Musical Humor in the works of Gilbert & Sullivan | Lamplighters Music Theatre

If you are a fan of the operettas of Gilbert and Sullivan, you already know that W.S.Gilbert’s song lyrics are hysterical and Sir Arthur Sullivan’s melodies can get stuck in your head all day. But did you know that there's an extra level of magic in Sullivan's skill as a composer that elevates and compliments Gilbert’s libretti? Lamplighters Music Theatre talks to some musical experts to tell us how he did it!
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Produced by LMT Multimedia
Lamplighters Music Theatre
Written by Team Basingstoke: Nika Cassaro, William McNamara, Paul Zawilski
Video Editing by Paul Zawilski
© 2020 Lamplighters Music Theatre

[@nikacassaro2345]

Special thanks to the kind people who agreed to be interviewed for this project!

[@charleehutton8975]

Absolutely wonderful!

[@sjpbrooklyn7699]

When you say at 14:31 “... they definitely weren’t the music hall,” you make it quite clear that Sullivan was keenly aware of that distinction. However, don’t overlook Gilbert’s very un-subtle dig in Utopia, Limited. KING: We take your word for it that this is all right. You are not making fun of us? This is in accordance with the practice at the Court of St. James's? SIR BAILEY: Well, it is in accordance with the practice at the Court of St. James's Hall.” Which is the cue for the minstrel song parody “Society has quite forsaken all her wicked courses,” often mimed with silly gestures and tambourines reminiscent of the Christy Minstrels who performed there for years.

[@elisabethreeves1786]

Such interesting information! I don't have an ear for this sort of thing so it helps to have someone point them out to me.

[@Eriknorcal]

Very nicely put together!

[@ruthedwards7775]

Thank you - really enjoyed that! Long time UK G&S afficionado here, our chapel produced one yearly, have been in Pirates twice, Ruddigore once, great fun. Gilbert's satire never grows old - any of the UK Cabinet could be Sir Joseph Porter - you don't have to know anything about your brief, just be an old school chum or colleague of the (sub)Prime Minister 🙄😉