Panjandrum (musical) - Critical Response

Critical Response

The New York Times observed that Panjandrum "combines operetta, burlesque, farce-comedy, and pantomime and the funniest part of all is the pantomime." The Times review continued, "gets a peculiar sort of assistance from Miss Della Fox, who can neither act nor sing and who is not pretty, but who rejoices in a marvelous popularity." Yet two weeks later, apparently another New York Times critic wrote, "It has plenty of catchy airs, a long series of comic situations, following each other so closely that the audience has scarcely breathing time between successive laughs, and plot enough to carry the interest of the spectators to the close." Of Della Fox, the second review noted, "Her songs and dances are encored until the little woman is forced from sheer weariness to decline further responses."

When Hopper's new wife, Edna Wallace-Hopper, replaced Fox for performances beginning on July 17, The New York Times critic commented: "At any rate, hands came together all over the house in a long and genial patter when the little Mrs. Hopper appeared, dressed in lace and yellow and looking just a bit timid and apprehensive.... Her voice, like that of conscience, is still and small, but in an opera like Panjandrum nobody notices voices. To seem to sing is quite enough, if others arts and graces are present."