The Gilbert and Sullivan Newsletter Archive
The Trumpet Bray
NEGASS
New England Gilbert and Sullivan Society
P. O. Box 367, Arlington, MA 02174-0004
"Ye torrents roar! Ye tempests howl!"
Vol. XX, No. 3
November, 1995
Life is henceforth a blank.
November 19 Meeting: This is one you'll want to be sure to miss! Er We mean: Due to circumstances beyond Our control, there will be no November NEGASS meeting. We're still planning a Bray stuffing at Our house on December 3. (We've been working our way, act by act, through Gilbert's play, Engaged, and ought to be in Act III by then in case you'd care to join us.) And the gala December G&S Christmas Carol meeting is still on (see the next article). See you in December!
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A Dickens of an Idea: Last month We published a list of roles for NEGASS's planned DoYourOwn December Meeting gala performance of A G&S Christmas Carol, and We'll publish it again next month. But what, you ask, IS A G&S Christmas Carol, and why should I want to have anything to do with it?
You all know Dickens's story, and everyone knows at least one dramatization of it, no? (We try very hard to forget the cartoon version starring Mr. Magoo but there are other versions out there, played over and over during the Christmas season.) This is a version starring YOU if only you'd let President Dick Freedman, who's organizing it, let him know that you're interested. And the idea is fun: You don't just act a part; you sing moreorless Dickensian words to Sullivan's music. For instance: Whoever plays the role of Ebenezer Scrooge gets to sing a line in the ensembles "I Am So Proud," "The Flowers that Bloom in the Spring," and "My Eyes are Fully Open," as well
as singing the Pirate King's song AND "I Stole the Prince." In other words,
Scrooge is a baritone, and probably a ham.
Looking through the list, We'd say that most of the roles are for baritones (isn't that always the way, girls!), but there's no reason why NEGASSers should not play roles in travestie [That means crossdressing, guys]; We have known it done at NEGASS often, often, often. And there are also roles definitely intended for tenors or women as well as speaking roles.
Take a look at last month's Bray for the full list (or wait for next month's issue) or oh, happy thought! get in touch with President Dick (his phone number and email address are on the last page), and ask him for details.
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October 15 Directors' Panel at MIT: The only problem with the Panel Discussion meeting was the small attendance for what deserved a much bigger audience. The regulars (J. Donald Smith, Patricia Brewer, Bob Casey, the Mahoneys, the Berneys Chuck as a panel member , Janice Dallas, John Howard, Mark Sullivan, Steve Levine, Sheldon Hochman, and I) were very well rewarded for having successfully navigated the labyrinthine corridors of MIT. The panel, consisting of Juliet Cunningham, Melody Scheiner, and Chuck Berney steered deftly by moderator Jonathan Strong, entertained and educated as they reminisced, answered questions, and spun anecdotes from their wealth of directorial experience. Among the gems were to pay attention to the rhythm of the dialogue and "Fight the composer at your peril." If you have to do "political" casting, that is on a basis other than talent, get a casting committee. If a political choice is not working out, you can say to the casting committee, "You made me cast him. Now you discipline him."
The panelists and moderator were presented sets of G&S post cards, which have been previously shown (and given as door prizes) as meetings, and we adjourned to refreshments brought by Carol Mahoney. DICK FREEDMAN
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ENGAGED IN SEPTEMBER: Stepping into the living room to fold and stuff the latest Bray, we found ourselves in the charming garden of a cottage on the border between Scotland and England, greeted by Patricia Brewer as a Scots maiden, Maggie, who was being wooed, as Act I of Gilbert's play Engaged began, by her rustic beau, Angus, as read by Peter Cameron. Maggie's mother (Marion Carroll) entirely approved of the proposed engagement, especially when Angus displayed his solicitude for his future motherinlaw's fortunes by revealing that he had just, as was his custom, placed a bar across the local railroad tracks, assuring that passengers, delayed by the derailing of the approaching train, would be sure to visit her cottage for rest and refreshment, and would certainly show generous gratitude for her hospitality.
The expected visitors arrived: Patricia became the British young lady, Belinda (in quite a different accent); while Peter became the wealthy and highly susceptible young gentleman, Cheviot, proposing marriage to each of the young ladies in turn. Don Smith took over as Angus where necessary; otherwise he played Belvawney, Belinda's beloved and Cheviot's paid companion (paid, that is, by a rich relative, as long as Cheviot remains unmarried). This left Marion to play Mr. Symperson, Cheviot's uncle (the father of a marriageable daughter), and Major McGillicuddy, Belinda's jilted fiancé. We ended Act I in confusion: Cheviot has rescued Belinda from McGillicuddy by declaring that she is his wife, which statement she, to save herself, has repeated thus unknowingly, but to the betterinformed Belvawney's despair, having performed a valid Scots wedding ceremony.
There are two more acts, in which a couple of other characters appear (including Cheviot's other fiancee), and during which it is made clear just who is married to whom, according to Scots law. (Note that the cottage is on the border!) Come join us! MINNIE SYMPERSON
Tentative 199596 Meeting Schedule:
11/19 Canceled
12/17 A G&S Christmas Carol
1/21 G&S Collecting (Hosted by J. Don Smith)
2/25 LMLO GONDOLIERS (Produced by
Patricia Brewer)
3/31 TBA
5/5 Sudbury Retrospective (PRINCESS IDA)
6/9 Election/Business meeting
~ NEXT BRAY COPY DEADLINE: November 26 ~
Next BrayStuffing: On Sunday, December 3 at 3 PM we'll meet at Our new home 13 Cottage Avenue, Arlington, MA to fold & stuff the Bray and to read through the third act of Gilbert's Engaged. Call Us at (617) 6469115 for directions and further information. mlc
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Welcome, Welcome, Welcome We new members Michael W. Kahn, William S. Kelly, Frederick J. (Fred) and Margaret M. (Peg) King, David Marshall, and Michael Miano. And Welcome to Our Hearts Again, Melody Scheiner. Michael K., of Boston, lists himself as a Very Fine singer but doesn't tell us which voice. We know of David that he lives in Reading, and of William that he lives in Guilford, CT. Michael M lists an APO address perhaps somewhere in the South Seas? Fred writes that he and Peg are Enthusiastic Audience, and also "do a newsletter for an organization of retirees." Fred brings up (yet again) the subject of Bulk Mailing (see next paragraph), and discusses G&S videotapes with authority (see later). And well anyone who only knows Melody's excellent work as a director (see the last NEGASS meeting) ought to hear about her splendid performances as a contralto! Hearty Greetings Offer We! mlc
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BULK MAILING: Once again the issue arises: If NEGASS sends out more than 200 newsletters, we have the option of obtaining Bulk Mail rates, thus cutting about 2/3 off our mailing costs. BUT: Bulk mail is not First Class mail. It is not carried to its addressees with all due dispatch. It is, in fact, left around until the overworked mail carrier has the time and energy to carry it. This may not be for several weeks, or even months!
Currently, Bray mailings are timed to arrive about two weeks before each NEGASS meeting. The main function of the Bray, in fact, is to announce meetings. All the rest is Cream.
So: Do we want the Cream, curdled by delay? Or do we want the Meeting Announcements (not to mention the Current Calendar), arriving in a timely fashion? Every time this question has arisen in the past, the answer has been "Announcements! Calendar!" Unless We hear persuasive arguments against this policy, The Trumpet Bray will continue to be sent out by first class mail. mlc
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UPDATE: WARREN COLSON MEMORIAL: We might have finally found a home for the Warren Colson Memorial Collection. The Newton Free Library has expressed interest, slightly hampered of course by the fact that I wasn't quite sure what we had to offer. But they are a circulating library, and would love to have any material suitable for circulation: books, scores, sound recordings, video tapes. Material suitable for reference use might be accepted on a noncirculating basis: you would have to convince them with regard to any such item. They don't have much in the way of storage space, and so are not particularly interested in donations of collectibles or ephemera. (They are interested in occasional exhibitions of such, but we'll have to discuss arranging such at another time.)
For the donated material they would design a bookplate, indicating that it is part of the named collection. Material sent to the appropriate person at the library, marked to indicate that it is for this collection, would get the nameplate. And of course since it is for a municipal library, donations would be eligible for tax deductions.
The NEGASS board will be discussing whether this is close enough to what we are looking for. Give us your opinion! If you have things to donate that you would be uncomfortable about donating to a circulating collection, let us know. If you have things you would be happy to see circulated, let us know. If you think we should accept the library as custodian of the circulating portion of our collection, and we should keep, or continue to seek a custodian for, a noncirculating collection, let us know.
Apart from considerations of the collection, our policy of having meetings open to the public with no admission charge is appealing to the Newton Library, and we will likely be able to schedule meetings in their attractive facility, perhaps on a regular basis. We may have the site in January, if a prior tentative commitment falls through, for J. Donald Smith's talk on G&S Collecting. Otherwise, we will probably hold the talk as part of our election meeting, for which we have already reserved their room. DICK FREEDMAN
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PBS VIDEOTAPES In the last [August but let that pass] Bray, T. J. Koban expressed his disappointment in not making videotapes of the series of G&S operas that were shown on our local PBS channels about ten years ago. I have a similar feeling of loss and would like to share what I have learned with anyone interested.
The series of 11 showings (2 hours each) included [everything except DUKE, UTOPIA, and, of course, THESPIS]. The series was called "George Walker Presentations filmed in England created for TV by Brent Walker Productions." It was produced by Judith dePaul, presented in the US on PBS stations by WGBHTV, Boston. It came from a grant by Mobil Corp. and aired as "Mobil Presents The Compleat Gilbert & Sullivan The very model of a modern major musicale." Guest stars included William Conrad, Vincent Price, Joel Gray, Peter Allen, Peter Marshall, Frankie Howard, Keith Mitchell, Clive Revill and Alfred Marks. The D'Oyly Carte Opera Company is not mentioned. I do not know what involvement, if any, it had with this series.
A book did appear with this series. It is "The G&S Operas" by Darlene Geiss, c1983 and published by Harry N. Abrams, Inc., 1159 E. 59th St., NY, NY 10022. [We're pretty sure We've seen it in the Boston Public Library, among other libraries mlc] It was meant to stimulate TV channels to air this series... [We wish it had done so!] I wish to thank Robert Cumming, Connecticut G&S Society, for providing these leads. I, also, am still looking for these videos!
FREDERICK J. KING
[With all this information, and WGBH right here in town, let's hope someone is able to find them or convince the station to air the series again! mlc]
REVIEWS:
GONDOLIERS, presented by the Methuen Young People's Theatre at the Methuen Memorial Music Hall: Margot Warner, Director; Priscilla Walter, Pianist. Sept 910.: The Young Peoples's Theatre is in its 20th season. Comprised of students in Merrimack Valley schools from grades 4 to 12, it produces one opera a year. This production of GONDOLIERS was wellrehearsed and was most enjoyable. Tempos were sometimes on the slow side, so it was a long show, but the enthusiasm of the cast kept the audience's attention. The stage was small, so blocking of the chorus numbers was simple; the contadine outnumbered the gondolieri 35 to 15! However, the cachucha was staged in the center aisle and was very lively. The solo voices were mostly very good; there was a little flatting. This reviewer thought the best performances in singing and acting were by Sarah Consentino as Gianetta, Colleen Titcomb as Tessa, Chad Dow as Giuseppe, and Brendan Murphy as Marco. PETER CAMERON
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[The following arrived in handwritten form. We must apologize for the occasional hiatus (or error!) where legibility failed. Typed submissions really are better, if possible but We'll take what We can get. mlc] May & May. Booksellers specializing in books on music, have for sale in their Sept. '95 catalog three G&S items which may be of interest:
1. Cellier, Francois and B... Cunningham. Gilbert, Sullivan & D'Oyly Carte. Reminiscences of the Savoy & the Savoyards, 1914. xxiv, 443pp. Frontis: 36 plates; 6 facsimiles. Frontis. loose; o/w very good clean copy indeed in green cloth boards, gilt.
£45.00
2. Walmisley, Guy H. & Claude A. Titwillow, or, Notes & Jollity on Gilbert & Sullivan operas. n.p. n.d. (privately published) 151 pp 8 plates; line drawings by Felicity Ashbee. Covers bruised and rubbed; contents v. good & clean. £25.00
3. Wilson, Robin & Frederic Lloyd. Gilbert & Sullivan: The Official D'Oyly Carte Picture History. NY 1984. 216 pp. copious illus (some in colour) Large 8vo. Very good clean copy. £38.00
Order from: May & May, Whitbridge, Semley, Shaftesbury, SP7 9QP, England. WALLY MASON
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David Larrick forwarded the following updated version of a trio from IDA to Us from the SavoyNet, hoping We'd use it in the Spring '96 Sudbury production. We won't We don't think it really fits the spirit of the dramatic moment in the show but We're glad to share parts of it with NEGASSers:
When the Seattle Gilbert & Sullivan Society produced IDA in 1990, we decided that ALL the words to "They intend to send a wire to the moon..." were awful. So I embarked upon the task of writing new words to the song which would salute the actual accomplishments of women today ...The song was expanded ... so that each of the three young men gets a verse... [here's a sample:]
Hush scoffer; ere you sound your puny thunder,
List to their aims, and bow your head in wonder!
They will rail against all archi/Tecture bland
In the "fountainhead" from sparky/Miss Ayn Rand Grandma Moses, though she's braving/Ten decades
Leaves artistic critics raving/Accolades.
Amelia Earhart, like Kris Kringle,/ Flies firstclass;
Jeana Yeager needs a single/Tank of gas!
Cheer up, Geraldine Ferraro,
You will win your race tomorrow,
Then Conservatives will sorrow,
Let it pass Let it pass.
Mike Storie (mstorie@nwlink.com)
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BUXTON REVISITED. We hereby present, for your enjoyment and delectation, an edited version of the first installment of J. Donald Smith's 1995 Buxton Diary: A Personal View of the 2nd Annual Gilbert and Sullivan Festival. ...I was only able to attend the final three days of the First Annual Gilbert and Sullivan Festival in 1994. ...I made sure that I was not going to miss a second of the Second Annual Festival. In general, I didn't. Performances every evening, morning coffee and conversation with former D'Oyly Carte Stars, master classes, excursions, and the evening Festival Club made for an extremely busy yet the most relaxing and enjoyable vacation which I have ever had... I went to Buxton to enjoy myself, not to be a critic, and I enjoyed every performance (to a greater or lesser extent.)
Many conversations with fellow Savoyards during intermissions, in the Festival Club after performances and at various meals, bus rides and other meetings provided additional perspective as did the comments of the Adjudicator, Mr. David Turner, which were presented to the audience after each of the competing productions...
The Buxton Opera House, the site of the performances, is an 1900's building which seats about 800 in four levels. The wonderful acoustics, without any amplification, provided for easy listening and comprehension. My seats were in the second or third row in the center of the Dress Circle providing, for an excellent view of all of the action. The theater is not air conditioned, and the hottest (average temperature) and driest summer in England for the 350 years of recordkeeping provided for a decidedly informal atmosphere. Except for those whose association with the Festival compelled more formal attire, teeshirts and shorts or slacks were the preferred dress...
Activities and Souvenirs. There were two major changes from the First Festival, both in response to attendees' comments (complaints?). This year there were a very large number of daytime activities, including Coffees and Conversations and Master Classes with the former DOC stars as well as a choice of four excursions to scenic and/or historic regions within a short (two hour) drive of Buxton.
The only souvenirs of the first festival (besides the programs) were teeshirts, which ran out fairly early and were not reprinted. This year there were: two different teeshirts, a sweatshirt, special authorized reproductions of the Players G&S Cigarette cards, a Festival Plate, a bust of Gilbert and Sullivan, two sets of mugs (high quality bone china not your usual clay mugs normally prevalent upon such occasions), and two Wedgwood (Coalport) figurines of John Reed as Sir Joseph Porter and Alistair Donkin as John Wellington Wells orders taken for Christmas delivery. There was a souvenir program encompassing the entire festival as well as programs for each evening. For a collector it was too much happiness. All of the Souvenir items, as well as videotapes of all of the amateur performances, are still available from the Festival Organization. [Don also gave Us a catalog & order form call Us for details, or contact Gilbert & Sullivan Collection, The Old Vicarage, Haley Hill, Halifax HX3 6DR, UK, tel. +44 1422 323252, fax +44 1422 355604.]
[More next month when We'll start the daybyday diary itself. Meanwhile, here's a treat, 'netted by Dick Freedman:] Chris Wain, who heard this in the cabaret at Buxton, praised it and asked for the words [which were posted on SavoyNet, and reprinted with permission of the author.]
Trio for John the Baptist, Salome and Herod: "The Platter Trio" (sung, obviously, to the tune of the "Matter Trio" from Ruddygore)
JOHN THE BAPTIST:
My eyes are fully open to my awful situation
For I should have known that Herod hated insubordination.
I should never have expounded on his lack of moral senses
(though I hadn't quite expected these appalling consequences).
I was baptizing the faithful by the River Jordan's water
When along came Princess Salome and led me to the slaughter.
How I rue the day her father and Herodias begat her!
When I wouldn't give my heart, she got my head upon a platter!
ALL: Yes, his head is on a platter (etc.)
SALOME:
If I were not a little wild and generally horny
I would never do a dance of seven veils that's pretty corny
But my Uncle Herod likes it, and I kinda like to tease him
'Cause he'll give me anything I want as long as I can please him,
And this hairy prophet ticked me off by spurning my advances;
Now he knows I'd rather cut him off than offer second chances,
So perhaps he's learned his lesson and will smile at me and flatter
me, but hey! what does it matter now? His head is on a platter!
HEROD:
Before I heard the voice of that one crying in the wilderness
I was a happy monarch, reigning peacefully but I digress.
I'm married to my brother's wife, but why is that so criminal?
And then, OK, there's Salome, and fantasies subliminal...
I've got a midlife crisis that I don't know how to handle
And I have an awful feeling that there's gonna be a scandal.
This particularly rapid, unintelligible patter
Doesn't mean a lot to him, because his head is on a platter.
c 1995 by BARBARA HEROUX
(of The Lamplighters, San Francisco, CA)
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CALENDAR:
Auditions are 11/27, 28, 29, 710 PM for The King Philip Savoyards (of Duxbury) March 2224, 1996 production of RUDDIGORE. Stage Director: Mike McGuire; Producer: Richard Knox. Call (617) 5823936 or (617) 9347363 for more info.
The HarvardRadcliffe G&S Society's Fall show, YEOMEN, will be performed 11/3012/9. Eileen St. David, new NEGASS member and lauded director of Harvard's recent PATIENCE, will be directing. For more info, contact Paul Galvez <pgalvez@fas. harvard.edu> (617) 4932862 or Paul Titterton <pftitter @fas.harvard.edu> (617) 4933119.
The Savoyard Light Opera Co. will perform Romberg & Hammerstein's operetta, The New Moon [Yes We know it isn't] on November 10, 11, 12, 17, 18 & 19. Opening night options include attendance at a preperformance reception & lecture featuring Steve Ledbetter and Marcia Turner $50 reservations include one ticket to the performance that night. Call (508) 3717562 for more info concerning both the reception and the show.
The MIT Gilbert and Sullivan Players will present SORCERER November 11, 16, 17, & 18 at 8 PM, and November 12 & 18 at 2 PM in La Sala de Puerto Rico, MIT Student Center, 84 Massachusetts Ave., Cambridge. Stage Director is Wayne Vargas (last year's MITG&SP Lord Chancellor, and previously director of IO at Harvard); Music Director is Bruce Miller (director of last year's IO at Holy Cross) with assistance from mlc; and producer is NEGASS's own Dick Freedman. Ticket prices range from $6 to $10. To order tickets call: (617) 2530191, email: savoyardsrequest@ mit.edu, or WWW form: http://www.mit. edu:8001/activities/gsp/reservations.html
The longstanding and excellent Amherst, MA, group, Valley Light Opera, plans PRINCESS IDA on 11/35 and 10 & 11. Call (413) 5488119 or 2539662 for more info. [Perhaps a group of potential Sudbury Savoyard auditionees ought to plan to attend together...]
Boston Academy of Music plans a double bill of TRIAL/SORCERER "set in the Roaring 20s and... presented as companion pieces with many of their characters in common." [We hope Aline isn't The Plaintiff!] The one performance will be 11/24 at 8 PM in Sanders Theater, Harvard U. Director: Richard Conrad; Conductor: Ernest Green. Familiar names in the cast (besides Richard himself) include David Murray, Mark Nemeskal and David Stoneman. Tix are $35, $25 and $15. Call (617) 2420055 for tix & info.
The Sudbury Savoyards will hold their annual "tworing circus" (Meet the Directors party) on November 20, in preparation for November 27 and 29th auditions for their March '96 production, PRINCESS IDA. Directors for this year's production are Jim Ravan (Music) and Marion Leeds Carroll (Staging). As usual, all proceeds will benefit the United Methodist Church's Fund for World Hunger. Call (508) 4438811 or email savoyard @sudbury.ultranet.com for more info.
If you're planning to be in Michigan 12/710, call 7627855 for tix & info. about the planned UMGASS (The U. Michigan G&S Soc) GRAND DUKE .
OSLO (Ocean State Light Opera) will present COX & BOX together with Ballroom Scenes from the Great Operas, 12/2830 at 8PM, with 2 PM matinees on 12/ 28 & 30. Call (401) 3316060 for tix & info.
We're told that the Huntington Theater Co. of BU will definitely produce IOLANTHE, dates being Jan. 5 Feb. 4, 1996. Call their box office at 2660800 for more info.
The dates for the International G&S Festival 1996 are: Philadelphia: Saturday July 20th to Sunday July 28th. Buxton: Sunday August 4th to Sunday 18th inclusive. [Is it time to plan a NEGASS trip to Philly? mlc]
Dame Rumour Whispers that Curtain Call Theater in Braintree is planning MIKADO for 3/96. We called (617) 3565113 for further info, & got a tape but no human reply does anyone know more?
Noted by new member William S. Kelly: The New York Gilbert and Sullivan Players will be on tour, performing PINAFORE May 11 at 2 PM and 8 PM at the Shubert in New Haven, CT. Phone numbers, anyone?
The Sudbury Savoyards have just launched their own newsletter, called The Sudbury Savoyards' Sandwich Board, and are talking about a small, nonmusical summer production in '96... more news as it breaks!
NEGASS is affiliated with The Gilbert & Sullivan Society, based in London. If NEGASS members plan to visit England and would like to attend a G&SS meeting, they can contact Sue Cross, 8 Seafield Road, Arnos Grove, London N11 2AS for details concerning upcoming meetings, which are planned this season for 11/15, 12/13, 1/16, 2/29, 3/24, 4/17, 5,30, and 6/19.
THE NEW ENGLAND GILBERT AND SULLIVAN SOCIETY
PO Box 367, Arlington, MA 021740004
President RICHARD FREEDMAN
(617) 6309525 email: rnf@gis.net
Vice President PATRICIA BREWER: (617) 3233480
Secretary CAROL MAHONEY: (617) 6481720 Membership Officer BILL MAHONEY: (617) 6481720
Treasurer CARL WEGGEL: (508) 4740396 Program Chair SHELDON HOCHMAN: (508) 8427617 Editor MARION LEEDS CARROLL: (617) 6469115
email: mlcar@ibm.net
NEGASS membership dues are $15 and up. Please send membership inquiries to Bill Mahoney at NEGASS, PO. Box 367, Arlington, MA 021740004.
Marion
Page created 28 Nov 1996