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What is the Best G&S Operetta? |
The Pirates of Penzance |
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66% |
[ 8 ] |
H.M.S. Pinafore |
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16% |
[ 2 ] |
The Mikado |
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16% |
[ 2 ] |
Patience |
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0% |
[ 0 ] |
Iolanthe |
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0% |
[ 0 ] |
Princess Ida |
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0% |
[ 0 ] |
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Total Votes : 12 |
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Steelrails

Joined: 12 Mar 2009 Location: Earth, Solar System
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Posted: Sun Nov 15, 2009 1:41 am Post subject: Best Gilbert & Sullivan Operetta |
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My descent into quarantine induced madness continues with this poll question.
What was your favorite G&S operetta?
I say that while 'The Mikado' had the best songs, overall nothing beats 'The Pirates of Penzance' for sheer enjoyability. Modern Major General, A Policeman's Lot, and With Cat-Like Tread are some great numbers.
Also, feel free to vote for your favorite Mozart Opera (Le Nozze di Figaro) or any other Opera |
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andrewchon

Joined: 16 Nov 2008 Location: Back in Oz. Living in ISIS Aust.
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Posted: Sun Nov 15, 2009 2:49 am Post subject: |
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The Abduction from the Seraglio |
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tzechuk

Joined: 20 Dec 2004
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Posted: Sun Nov 15, 2009 4:37 am Post subject: |
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The Mikado! |
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ChopChaeJoe
Joined: 05 Mar 2006 Location: Seoul
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Posted: Sun Nov 15, 2009 7:31 am Post subject: |
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So who's the gay guy? |
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Princess Soraya
Joined: 30 Oct 2008
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Posted: Sun Nov 15, 2009 7:59 am Post subject: |
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My friend's poodles were called Gilbert and Sullivan  |
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bluelake

Joined: 01 Dec 2005
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Posted: Sun Nov 15, 2009 2:19 pm Post subject: |
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Back in '82, while working as a computer technician (on machines that now are hi-tech boat anchors), I spent a summer as the lighting director for the Young Americans (several well-known entertainers started out with them) touring production of Pirates of Penzance. It was a lot of fun. By the end of the run, I knew everyone's lines and the lyrics to every song. |
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Steelrails

Joined: 12 Mar 2009 Location: Earth, Solar System
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Posted: Sun Nov 15, 2009 3:11 pm Post subject: |
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bluelake wrote: |
Back in '82, while working as a computer technician (on machines that now are hi-tech boat anchors), I spent a summer as the lighting director for the Young Americans (several well-known entertainers started out with them) touring production of Pirates of Penzance. It was a lot of fun. By the end of the run, I knew everyone's lines and the lyrics to every song. |
That sounds pretty cool. How was the production?
Stuff is pretty funny sometimes.
One could say that 'Modern Major-General' was one of the first rap songs, ever.
When its really well produced The Mikado can be a joy to watch. It's the strongest overall of the G&S numbers in terms of songs, story is a little weaker, social commentary not as biting.
My parents took me to 2 G&S productions a year for 5 years. The only one I messed was 'The Mikado'. Bummer.
I think a Japanese production of the Mikado would be great to see.
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So who's the gay guy? |
Oh go watch some football and an action movie.
You'd be surprised how much G&S has worked its way into popular culture.
http://www.yourdailymedia.com/media/1237941501/Banned_Family_Guy_Song |
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tzechuk

Joined: 20 Dec 2004
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Posted: Sun Nov 15, 2009 3:54 pm Post subject: |
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I sang a lot of the solos from The Mikado back when I was a school girl.
#The sun, whose rays are all ablaze, with ever liviing gloooooooooooooooooory. Does not deny his majesttttty, he scorns to tell a stoooooooooooooooooory.#  |
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bluelake

Joined: 01 Dec 2005
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Posted: Sun Nov 15, 2009 5:16 pm Post subject: |
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Steelrails wrote: |
bluelake wrote: |
Back in '82, while working as a computer technician (on machines that now are hi-tech boat anchors), I spent a summer as the lighting director for the Young Americans (several well-known entertainers started out with them) touring production of Pirates of Penzance. It was a lot of fun. By the end of the run, I knew everyone's lines and the lyrics to every song. |
That sounds pretty cool. How was the production?
Stuff is pretty funny sometimes.
One could say that 'Modern Major-General' was one of the first rap songs, ever.
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It was a great production, with great young talent. Sometime after it ended, I heard back from the guy who played the pirate king; he got a credited bit part in CHIPs (watchman in a diamond heist). He's been in a few things since: http://us.imdb.com/name/nm0277887/ |
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Steelrails

Joined: 12 Mar 2009 Location: Earth, Solar System
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Posted: Sun Nov 15, 2009 6:07 pm Post subject: |
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My mother would sing "Titwillow" to me as an infant. I never realized how sad the song was until I was like 12. Kinda a weird one to sing to one's baby...
Yeah, "The Sun Whose Rays", "Braid the Raven Hair" and "Brightly Dawns our Wedding Day" have really soothing aspect to them.
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It was a great production, with great young talent. Sometime after it ended, I heard back from the guy who played the pirate king; he got a credited bit part in CHIPs (watchman in a diamond heist). He's been in a few things since: http://us.imdb.com/name/nm0277887/ |
AllyMcBeal and General Hospital, not bad! |
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bluelake

Joined: 01 Dec 2005
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Posted: Mon Nov 16, 2009 2:04 pm Post subject: |
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This thread stoked my curiosity about how the "pirate king" was doing nowadays (as I hadn't seen or heard from him in 27 years). I looked his name up on Facebook (there were several with the same name), chose the most likely, and sent a message; it was him--he was happily surprised to hear from me. I also got the movie, The Kid (2000); his part in it isn't long, but it's a speaking part with Bruce Willis. |
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Moldy Rutabaga

Joined: 01 Jul 2003 Location: Ansan, Korea
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Posted: Mon Nov 16, 2009 4:57 pm Post subject: |
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I'd like to see some of these productions. Somehow I've missed out. But I like the PofP pieces which I've heard -- "Poor wandering one" among them. |
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Steelrails

Joined: 12 Mar 2009 Location: Earth, Solar System
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Posted: Mon Nov 16, 2009 5:34 pm Post subject: |
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A girl in my 6th grade class did "Poor Wandering One" at our school's talent recital. She absolutely nailed the vocals. I remember all of us students were so nervous about the performance for her, but she absolutely came through. Happiest moment of the night. |
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Moldy Rutabaga

Joined: 01 Jul 2003 Location: Ansan, Korea
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Posted: Mon Nov 16, 2009 5:57 pm Post subject: |
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Wow. 6th grade. "Poor wandering one" isn't an easy song with all of the unaccompanied runs and trills toward the end. I taped a performance of a college friend of mine who sang opera. Wonderful song. There wasn't much opera in English before Gilbert & Sullivan. Not sure we would have a lot of modern musicals without them. |
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Steelrails

Joined: 12 Mar 2009 Location: Earth, Solar System
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Posted: Mon Nov 16, 2009 6:34 pm Post subject: |
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Moldy Rutabaga wrote: |
Wow. 6th grade. "Poor wandering one" isn't an easy song with all of the unaccompanied runs and trills toward the end. I taped a performance of a college friend of mine who sang opera. Wonderful song. There wasn't much opera in English before Gilbert & Sullivan. Not sure we would have a lot of modern musicals without them. |
Yeah she was a talent. But she also had the body of a 17-18 year old. Obviously her voice was still somewhat immature, but she was pitch perfect. By far one of the more amazing thing I've seen in my life.
I wonder what happened to her...I switched schools in 7th Grade...
Sadly most of my friends with artistic talent ended up majoring in computer science/sociology and ditching their talents for what gets paid. |
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