Little-known G&S facts

Talissa
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Little-known G&S facts Apr 22, 2003 14:05:36 GMT 11

Post by Talissa on Apr 22, 2003 14:05:36 GMT 11

Does anyone have any obscure G&S they feel like sharing? Here's mine for today.

Climbing Over Rocky Mountain, one of the most popular G&S ensemble numbers, wasn't always in Pirates of Penzance, in which it's now famous. It started off in Thespis, a show to which only the libretto, this song, and one other remains. It made the transition when Pirates was opening in America, and Sullivan had forgotten all his music back in England. Rather than delay opening night and wait for the music to arrive, he wrote it all out again because he remembered most of it, but he couldn't for the life of him remember the entrance for the daughters. So he entirely scrapped what had been planned, and 'borrowed' Climbing Over Rocky Mountain from Thespis, which had been a bit of a flop.

~Julia

~*And when he saw her face
In his heart there was space
For none. No other but she*~

Parade of Stars character - Marguerite, from The Scarlet Pimpernel
Medley of the Stars song - L'Un Vers L'Autre, from Les Miserables

Iolanna Backyard Balladeer Posts: 17	Little-known G&S facts Apr 27, 2003 18:24:27 GMT 11 Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Member Give Gift Back to Top Post by Iolanna on Apr 27, 2003 18:24:27 GMT 11 I've always liked the story about how Jessie Bond, who created the role of Pitti-Sing, asked the costumer for a larger bow on the back of her obi, and then persistenly wiggled it at the audience. Apparently it was very popular!

Talissa
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Almighty *cough* evil *cough* moderator

Posts: 2,324

Little-known G&S facts Apr 27, 2003 23:00:52 GMT 11

Post by Talissa on Apr 27, 2003 23:00:52 GMT 11

*lol* I hadn't heard that one. I can see how that would work.

Have you seen a G&S book by Martyn Green? It's got all the librettos, and notes about all the operas, as few as some rather amusing anecdotes scattered through. I should dig some out

~Julia

~*And when he saw her face
In his heart there was space
For none. No other but she*~

Parade of Stars character - Marguerite, from The Scarlet Pimpernel
Medley of the Stars song - L'Un Vers L'Autre, from Les Miserables

ghost guesty Guest	Little-known G&S facts Apr 30, 2003 19:56:52 GMT 11 Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Back to Top Post by ghost guesty on Apr 30, 2003 19:56:52 GMT 11 I have not heard of this one, but I did just eat dinner!

Iolanna
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Posts: 17

Little-known G&S facts May 1, 2003 10:18:14 GMT 11

Post by Iolanna on May 1, 2003 10:18:14 GMT 11

Ok, here's another one - the town of Titipu in The Mikado is apparently named after the town of Chichibu in Japan, which was the site of the first Japanese performance of the operetta, which only happened in the last few years. Chichibu was the origin of some of the silks at the Japanese exhibition which Gilbert went to, where he was inspired to write The Mikado, and he adapted the name slightly.

Talissa Director Almighty cough evil cough moderator Posts: 2,324	Little-known G&S facts May 1, 2003 11:59:20 GMT 11 Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Member Give Gift Back to Top Post by Talissa on May 1, 2003 11:59:20 GMT 11 Ah, I like that one. Maybe when I next go to Japan, I should visit Chichibu and say I've been to Titipu Now, a bit of a quiz. Which G&S character makes an appearance in more than one operetta? ~Julia
	~And when he saw her face In his heart there was space For none. No other but she~ Parade of Stars character - Marguerite, from The Scarlet Pimpernel Medley of the Stars song - L'Un Vers L'Autre, from Les Miserables

Iolanna Backyard Balladeer Posts: 17	Little-known G&S facts May 2, 2003 18:54:26 GMT 11 Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Member Give Gift Back to Top Post by Iolanna on May 2, 2003 18:54:26 GMT 11 Captain Corcoran appears in both HMS Pinafore and Utopia Limited - though since he's demoted at the end of Pinafore I don't really see how he can be a captain in both - maybe he worked his way back up!!!

Talissa Director Almighty cough evil cough moderator Posts: 2,324	Little-known G&S facts May 2, 2003 20:05:23 GMT 11 Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Member Give Gift Back to Top Post by Talissa on May 2, 2003 20:05:23 GMT 11 Yep, that's it. I'm going to have to find something really obscure for you now g ~Julia
	~And when he saw her face In his heart there was space For none. No other but she~ Parade of Stars character - Marguerite, from The Scarlet Pimpernel Medley of the Stars song - L'Un Vers L'Autre, from Les Miserables