If any more of the principals catch colds, the Boston weather does not let up, or R. H. Burnside does not call off two of the 18 straight performances scheduled, the best American Gilbert and Sullivan company for the last decade may be shot to blazes in the near future.

Let Kathleen Roche be saved, especially. All good Savoyards should pray that the brilliant coloratura-soprano, who has the lead in all the operettas, does not fall victim to the grippe that has already decimated the voices of Bertram Peacock and Florenz Ames, two of the three best in the male cast.

It must be confessed that the performance of "Pinafore" was disappointing from a group that did such a magnificent job on "The Mikado" earlier in the week. For the first voice to really strike the ear in "The Mikado" was the clear baritone of Peacock as Pish-Tush (there isn't a bass in the entire company) and the next thing to hit was the ability of Ames. Then Peacock's voice cracked in "Trial by Jury" and broke in "Pinafore," while Ames couldn't talk by the end of the operetta. They have somewhat recovered, however.

Robert Pitkin nearly stole the show as the Mikado, and did himself justice as the usher in "Trial by Jury" and as Dick Dead-Eye, although the latter part required a bass which he was not able to supply. James Gerard, the romantic lead of the company and its only good tenor, does not quite look the part of the handsome Ralph Rackstraw or a Nanki-Poo. His substitute, Allen Stewart, who played the defendant in "Trial by Jury," is better looking but his voice does not have the required lyrical quality.

The choruses are magnificently directed by Louis Kroll, whose master hand is evident everywhere in the production. The trick salute in "Pinafore" and the eminently satirical (or 4F, if you're nasty) nature of the chorus come over brilliantly; Gilbert would love Kroll.

Colds can be cured, and, if they are, no lover of the Savoy operas can afford to miss the current company.