THIS, Louis Browne presentation, which featured excerpts from 10 of the 13 extant Savoy operas, was one which patently targeted dyed-in-the-wool G & S aficionados.

In a programme that juxtaposed items from popular favourites with solos and ensembles from The Sorcerer, Princess Ida and Utopia Limited, many of the scenes were given with dialogue, and all were fleshed out with comic business.

Mr Browne surrounded, himself with a cast of experienced veterans - two former D'Oyly Carte men and a couple of Rathmines and Rathgar stalwarts. With this wealth of comic experience to hand, it was no surprise that the humorous elements outnumbered as well as outshone, the lyrical ones. The exception to this was the sweet soprano singing of Niamh Murray, the show's only "juvenile", who topped her purely vocal efforts with a funny take off of an old-fashioned operatic coloratura in Poor wand'ring one from The Pirates of Penzance.

John Ayldon is a man of many voices, one of them a sturdy bass-baritone. He is also an experienced showman, even if he over-indulges in high camp. Not far behind in comic presence was Barry Clarke, whose tenor spoof from Utopia Limited was a show-stopper. In purely vocal matters, however, both he and Mr Browne were wont to stray under the note too often. Eoin O'Brien and Lucy Lane, of R&R fame, added their considerable talents and the pleasurable evening was rounded out by splendid backing from Blanaid Murphy's choir and Patrick Healy's piano accompaniments and continuity patter, even if some of his, information was not always accurate.