Gilbert and Sullivan!!!

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Gilbert and Sullivan!!!

Posted: 9/19/04 at 8:34am

Is it not about time Gilbert and Sullivan made a reappearance on the Great White Way? Or the West End for that matter? I know it would be a risky business, but i think that with some careful updating they could be hits, like the Kevin Kline Pirates was. I'm playing Nanki-Poo in a regional production of the Mikado, and it is just the most fantastic show. I was recently in a successful production of Iolanthe, and i think that it could be a smash in the West End, with its witty jibes at British aristocracy and governments.

Any thoughts?

re: Gilbert and Sullivan!!!

Posted: 9/19/04 at 10:46am

Iolanthe is my favourite!

They should bring that back!!

I can still recite the Lord Chancellor's Nightmare Song off by heart

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

re: Gilbert and Sullivan!!!

Posted: 9/19/04 at 11:43am

The only G&S show I have seen is THE MIKADO and was bored out of my skull.

"They're eating her and then they're going to eat me. OH MY GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOD!!!!" -Troll 2

re: Gilbert and Sullivan!!!

Posted: 9/19/04 at 1:42pm

Love them! When my bro was in sixth grade they did "Pirates of Penzance". Kind of a weird choice, but it DID introduce me to the show. LOVED Modern Major General and the List song from the Mikado.

Rosencrantz: "Be happy - if you're not even HAPPY what's so good about surviving? We'll be all right. I suppose we just go on." - from Tom Stoppard's Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead

re: Gilbert and Sullivan!!!

Posted: 9/19/04 at 2:20pm

Pirates is about the only accessible G&S show that could cross over. Mikado is overly praised and ok but not great.

A better version is The Hot Mikado.

Ignorance is temporary. Stupidity last forever. Watch out BWW... HE'S BACK.

re: Gilbert and Sullivan!!!

Posted: 9/19/04 at 2:32pm

I was in Pirates last year. It was a fun show, but I don't know...

Why do we play with fire? Why do we run our fingers through the flame? Why do we leave our hands on the stove, although we know we're in for some pain? -tick...tick...BOOM!

re: Gilbert and Sullivan!!!

Posted: 9/19/04 at 6:39pm

How about Ruddigore... I live for the Patter Song. It's actually the tune used in the Typing Test in Millie.
"My eyes are fully opened to my awful situation..."
That or The Mikado would be divine.
"Three little maids from school are we..."

-Ryan

re: Gilbert and Sullivan!!!

Posted: 9/19/04 at 7:23pm

The partnership of W. S. Gilbert (book and lyrics) and Arthur Sullivan (music) then would be equivalent to the teaming of say Mel Brooks (book and lyrics) and Andrew Lloyd-Weber (music) today.

G&S are the fathers of the musical and are still imitated, or borrowed from, by contemporary musical creators, even by those considered to be today's geniuses.

THE MIKADO
PATIENCE
THE GONDOLIERS
IOLANTHE
PIRATES
PINAFORE
TRIAL BY JURY

"If you want to know who we are,
We are gentlemen of Japan;
On many a vase and jar--
On many a screen and fan,
We figure in lively paint:
Our attitude's queer and quaint--
You're wrong if you thing it ain't, oh!"

G&S are well worth worth exploring and provide hours of musical theatre pleasure.

re: Gilbert and Sullivan!!!

Posted: 9/20/04 at 12:22pm

I'm a huge G&S fan and have seen all their operas several times.
I recommend going to see the NY G&S Players.

http://www.nygasp.org/

They are doing a Ruddigore Concert in October and the Pirates of Penzance in January.

I don't know about the West End since the D'Oyly Carte Company in London suspended performances in May 2003 due to economic problems.

http://www.doylycarte.org.uk/index2.htm

If your a G&S fanatic there is a three week festival in Buxton, England every year in July-August.

http://www.gs-festival.co.uk/

#10

re: Gilbert and Sullivan!!!

Posted: 9/20/04 at 12:23pm

I saw Patience at Glimmerglass Opera in August and was blown away. They were two clever, sharp artists.

'The Devil be hitting me!'--Whitney Houston

#11

re: Gilbert and Sullivan!!!

Posted: 9/20/04 at 12:57pm

PATIENCE is sharp, witty, clever, satiric and also just plain fun. It also provided a brief moment in Stoppard's INVENTION OF LOVE.

I had the good fortune to see MIKADO performed by D'Oyly Carte Company in London at the Savor Theatre in 2001. It was marvelous, melodious and memorable.

NY's Gilbert & Sullivan Players do a very good job with their productions as well.

#12

re: Gilbert and Sullivan!!!

Posted: 9/20/04 at 8:14pm

G & S - words ten, music three

And that's being nice.

#13

re: Gilbert and Sullivan!!!

Posted: 9/20/04 at 8:49pm

Oy. Pirates of Penzance. I was in a high school production of that 3 years ago...and for such difficult material, I must say we pulled it off remarkably well.

#14

re: Gilbert and Sullivan!!!

Posted: 9/20/04 at 10:19pm

At the summer stock program I did this summer, we did two Gilbert and Sullivan operettas, Iolanthe and Yeomen of the Guard. Yeomen was pretty blah (I had fun because I had a lead, but if I hadn't had that role, I would have agreed it was blah), but Iolanthe was actually a huge favorite among the whole company and audience. I often thought how fun it would be to see it done on the Broadway stage. And I think that many people would go see it too. It attracts older theater lovers and I think it could open the eyes of the younger lovers!

#15

re: Gilbert and Sullivan!!!

Posted: 9/21/04 at 12:00am

Andrew, I've found music impressive, not only for his work with Gilbert, but his ballet and orchestral music as well.

I am especially fond of his "Victoria and Merrie England."

I thought every Brit was raised on Sullivan, and developed a healthy knowledge of G&S from an early age.

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