Comments: 12
janach In reply to starryeyed-nz [2015-08-08 01:33:09 +0000 UTC]
Thanks! That magnificent hooked nose comes directly from W.S. Gilbert's original drawing of John Wellington Wells.
When Gilbert and Sullivan hired George Grossmith to play the first John Wellington Wells in the 1870s, Grossmith supposedly said, "I should think for a sorcerer you would want a fine man with a fine voice." Gilbert replied, "No, that's exactly what we don't want."
When I think of our Sev in operatic terms, I think of Greer Grimsley www.seattleoperablog.com/2012/… , not George Grossmith. A fine man with a fine voice indeed!
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Cederlina [2014-02-25 15:47:58 +0000 UTC]
I love this, and I love the description!
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janach In reply to Gryffgirl [2011-11-22 12:53:07 +0000 UTC]
Probably not "Pop Goes the Weasel."
I seem to find Snape-type characters in every opera I go to. Having our beloved Sev in mind gave quite the twist to "Bluebeard's Castle." The new wife is Hermione, and Lily comes out of the final door.
I have come to the conclusion that James Potter is not Young Siegfried. He is Escamillio, the toreador from "Carmen." James Potter is soooo Escamillio!
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Tajiklove [2010-07-20 22:12:19 +0000 UTC]
Nice! Snape is such a theatrical character.
I loved reading your explanation. I totally agree with you. Well said.
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janach In reply to Tajiklove [2010-07-21 01:52:34 +0000 UTC]
Sev can, however, be found in Gilbert and Sullivan if you know where to look. This month I am doing in-house video for a production of H.M.S. Pinafore. Says the villain of the piece, Dick Deadeye, when the entire crew cheerfully agree that they hate him because he's ugly: "From such a face and form as mine, the noblest sentiments sound like the black utterances of a depraved imagination. It is human nature. I am resigned."
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janach In reply to Tajiklove [2010-07-21 04:43:16 +0000 UTC]
Pinafore is one of the three most popular of their works, the other two being The Pirates of Penzance and The Mikado. My personal favorite is Iolanthe. The Sorcerer is not one of their best, but they never actually wrote a bad one.
For some good DVDs of G&S operas, go to www.pattersong.org. There are also plenty of recordings with dialogue around. If you don't care to buy a DVD or recording, all Gilbert's libretti are funny to read even without the music, so there's always the public library.
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daisybtoes In reply to janach [2012-06-02 07:05:02 +0000 UTC]
My favorite of all is The Mikado, but I also love Iolanthe, Patience, Ruddigore, and the Gondoliers. And Utopia Limited ranks high up as well. Oh, heck - I love them all!
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Tajiklove In reply to janach [2010-07-21 18:23:38 +0000 UTC]
Very helpful. Luckily most of their DVDs are available on Netflix (yes!). But I am the type of person who can appreciate live shows best when I have read the text first. So off to the library as well. Thanks again!
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Lilith1985 [2010-07-20 17:32:10 +0000 UTC]
This is cute!
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