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#1

Gilbert & Sullivan

Posted: 12/16/04 at 6:09am

Something I don't see discussed too much on here! So, what is your absolute FAVORITE G&S show?

I can't decided between the two, but my top two are THE MIKADO and THE PIRATES OF PENZANCE. I worked on both of them, so aside from the shows being brilliant, i have amazing memories to go with them. Actually, THE MIKADO was my first show EVER that I performed in, and it was musically directed by Tony Winner Shepard Coleman, who died shortly after, so it was very special to me. I'm interested what you all think.

Their scores to PIRATES and THE MIKADO are so f*cking amazing, I'm waiting for something new to come along that tops them...probably won't.

"If you are going to do something, do it well. And leave something witchy." -Charlie Manson

#2

re: Gilbert & Sullivan

Posted: 12/16/04 at 6:11am

IOLANTHE

Absolutely enthralling!

I can still sing the Chancellor's Nightmare when I'm drunk :)

Who can explain it, who can tell you why? Fools give you reasons, wise men never try -South Pacific

#3

re: Gilbert & Sullivan

Posted: 12/16/04 at 6:25am

I like The Mikado (although strictly speaking, I like The Hot Mikado but it's essentially the same). The Hot Mikado was the first show I ever performed in (as Ko Ko) and it was terrific. I'd would really love to see The Mikado someday.

"Jane, I've been dealt a blow - I've been dealt a blow, Jane."

#4

re: Gilbert & Sullivan

Posted: 12/16/04 at 6:31am

WOW!
I was about to say Iolanthe!!!
I love The Mikado...but there is just something about Iolanthe. I always stood sidestage singing "Tripping hither, tripping thither" in my best falsetto...being the best fairy I could...
*blushes*
I seriously believe that it is time for a revival of Iolanthe, or the Peer and the Peri on the West End. The satire of British Parliament that is present throughout is every bit as relevant as it was in (1884? i think?). The show is humourous, and contains Arthur Sullivan's most beautiful and diverse score. I adore listening to all of the songs, in particular the opening/tripping hither, the entrance and march of the peers, the act II opening/the sentry song and the beautiful little quartet. But the madrigal in the Mikado is more beautiful that that quartet. I adored singing the Madrigal every night.
Broadway deserves a good revival of a G & S too...perhaps The Mikado, perhaps HMS Pinafore or perhaps simply reupdating the Kevin Kline Pirates (the easy way out). I would love to see a revival of any G & S, and to see American audiences re-educated in G & S appreciation.
These shows are so easily forgotten, yet they played such an important part in shaping early Broadway. They helped bridge the gap between Opera and Musical Theatre as we know it.

#5

re: Gilbert & Sullivan

Posted: 12/16/04 at 6:34am

Me and my company Radical Wizardry are arranging a Garden lives show in my city. I am the Lord Chancellor, lol. It truly was their greatest show :)

Who can explain it, who can tell you why? Fools give you reasons, wise men never try -South Pacific

#6

re: Gilbert & Sullivan

Posted: 12/16/04 at 6:36am

This is making me want to watch PIRATES right now! I would love to see IOLANTHE or THE MIKADO on Broadway. However, I don't think they would stay around for very long. PIRATES would be able to be more "commercial."

"If you are going to do something, do it well. And leave something witchy." -Charlie Manson

#7

re: Gilbert & Sullivan

Posted: 12/16/04 at 6:41am

I think that The Mikado would have a chance. I doubt Iolanthe would last more than a few weeks...it is just TOO British. But I think a well-staged revival would have a very good chance on the West End.
Pirates and HMS Pinafore would be the most commercially viable on Broadway, in my opinion.
And the good thing about G & S is that there are no royalties to pay to the authors, so in that way, a small amount of the running costs are cut!

#8

re: Gilbert & Sullivan

Posted: 12/16/04 at 6:41am

There will be staging of THE PIRATES OF PENZANCE by the G&S Society (or something) at City Center in NYC...I would love to check it out.

"If you are going to do something, do it well. And leave something witchy." -Charlie Manson

#9

re: Gilbert & Sullivan

Posted: 12/16/04 at 6:46am

I worked on the score for the lost G&S musical THESPIS. Only three or four of Sullivan's songs were intact. I had to write new melodies to Gilbert's words. That was very exciting. Now I'm working on Iolanthe and trying to make it the best version alive. I should definitely send in a video or something when it's done X

Who can explain it, who can tell you why? Fools give you reasons, wise men never try -South Pacific

#10

re: Gilbert & Sullivan

Posted: 12/16/04 at 6:50am

*sigh* First of all, paradox, dear, I love you so.

Now that that's over with, "The Mikado", and not because I was in it! It's just...my favorite. Then Pirates, but I'll admit to the fact that Rex Smith's Frederic from the movie definitely had something to do with that...

"I am special, I am special! Please, God, please, don't let me be normal!" ---Louisa, The Fantasticks --- --- Intolerant of intolerance.

#11

re: Gilbert & Sullivan

Posted: 12/16/04 at 6:57am

And who knew Linda Ronstadt was actually GOOD!?

"If you are going to do something, do it well. And leave something witchy." -Charlie Manson

#12

re: Gilbert & Sullivan

Posted: 12/16/04 at 6:57am

No kidding! Well, I did, but my dad has a huge thing for her, so we listened to a LOT of Linda growing up...a LOT. SO much.

"I am special, I am special! Please, God, please, don't let me be normal!" ---Louisa, The Fantasticks --- --- Intolerant of intolerance.

#13

re: Gilbert & Sullivan

Posted: 12/16/04 at 6:59am

I was in THE MIKADO too. Where did you do it? You mentioned you were from upstate.....

"If you are going to do something, do it well. And leave something witchy." -Charlie Manson

#14

re: Gilbert & Sullivan

Posted: 12/16/04 at 7:00am

Yeah, but I'm originally from a tiny town in NorCal. That's where I did it.

"I am special, I am special! Please, God, please, don't let me be normal!" ---Louisa, The Fantasticks --- --- Intolerant of intolerance.

#15

re: Gilbert & Sullivan

Posted: 12/16/04 at 7:00am

OH. poop.

"If you are going to do something, do it well. And leave something witchy." -Charlie Manson

#16

re: Gilbert & Sullivan

Posted: 12/16/04 at 7:02am

Sorry!

"I am special, I am special! Please, God, please, don't let me be normal!" ---Louisa, The Fantasticks --- --- Intolerant of intolerance.

#17

re: Gilbert & Sullivan

Posted: 12/16/04 at 7:04am

Wow...this thread has already beaten the last Gilbert and Sullivan thread I started, and it said pretty much the same thing. Miracles happen. Who would have thought a post about Musical Masterpieces pre-1950 could get a whole of ten posts?

#18

re: Gilbert & Sullivan

Posted: 12/16/04 at 7:06am

*raises hand*

"I am special, I am special! Please, God, please, don't let me be normal!" ---Louisa, The Fantasticks --- --- Intolerant of intolerance.

#19

re: Gilbert & Sullivan

Posted: 12/16/04 at 7:06am

10 posts, yes - but 3 people posting. Wait until all of WICKED wakes up tomorrow. This thread will slowly slip to page two...then three...etc.

"If you are going to do something, do it well. And leave something witchy." -Charlie Manson

#20

re: Gilbert & Sullivan

Posted: 12/16/04 at 7:07am

*growls at wicked*

"I am special, I am special! Please, God, please, don't let me be normal!" ---Louisa, The Fantasticks --- --- Intolerant of intolerance.

#21

re: Gilbert & Sullivan

Posted: 12/16/04 at 7:14am

then we just have to keep resurrecting it.
you know, I went into my favourite sheet music store yesterday, and as soon as I walked in I noticed there were 30 or 40 copies of the vocal score for Wicked available. IN AUSTRALIA! And the fever is catching on here too. I am considered strange and somewhat of a musical snob for not thinking it is the greatest piece of musical theatre ever written. And some of it is just so annoying...
Anyway, back to G & S. Some of the lesser known G & S are wonderful too. The Gondoliers has some glorious music, and some wonderful scenes. Patience is similar. Trial by Jury is just a gem, and Ruddigore has some great moments. The Yeoman of the Guard lacks the humourous book/libretto of the other G & S, but it was Sullivan's favourite score, and contains some of his best music.

#22

re: Gilbert & Sullivan

Posted: 12/16/04 at 7:18am

Hey...little G&S side story. I dragged a bunch of friends to see "Topsy Turvy" when it came out...I think it was my thirteenth birthday. We were the only people under forty in the audience...it was right after I was in The Mikado, so every time something from it would come up I would freak out. I literally have not been contacted by some of those people since that night.

"KaTISHa!"

"No, it's KATisha."

"I know, but it gives me a little thrill to say KaTISHa!"

Edited because I can't spell.

"I am special, I am special! Please, God, please, don't let me be normal!" ---Louisa, The Fantasticks --- --- Intolerant of intolerance.

Updated On: 12/16/04 at 07:18 AM

#23

re: Gilbert & Sullivan

Posted: 12/16/04 at 7:22am

hehehe
Topsy Turvy is a great film. I can't remember that much of it though...just the littlev scene where the Samurai Sword falls of the wall in Gilbert's study, inspiring him to abandon the "lozenge" plot and start work on a tale of japan.

#24

re: Gilbert & Sullivan

Posted: 12/16/04 at 7:26am

I remember that too! And what I remember most clearly (apart from that quote, which I loved...mostly because I wanted to be Katisha but we won't go there...frigging Angela...) was watching the Academy Awards that year and freaking out every time they would win, because they would play "Behold the Lord High Executioner."

"I am special, I am special! Please, God, please, don't let me be normal!" ---Louisa, The Fantasticks --- --- Intolerant of intolerance.

#25

re: Gilbert & Sullivan

Posted: 12/16/04 at 7:33am

"a personage of noble rank and title"

I stood side stage for that song, and really let it rip with my high g's/high a's.
*sigh*
They don't make composers like they used to, do they? Everything has changed so much. Now I adore Sondheim, but he is part of the minority. He, Jule Styne, Leonard Bernstein, George Gershwin and Cy Coleman are really the only theatrical composers of note for the 20th Century.

Updated On: 12/16/04 at 07:33 AM

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