There Lived a King - Dennis Olsen

With David Hobson (Marco) and Roger Lemke (Giuseppe.)
From "The Gondoliers," The Australian Opera, 1989.

[@bloodwolf9017]

Whatever Dennis does he owns the stage

[@deewesthill1213]

To be able to sing while dancing so well simultaneously is breathtaking!

[@julistarling8382]

There isn't nearly as good dancing in most of the other videos of this song. They don't even always all three dance. So glad I found this one first. It's so cute. 😍 (sits down to watch, again) (I have no idea how many times it has been. 😉)

[@brianletter3545]

Dennis Olsen - what stage presence!

[@aidanmaguire8712]

Wonderful performance which lift our hearts

[@widetubevision4423]

This is quite the best version I have seen of the Opera.

[@nope24601]

I think I've watched this 50 times. I don't understand all the political jabs, as I'm American and born in 89. But, the performance is just... lovely.

[@ellendiamond2232]

Wonderful -- amazing choreography, and what breath control!!!!! Some of the most fun dancing I've seen with G & S. Who needs words!

[@julistarling8382]

I actually really like the words, but other than that I agree. ^___^ They're good. ^___^ One of the best versions. ^____^

[@julistarling8382]

I think it's how the words, the singing and the dancing all come together that makes it so enchanting to watch. ^__^

[@julistarling8382]

All right, I've now just seen a version where every word is very audible but the performance isn't nearly as lovely and lovable as this one. Although ideally you really *should* be able to hear every word, clear as a bell, I'll still willingly trade that for lovability. (Is that a word? It is now. 😉) Besides, I can hear *nearly* every word. So cute. 😍

[@drbob528]

Without a doubt, the best version of this updated G&S favourite. How could it be otherwise with three such superb performers?

[@Nicholas32906]

Of that there is no manner of doubt - No probable, possible shadow of doubt - No possible doubt whatever!

[@julistarling8382]

"No possible doubt whatever." ^__^

[@adrielspencer8962]

Love this rendition! Thank you

[@adriennefuller4984]

David I'ld love to see you in Perth sometime Adri xx

[@sjpbrooklyn7699]

Here are the updated lyrics: There lived a king as I’ve been told From Opera Australia DVD There lived a king as I’ve been told in the wonder-working days of old When hearts were twice as good as gold and twenty times as mellow. Good temper triumphed in his face and in his heart he found a place for all the erring human race and every wretched fellow. When he had Penfolds Grange* to drink it made him very sad to think that some whose lives were on the blink made do with Chateau Cardboard. He wished all men as rich as he so he imposed a strange decree that all his cronies now should be the well-paid avant-garde horde. Now that’s the kind of king for me he wished all men as rich as he so every hanger-on could be that well-paid avant-garde horde. Ex-ministers in satin clips indulged their taste for first-class trips with Qantas board directorships complete with media snoot jobs. Consultancies were shuffled in bales to party men and silver tails, Ex-Premiers of New South Wales got CSIRO** jobs. And High Court judges were akin to union bosses out to win more perks than there are starters in the Sydney Hobart Yacht Race. Then Gough and Malcolm Fraser scored. The drover’s dog got his rewards Integrity went overboard good faith became court case. Now there’s a very strange accord complete vice-regal bed and board The drover’s dog got his reward. We’ve got another court case. That king although no one denies his heart was of abnormal size If he had acted otherwise If he had been acuter, The end is easily foretold The rot sets in when jobs are sold. With too much silver, gilt, or gold you long for simple pewter. It’s clear that too much power destroys and doling jobs out to the boys means we are all hoi-pollois with fewer brains than Noddy. In short, whoever you may be to this conclusion you’ll agree when everyone is somebody then no one’s anybody. Now that’s as plain as plain can be To this conclusion we agree when everyone is somebody then no one’s anybody. That hawkish king despite his vice in fact was re-elected twice. Cause there were fewer men than mice among the opposition. That hardly makes it less perverse this endless golden handshake curse supporting from the public purse another politician. In Paraguay or Ecuador the peasants may say, Si, Señor, But we should not be falling for that parliamentary club-trick. When carving loot up with your mate has reached this sad and sorry state then we’ve become a second-rate Banana republic! We must agree without debate These shoddy ways to help your mate prove that we’re a second-rate Banana republic! *1 bottle of 2007 vintage, $1,799.99 as of December, 2017 ** Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation

[@dorothywillis1]

Thank you!

[@zacariasdelalcazar8873]

I'm pretty sure the 12th stanza (2:13) is supposed to end with: means we are ruled by hoi-pollois with fewer brains than Noddy. My favourite line :D

[@alaricdomingo9502]

Excellent work. Appreciated.

[@Arkelk2010]

Thank you. As a Yank I missed almost all of these.

[@florenmage]

Thank you

[@gavrinmahaffey3656]

Excellent!!

[@hanneloreklein2586]

Brillante

[@karldelavigne8134]

There was no need to mess about with these lyrics, even if they are cleverly done. The song is not meant to be contemporary.

[@sKid-gh9ub]

I agree. The original hasn't lost any of its meaning. But it's performed by Dennis Olsen whom I greatly admire, so I consider it worth watching for that reason.

[@karldelavigne8134]

@@sKid-gh9ub I admire Olsen too but I think he is miscast here as he should be the Duke, and the strange accent is unnecessary also.

[@dorothywillis1]

Not being Australian, most of the time I couldn't understand the new words or their allusions.

[@dorothywillis1]

It is difficult when they update the words with local allusions.

[@robertmwoodley1502]

@@dorothywillis1 as they are singing to an Australian audience in the theatre and on videocassette sold only in Australia, updating the Victorian lyrics makes the jokes more pertinent while keeping the spirit of the satire.

[@dorothywillis1]

@@robertmwoodley1502 Golly, I never thought of that! I still can't understand the words.

[@robertmwoodley1502]

@@dorothywillis1 there are local references to politicians, etc. Only a local would know as the world does not generally follow our politics! Te he!

[@sjpbrooklyn7699]

I just posted the updated words. See comment from sjpbrooklyn

[@aidanmaguire8712]

Brilliant

[@richardallen3810]

Olsen is marvelous but miscast as the GI. As to the lyric update I oppose this idea. One doesn't tamper with perfection which has made these works beloved for over 100 yrs.

[@danilo22uk]

I believe the company objected to the Gavotte being omitted. But Opera Australia brought in the directors of the Canadian production and that was that. I have seen Dennis Olsen perform the Duke in the early 1970s, which to me is a better role for him. . He hasn't the voice for the Don, compared to Kenneth Sandford.

[@maryjanemealey4010]

His dancing legs are perfection

[@richardallen3810]

@@danilo22uk I saw the Doyle Carte on their last US tour in the 70’s when I was 16. Remarkable performances that brought so much joy and happiness to an audience that knew every word and note and still couldn’t get enough. Nothing can compare.

[@dynaboyjl.4220]

Feels like Brian Macdonald had an unconventional vision for patter baritones that Dennis would have fit weird into since his acting is so subtle and built on his charisma. But he clearly doesn't seem very comfortable in this production. Glad we got this nice number out of it though, it's a really good showcase for his footwork and maybe the only thing that's at all an improvement over the Stratford production.

[@dabedwards]

I am sure that all those involved in this will have come to regret this drastic changing of the original words, which has rendered the song a bit of an embarrassment, utterly dated and self indulgent. The performers are stupendously good, so it's sad to think how good the song could have been. Let's hope producers have learnt to row back their mania for this kind of wholesale "updating" of the lyrics, and confine themselves to an occasional anachronistic tweak As regards Dennis Olsen's performance, he is interestingly "cast against type", and I think it is very successful ---- including his strong (and appropriate) Spanish accent. And that wig!!

[@zacariasdelalcazar8873]

Personally I thought this was the best part of this rendition. Almost everything else is cringingly bad, especially the appalling "Duchess", the elimination of "I am a courtier grave and serious", and the creeps with masks.

[@deewesthill1213]

"Why socialism doesn't work."

[@Jjjjjjjm]

Olsen is really terrible. His only G+S character that he plays well is Bunthorne. The production is very poor.