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A Gentleman's Guide to Love & Murder
Dramaturgy Website
A Gentleman's Guide to Love & Murder
Dramaturgy Website
Gilbert and Sullivan
Deep dive into operettas and music that shaped Gentleman's Guide.
William Schewnck Gilbert
W.S. Gilbert was born in London in November 1836, followed his fathers footsteps into writing and illustrating stories that allowed young Gilbert to discover the first look into the inspirations in later life of well known operas and musical pieces.
In particular, the illustrated poems from Bab Ballads that followed a humor that was set up in a way absurd “topsy-turvy” style that would later be coined to the Gilbertian.
This collection would play off the the name that Gilbert had as a child that he would be called “Baby” and would later use Bab to sign off the comics before publications into many books such as the edition from 1898 below.
He quickly developed theories that revolved around the art of stage direction and would follow Tom Robertson. Gilbert would help reform theatre in Britain with family-frienly comic operas.
The first work that he worked on was Ages Ago!, where Frederic Clay, a composer, introduced Gilbert to his friend, Arthur Sullivan. Below, the poster for the musical.
Authur Sullivan
Sir Arthur Seymour Sullivan was born in London in May 1842. He followed his fathers footsteps as he was a military bandmaster and music teacher. Sullivan had a quick start to his composing from a young age as early as primary school where he wrote anthems and songs for school and choir programs. In his early teens, he was awarded the Mendelssohn Scholarship, a prestige scholarship that allowed musical studies at the Leipzig Conservatory in Saxony, Germany.
Some of the early works that Sullivan wrote, composed and sung can be listened to below:
With being an astounded and recognized composter, first he works as a church organist in 1860 where he composed many hymns, vocal scores, and operas. In 1863, he even composed several pieces that were used throughout the Wedding of Prince Wales. Other pieces that he wrote can be seen reflecting on major events that happened through out his life with a comedic twist.
Over just under 60 years he was alive, Sullivan wrote and composed a vast amount of works including 24 operas, 11 orchestras, 10 choral songs, two ballets, many musicals components to existing plays, more than 80 songs and marches, and so many pieces that unfortunately are uncounted for. To this day, the adaptations and performances of his vast amounts of works are still played around the world.
Clips and More - Gilbert and Sullivan
Thespis or The Gods Grown Old (1871)
The first collaboration of Gilbert and Sullivan that revolve around the Gods of Olympus going essentially "on a holiday. " Above, a 2014 performance of the only surviving song originally from 1971
H.M.S. Pinafore (1878)
The first major success of Gilbert and Sullivan running for almost 600 performances. Inspired by early drawing from "Bab Ballads," this opera shows the love between different social classes
The Pirates of Penzance (1985)
First written in 1879, today is one of the most recognizable comedic operas to only premiere in the US. The song,
"I Am the Very Model of a Modern Major-General" is one of the most famous patterned songs that they created.
The Story of Gilbert and Sullivan (1953)
British dramatization of Gilbert and Sullivan writings over the years by Sidney Gilliat. This movie shows not only the success of Gilbert and Sulivan, but also the ups and downs within their friendships through out the years.
The Mikado (1885)
A comedic operetta set in the fictional Japanese town of Titipu that surrounds the story of a love triangle that is dealing with death and murder
Topsy-Turvy (1999)
British musical by Mike Leigh tells the story of Gilbert and Sullivan leading up to the work of The Mikado, the story of death, despair, love, and murder
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