, No. 28: Winter 2011, pp. 35–36.〕 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Cryptoconchoidsyphonostomata」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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