| re: Gilbert & Sullivan | |
| Posted by: FleetStreetBarber 06:23 pm EDT 08/31/20 | |
| In reply to: Gilbert & Sullivan - SUBRCCS 10:57 pm EDT 08/29/20 | |
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| I'm not sure what your criteria for success is with regard to G&S on Broadway, but just looking at the history of "The Pirates of Penzance" there were 26 productions over the years. The Joe Papp revival was a huge success. Many of those who wanted to see it first at the Delacorte had to pay for the privilege and the Broadway version earned three Tonys including best revival, actor (Kevin Kline) and director (Wilford Leach). It lasted for nearly two years. I’m so happy to have a DVD of the Central Park version, with Patricia Routledge as Ruth. It’s one of my favorite live recordings of a musical. Its Broadway success led to a Hollywood film version, with Lansbury replacing Parsons who had played Ruth on Broadway. I don't think it’s possible to overestimate the influence of G&S. When I was growing up high schools and colleges routinely staged their works. TV viewers got a chance to see Groucho Marx as Koko in a 1960 abridged version of “The Mikado” on NBC. I believe there are still DVDs and cast recordings in circulation. G&S seemed to be everywhere in one form or another such as when Joan Sutherland, Dinah Shore and Ella Fitzgerald sang “Three Little Maids from School” on TV in 1963, which you can find on YouTube. My favorite example of G&S infiltrating the popular culture is Tom Lehrer’s recording of “The Elements,” which is linked below. |
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| Link | Tom Lehrer Recites "The Elements" |
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