What is it with Gilbert and Sullivan?

[CanuckAmok]

[Darth_Kitten]

1. LOL

:D

[mcscajun]

2. They're fun!

GENERAL:

I am the very model of a modern Major-General,
I've information vegetable, animal, and mineral,
I know the kings of England, and I quote the fights historical
From Marathon to Waterloo, in order categorical;
I'm very well acquainted, too, with matters mathematical,
I understand equations, both the simple and quadratical,
About binomial theorem I'm teeming with a lot o' news,
With many cheerful facts about the square of the hypotenuse.

ALL:
With many cheerful facts about the square of the hypotenuse.
With many cheerful facts about the square of the hypotenuse.
With many cheerful facts about the square of the hypotenuse.

GENERAL:
I'm very good at integral and differential calculus;
I know the scientific names of beings animalculous:
In short, in matters vegetable, animal, and mineral,
I am the very model of a modern Major-General.

ALL:
In short, in matters vegetable, animal, and mineral,
He is the very model of a modern Major-General.

GENERAL:
I know our mythic history, King Arthur's and Sir Caradoc's;
I answer hard acrostics, I've a pretty taste for paradox,
I quote in elegiacs all the crimes of Heliogabalus,
In conics I can floor peculiarities parabolous;

I can tell undoubted Raphaels from Gerard Dows and Zoffanies,
I know the croaking chorus from the Frogs of Aristophanes!
Then I can hum a fugue of which I've heard the music's din afore,
And whistle all the airs from that infernal nonsense Pinafore.

ALL:
And whistle all the airs from that infernal nonsense Pinafore.
And whistle all the airs from that infernal nonsense Pinafore.
And whistle all the airs from that infernal nonsense Pinafore.

GENERAL:
Then I can write a washing bill in Babylonic cuneiform,
And tell you ev'ry detail of Caractacus's uniform:
In short, in matters vegetable, animal, and mineral,
I am the very model of a modern Major-General.

ALL:
In short, in matters vegetable, animal, and mineral,
He is the very model of a modern Major-General.

GENERAL:
In fact, when I know what is meant by "mamelon" and "ravelin",
When I can tell at sight a Mauser rifle from a javelin,
When such affairs as sorties and surprises I'm more wary at,
And when I know precisely what is meant by "commissariat",
When I have learnt what progress has been made in modern gunnery,
When I know more of tactics than a novice in a nunnery--
In short, when I've a smattering of elemental strategy,
You'll say a better Major-General has never sat a gee.

ALL:
You'll say a better Major-General has never sat a gee.
You'll say a better Major-General has never sat a gee.
You'll say a better Major-General has never sat a gee.

GENERAL:
For my military knowledge, though I'm plucky and adventury,
Has only been brought down to the beginning of the century;
But still, in matters vegetable, animal, and mineral,
I am the very model of a modern Major-General.

ALL:
But still, in matters vegetable, animal, and mineral,
He is the very model of a modern Major-General.

[Elidor]

9. When I was a lad…

SIR JOSEPH.
When I was a lad I served a term
As office boy to an Attorney's firm.
I cleaned the windows and I swept the floor,
And I polished up the handle of the big front door.

CHORUS.
He polished up the handle of the big front door.

SIR JOSEPH.
I polished up that handle so carefullee
That now I am the Ruler of the Queen's Navee!

CHORUS.
He polished up that handle so carefullee,
That now he is the ruler of the Queen's Navee.

SIR JOSEPH.
Of legal knowledge I acquired such a grip
That they took me into the partnership.
And that junior partnership, I ween,
Was the only ship that I ever had seen.

CHORUS.
Was the only ship that he ever had seen.

SIR JOSEPH.
But that kind of ship so suited me,
That now I am the ruler of the Queen's Navee!

[Demeter]

3. Not to Mention: GOP Mode of Political Advancement!

"When I was a lad I served a term
As office boy to an Attorney's firm.
I cleaned the windows and I swept the floor,
And I polished up the handle of the big front door.
I polished up that handle so carefullee
That now I am the Ruler of the Queen's Navee!

CHORUS. -- He polished, etc.

As office boy I made such a mark
That they gave me the post of a junior clerk.
I served the writs with a smile so bland,
And I copied all the letters in a big round hand--
I copied all the letters in a hand so free,
That now I am the Ruler of the Queen's Navee!

CHORUS. -- He copied, etc.

In serving writs I made such a name
That an articled clerk I soon became;
I wore clean collars and a brand-new suit
For the pass examination at the Institute,
And that pass examination did so well for me,
That now I am the Ruler of the Queen's Navee!

CHORUS. -- And that pass examination, etc.

Of legal knowledge I acquired such a grip
That they took me into the partnership.
And that junior partnership, I ween,
Was the only ship that I ever had seen.
But that kind of ship so suited me,
That now I am the Ruler of the Queen's Navee!

CHORUS. -- But that kind, etc.

I grew so rich that I was sent
By a pocket borough into Parliament.
I always voted at my party's call,
And I never thought of thinking for myself at all.
I thought so little, they rewarded me
By making me the Ruler of the Queen's Navee!

CHORUS. -- He thought so little, etc.

Now landsmen all, whoever you may be,
If you want to rise to the top of the tree,
If your soul isn't fettered to an office stool,
Be careful to be guided by this golden rule--
Stick close to your desks and never go to sea,
And you all may be rulers of the Queen's Navee!

CHORUS. -- Stick close, etc."

[Elidor]

11. Ooops, you beat me to it!

[coloradodem2005]

4. A British Tar is a soaring soul as free as a mountain bird.

[Lisa]

5. I am the very model of a candidate Republican!

I'm running for the president because my daddy said I can.
I tout the NRA and quote the latest right-wing rhetoric,
I don't eat Japanese food 'cause my daddy said I might get sick ...

(http://www.langston.com/Fun_People/2000/2000AWT.html)


How many operetta or musical composers (and their fans) encourage people to re-write the libretto to reflect contemporary politics?

[yellowdogintexas]

6. My favorite is "The Mikado"

I would go to see a live production of it even if it were being performed by a day care center!
Seriously!

I love this operetta!

KoKo's song: "I've Got a Little List" is the one that most often is
rewritten to reflect current events in this production.

also, I love the movie "Topsy Turvy", about how Mikado came to be written.

[BurtWorm]

7. I updated it for Bush Watch

Song Of The Expanded Patriot Act

As some day it may happen that a victim must be found,
I've got a little list--I've got a little list
Of society offenders who might well be underground,
And who never would be missed--who never would be missed!
There's the pestilential nuisances who write for Left Wing rags--
All late-night TV talk show hosts, those irritating wags--
All peaceniks who are up on facts, and floor you with 'em flat--
All Web site commentators who've abandoned you like that--
And European leaders who are multilateralist--
They'd none of 'em be missed--they'd none of 'em be missed!

CHORUS.
He's got 'em on the list--he's got 'em on the list;
And they'll none of 'em be missed--they'll none of 'em be miss'd!

There's the Kurdish liberator, and the others of his race,
And the Mecca Islamist--I've got him on the list!
And the children who in Baghdad bring a tear to Ramsey's face,
They never would be miss'd--they never would be miss'd!
Then the idiot who praises, with enthusiastic tone,
All temp'rate foreign leaders, every fuhrer but his own;
And the lady from the provinces, who's always asking when
The next march is in Washington--she'd like to go again.
And that singular anomaly, the right-wing pacificist--
I don't think she'd be missed--I'm sure she'd not be missed!

CHORUS.
He's got her on the list--he's got her on the list;
And he don't think she'll be missed--he's sure she won't be miss'd!

And that Puerto Rican Muslim, who just now is quite contrite,
The Judicial escapist--I've got him on the list!
All other former citizens we've woken in the night--
They'd none of 'em be missed--they'd none of 'em be missed.
And apologetic statesmen of a compromising kind,
Such as--What d'ye call him--Thing'em-bob, and likewise--Never-mind,
And 'St--'st--'st--and What's-his-name, and also You-know-who--
The task of filling up the blanks I'd rather leave to you.
But it really doesn't matter whom you put upon the list,
For they'd none of 'em be missed--they'd none of 'em be missed!

CHORUS.
You may put 'em on the list--you may put 'em on the list;
And they'll none of 'em be missed--they'll none of 'em be missed!
They'll none of 'em...be...missed!

[yellowdogintexas]

13. Very Well Done! I'll be humming that the rest of the night.

Time to get out my old beat up VHS of the BBC production with Eric Idle as the Lord High Executioner.

Thanks for posting That! I may just have to bookmark it to share with other friends, if it's Ok with you.

[BurtWorm]

14. Of course it is!

Eric Idle as the Lord High Executioner!? I'd love to see that!

[yellowdogintexas]

15. Amazon has the video; I taped it a zillion years ago when it

was on Great Performances.

It is done in 1920's costuming, everyone in black and white, with all the action set in a bit resort hotel. Very inventive setting.

When I was about 14 or so, I saw a live production on TV with Groucho as KoKO. To my knowledge, no film remains of that production. I may have even been younger. All I remember is my mother making sure we had no committments and no homework left to do so we could watch it. See,she was a Mikado fan, also and had raised us all to be as well.


I sure wish I could find a video of that one!!!

[T_i_B]

17. I've got a video of "HMS Pinafore"

With Frankie Howard as Sir Joseph! Great stuff. The lines

Remain at your deak, and never go to sea
And you all may be rulers of the Queen's Navy

was based on a real government appointment to the post of First Lord of the Admiralty.

[crispini]

20. Brilliant!

Bravo! :toast:

[Taverner]

8. Did you know they are used as torture in some countries?

Betchya didnt know that!

[Deja Q]

10. Aren't they gay?

I mean, we all know what sort of magic tricks Siegfried and Roy do, but I never knew about Gilbert and Sullivan!

[yellowdogintexas]

12. They have been dead for about 100 years, and I don't think they

were gay.

Sir Arthur Sullivan was actually quite a rake (he wrote the music)

Sir William Gilbert was married..he was the lyricist.

They were composing partners for many years in 19th century England

[henslee]

16. I heard they did not get along and did not work in the same room. Also,

read a great piece on them -- about the fact their operettas vigourously lampooned society and how it really demonstrates how self secure and tolerant British society was to delight in the all the fun poking. I am partial to HMS Pinafore and Pirates of Penzance.

[yellowdogintexas]

19. oh yeah, I just left that part out...about not getting along well

The movie "Topsy Turvy" (highly recommended for the faithful G&S fan)
clearly demonstrates their inability to work in the same space.

[henslee]

23. Never saw topsy turvey... got scard away by costumes... any good?

[Demeter]

24. Topsy Turvy Was Very Adult

in every sense of the word.

I enjoyed it, I was appalled by it, I learned a lot about Victorian times and England from it. I could watch it several times (if I could get the time for it). I bought the video--my ultimate sign of approval and recommendation!

[yellowdogintexas]

29. I loved Topsy Turvey...it has lots of good backstory about

G & S and tells how "The Mikado" came to be. Has excellent excerpts from a fabulous production of the play, shows rehearsals, costume development, etc. For any Mikado fan, this movie is a must see.


And Jim Broadbent was just awesome as Gilbert!!!!!

[Atlas Mugged]

18. Beats the hell outta' me

It's all too "frisky" - and I don't do "frisky".

Besides, the production of 'The Pirates of Penzance' with Linda Ronstadt was one of the most mind numbing things I've ever sat through. I only watched it because I have major thigh sweats for Kevin Kline - and even he was a total waste of talent.

[Jade Fox]

21. Their lyrics are hysterical....

Unfortunately, in most of the productions I've seen the words were
incomprehensible.

Check out "Love Unrequited Robs Me of Me Rest". Best song ever about
insomnia.

[tjwmason]

26. The words are the key

I know what you mean about hearing them, but if you know what is being sung it is actually hilarious satire.

Particularly astonishing when you note that at that time all public performances had to receive approval from the Lord Chamberlain.

[bleever]

22. The Shrub version of "When I was a lad..."

Shrub:

When I was a lad, I made my way
By making all the other bullies bray.
I picked on anyone poor or smart
And I answered my professors with a well-timed fart.

Chorus:

He answered his professors with a well-timed fart.

Shrub:

I answered all my betters contemptuously,
And now I am the Emperor of Democracy!

[txindy]

27. ROFL! Oh, how true that is!

Of course, I don't know anything about Junior and what the chorus is singing - and I'd really rather not know, thank you! ;)

[Patsy Stone]

25. Maybe because they wrote wonderfully silly things like this in 1879?

SONG--FREDERIC

Oh, is there not one maiden breast
Which does not feel the moral beauty
Of making worldly interest
Subordinate to sense of duty?

Who would not give up willingly
All matrimonial ambition,
To rescue such a one as I
From his unfortunate position?
From his position,
To rescue such an one as I
From his unfortunate position?

GIRLS: Alas! there's not one maiden breast
Which seems to feel the moral beauty
Of making worldly interest
Subordinate to sense of duty!

FREDERIC: Oh, is there not one maiden here
Whose homely face and bad complexion
Have caused all hope to disappear
Of ever winning man's affection?
Of such a one, if such there be,
I swear by Heaven's arch above you,
If you will cast your eyes on me,
However plain you be, I'll love you,
However plain you be,
If you will cast your eyes on me,
However plain you be I'll love you,
I'll love you, I'll love, I'll love you!

GIRLS: Alas! there's not one maiden here
Whose homely face and bad complexion
Have caused all hope to disappear
Of ever winning man's affection!

FREDERIC: (in despair) Not one?
GIRLS: No, no-- not one!
FREDERIC: Not one?
GIRLS: No, no!
MABEL: (enters through arch) Yes, one!
Yes, one!
GIRLS: 'Tis Mabel!
MABEL: Yes, 'tis Mabel!

RECIT--MABEL

Oh, sisters, deaf to pity's name,
For shame!
It's true that he has gone astray,
But pray
Is that a reason good and true
Why you
Should all be deaf to pity's name?

GIRLS: (aside): The question is, had he not been
A thing of beauty,
Would she be swayed by quite as keen
A sense of duty?

MABEL: For shame, for shame, for shame!


Gilbert & Sullivan -- The Pirates of Penzance or The Slave of Duty

[tigereye]

28. I am bookmarking this thread - it's great!

now I know what I will rent next a the video store! Thanks guys.

[Demeter]

30. Somehow, I Can't Picture Laura in the Part as Mabel

and GWB is too unprincipled a pirate to pull off Frederick!

[Patsy Stone]

31. Yes. He is certainly no "Slave of Duty"

Although, more the Pirate King, perhaps? Nah, he's not principled enough for a pirate, either come to think of it (sigh). Do you mean orphan "orphan?" Or often "frequently?"

:)