My peripatetic life finds me based at Hatch End, near
Harrow, North London for five weeks. So I must ask…what is Hatch End famous
for?
My go-to introduction to an area, Wikipedia, mentions Mrs
Beeton, dubbed the world’s first celebrity chef who lived here in the middle of
the 19th century. More on her and this quite erroneous title at a
later date.
The ancient earthworks Grimsdyke also run through the area,
and gives its name to W.S. Gilbert’s home, now a hotel, at which I am eagerly
anticipating taking high tea at with a friend now its midterm break. This is
the Gilbert whose name is now inextricably linked with Sullivan, Gilbert and
Sullivan fame. He was the wordsmith of the pairing.
My love of the Gilbert and Sullivan operettas is truly lifelong.
I believe the amateur production of Pirates of Penzance in Waipukurau was the first
live production my parents took me to, at the age of 7 or 8. I was entranced,
especially by the transformation of one of my school teachers by the simple
expedient of a pretty pink dress into the heroine Mabel.
A few years later, I attended the Mikado, performed by
Morrinsville College students. Fast forward a few more years, and I am cast as
the Duchess of Plaza Toro in the Gondoliers in our Whangarei High School
musical. Not quite the heroine of the piece, but lots of fun and hard work, led
by our talented director, Michael Hainsworth aka Head of Languages.
By this time my love for G & S was sealed. (My love of G
& T comes a little later). I am drawn by the mix of ludicrous plot lines
and clever lyrics with hummable tunes and grand harmonies. Then of course there
is the dressing up
I am surprised by the lack of publicity for the Topsy Turvey,
the film based on the professional pairing of Gilbert, Sullivan and their
manager, d’Oyly Carte. I managed to catch it at the Mission Bay Berkeley cinema, back in
its more boutique days (c. 2000), but it seems to have died a death, despite the casting
of the notable Timothy Spall. It’s a great introduction as many of the operas
are showcased here.
The film Chariots of Fire made a big impression on me too,
and I will always remember with pleasure the inclusion of several G and S songs
into the groundbreaking film score.
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