Raise a Glass to Gilbert & Sullivan
His Foe was Folly, and his Weapon Wit" this is on W.S Gilberts Monument.
" I am terrified at the thought that so much hideous and bad music will be put on records forever" Arthur Sullivan.
I know I posted a couple of times a link to the movie Topsy Turvy. I finally looked at it myself last night and I really understood why I enjoyed it so much all those years ago. When MMuDS was producing Gilbert & Sullivan musicals it was if in a way the two gentlemen were just curiosities and caricatures and nobody really took the time to learn or understand anything about them. In Topsy Turvy they become real with the strength of their characters and talent and of course the weaknesses and prejudices of men of their time. Those who love their operettas can probably quote lines from Gilbert's writing. As funny and satirical as it is you can't go past Sullivan's sublime music. They were literally the godfathers of the modern musical and Broadway and they influenced writer and composers well into the twentieth century. So if you are wanting to be involved in a musical production or want to go to the theatre to watch one take a moment and raise a glass to the two men who's work lead the way.
Gilbert & Sullivan

