The Topsy-Turvy World of Gilbert and Sullivan is a cheerily
nostalgic piece, following the career of the legendary composing
duo through the Nineteenth Century interspersed with songs from
their repertoire. This new script, commissioned by the
university’s Gilbert and Sullivan Society, manages to
capture a Wildean decadence and comical style that gives the
production an authentic late-Victorian air. Musically, the
selection of songs (such as ‘I’m Called Little
Buttercup’) is excellently performed, with soloist Jordan
Bell standing out as a real aural treat. There is, however, a danger of the high quality of the music
overshadowing the script. That is not to condemn the script
itself. It’s a pleasantly light-hearted affair that’s
guaranteed to raise a laugh. The only problem is its occasional disjointed feeling, as its
attempt to tell the story of Gilbert and Sullivan can lapse into
more of a narrated stage documentary than anything else, in which
the music is nothing more than an interesting interlude. This
lack of cohesion can leave the audience feeling unsure of where
exactly they have reached in the plot, which undermines the whole
point of the production telling a biographical story. Nevertheless, this play certainly has its high-quality
moments. The scene in which Arthur Sullivan (Simon Tavener)
attempts to educate a brash American lady (Anna Larkin) on the
nuances of English music and the Aesthetic Movement is
particularly amusing. It’s also a production that is
extremely attractive to look at, with lavish period costumes and
scenery, and a vast array of dancers and chorus singers. The Topsy-Turvy World of Gilbert and Sullivan is certainly a
production that is worth seeing. As a play, it is a good showcase
for frivolous comedy and beautiful settings. As a musical, it
succeeds on the strength of its performers and the undoubted
popularity of the operas that it is derived from.ARCHIVE: 5th week TT 2004
The Topsy-Turvy World of Gilbert & Sullivan
