Gilbert and Sullivan Essays

  • The Orientalist in Arthur Sullivan´s The Rose of Persia

    753 Words  | 2 Pages

    A comedic opera of two acts, The Rose of Persia stands as the final opera completed by the English composer Arthur Sullivan. After departing from his comedic roots for several productions, Sullivan cultivated an opera consisting of exoticism influences within its constructed environment and plot elements. Though irregularly revived today, The Rose of Persia exploits Arthur Sullivan as a consistently successful composer; demonstrates the influence of ethnic groups from the late 19th century within

  • The Mikado: The Use Of Satire In Modern Society

    812 Words  | 2 Pages

    Gilbert and Sullivan firstly used humour to poke fun at higher-class-members of society. Characters of extreme social status often present utterly ridiculous lines like Pooh-Bah stating: “I am, in point of fact, a particularly haughty and exclusive person, of pre-

  • Essay On Musical Theatre

    519 Words  | 2 Pages

    How did musical theater develop from reviews, opera to what it is today? Musical theatre originated from something called an Operetta. An Operetta is a genre of light opera, light in terms both of music and subject matter. It is also closely related, in English-language works, to forms of musical theatre. An Opera is a performance which started in the 1590s in Italy. This form of musical theatre includes spoken word too, such as some scenery, acting, costumes and dance. Opera is most commonly performed

  • Thoughts on the Mikado

    1028 Words  | 3 Pages

    performance in England, there took place across the United States 170 separate performances of the opera, one of them probably in the newly christened town of Mikado, Michigan. The Americans, on the whole quite a prudish lot, had trouble conceiving how Gilbert could decently call his town Titipu, or think there might be a bird called a tit-willow - after all they carry delicacy to the point of talking about chickadees - but they did not jib at the obvious racism of the opera. These days people are more

  • Chicago Gangs

    2301 Words  | 5 Pages

    humor (musicals 101.com). In 1878, Gilbert and Sullivan’s HMS Pinafore premiered in the United States. Their arrival sparked an overwhelming response from the people, the craze that was, was known as “Pinafore-Mania”. The songs that were sung in the show became the language of the people, and became part of everyday conversation. Even though it seemed all was good, some were not pleased and happy with the two “invaders”. “In the century since Gilbert and Sullivan, people on both sides of the Atlantic

  • Analysis of Movie Moulin Rouge

    1933 Words  | 4 Pages

    Analysis of Movie Moulin Rouge In this essay I will be analyzing in depth four scenes from Baz Luhrmann's critically acclaimed Moulin Rouge that was released in 2000. I will be analyzing the opening sequence, the sequence in the Moulin Rouge itself, the two dancing sequences 'Like a Virgin' and 'Tango Roxanne' and the final scenes of the film. Throughout this essay I will be commenting on the filming techniques that Luhrmann uses and what affects these have on the audience, also I will be

  • Analysis Of The Jazz Singer

    2046 Words  | 5 Pages

    This scene from The Jazz Singer (1927) starts with Jakie Rabinowitz (Al Jolson) talking to the audience in the nightclub he is preforming in that night. To get them excited, he tells them “you ain’t heard nothin’!”and he then begins to animatedly sing and dance around the stage. The camera cuts back and forth between the audience and Jackie as he preforms. The audience claps along as he sings and at the end of the song it cuts to a long shot of the crowd. They clap as Jackie stands on the stage

  • Essay On Straight Play

    634 Words  | 2 Pages

    I think the first thing that becomes more difficult to do in a musical then in a straight play is the casting. Musicals can require hiring a larger cast and a bigger artistic panel, which can be good or bad thing. The good thing about a larger group of people is that you get to work with a variety of unique talents and this can also allow directors to try more artist direction on stage. The bad thing is that with a larger group it can also mean artist butting heads which can cause tension in rehearsal

  • Broadway musicals: The Portrayal of Women through the Decades

    2558 Words  | 6 Pages

    Broadway was one of the first forms of entertainment. Before there were television programs, or movies, there was Broadway. Broadway originated in New York in 1750, when actor-manager Walter Murray built a theatre company at the Theatre on Nassau Street. A musical would show about once every weekend. The shows were very male based, and would commonly show a relationship between young boys and their fathers. Women were slowly integrated into Broadway, and as society changed its point of view on women

  • Anything Goes Analysis

    722 Words  | 2 Pages

    Anything Goes Musical theatre has been around for quite a while. But where exactly did it come from? The book Anything Goes, written by Ethan Mordden looks to explore just that. From operas to musical comedies, Mordden covers the basic history of musical theatre and why it’s important for the world to know. In the introduction, Mordden explains that “all its [musical theatre’s] artistry dwells in the historian’s key buzz term ‘integrated’: the union of story and score” (Mordden x). It is important

  • Slavery and Christian Values in Uncle Tom´s Cavin by Harriet Beecher Stowe

    1364 Words  | 3 Pages

    There are many different themes that are present throughout this play; however the two larger themes are slavery and Christian values. Throughout the play these two themes are present with every character and yet at the same time seem to be at odds with each other. When it comes to the idea of slavery, the fact that this book was written at the time to persuade the readers, especially the northerners that slavery is evil, un-Christian, and intolerable in society. Even with the idea of slavery, we

  • Roles Of Women In James Wolf's 'Changed For Good'

    866 Words  | 2 Pages

    Stacy Wolf, a Professor of Theatre in the Lewis Centre for the Arts wrote the book ‘Changed for Good’. This book observes the roles of women in Broadway and how musical theatre’s history has changed massively from the 1950’s to the twenty first century by analysing, inspecting and listening to what women actually did on the Broadway stage through every chapter. It argues that ‘gender and genre are inseparable’ (Wolf. S. 2011. P. 20) the representations and performances by women radically changed

  • Research Paper On Lin Manuel Miranda

    1913 Words  | 4 Pages

    Lin-Manuel Miranda or better known as Alexander Hamilton, the starring role of the hit musical Hamilton: An American Musical. At the moment Miranda’s net worth is about ten million dollars. (https://www.celebritynetworth.com) He is set to make about six million dollars in this year alone, which is about sixty times what his cast members make. Though before he was making millions and becoming a household name he was just a little boy. On January 16, 1980 Lin-Manuel Miranda was born in Manhattan

  • Rodgers And Hammerstein: Major Social Issues In Musicals

    1044 Words  | 3 Pages

    Musicals are usually known for their upbeat songs, dances, and the lighthearted stories that they tell through the art form known as theatre. What many people don’t know, is that since the beginning of theatre, musicals have dealt with serious social issues that have taken place within our society. Musicals have taken unique approaches in projecting impactful social movements and issues. In the past, musicals have made certain ideals, values, and perspectives easier for the people in society to understand

  • Ron Chernow's Hamilton: An American Musical

    1228 Words  | 3 Pages

    On February 17, 2015, the world of Broadway and musical theatre was introduced to Hamilton: An American Musical written by young composer, Lin Manuel-Miranda. Hamilton is a musical, based on the book Alexander Hamilton written by Ron Chernow, which tells the story of the life and tragedies of founding father Alexander Hamilton. This musical uses various styles of rap, hip-hop and R&B music that remain foreign genres when it comes to the average show tune that you’ve heard. Bringing in about $30 million

  • West Side Story: The Development Of American Musical

    1080 Words  | 3 Pages

    Development Of American Musicals The Musical is classified as the incorporation of song, dialogue and dance. Musicals, which many confuse with opera, is classified as having a narrower pitch range in comparison to opera and it operates on an AABA or verse and chorus form in its music. (Wikipedia, 2016) Furthermore, musicals generally have a “feel good” element attached to them and are intended to keep the audience happy and content. Musicals also differ from any other type of genre of music

  • Comparing Gilbert And Sullivan And The Mikado By Oscar Wilde

    1313 Words  | 3 Pages

    Gilbert and Sullivan and Oscar Wilde share the same interest, as both their texts focus on the theme of love. Both plays take on the idea of love in the form of a triangle, where two people share the same feelings towards one person and this normally results in a negative outcome for one person in the triangle. Through the plays representation of the love triangle, dramatization of romantic rivalry and purpose to this romantic structure, Oscar Wilde’s play, “The Importance of Being Earnest” challenges

  • William Gilbert Research Paper

    876 Words  | 2 Pages

    William Gilbert and Arthur Sullivan were two of the most profound playwrights and composers of the late 1800’s. The duo of Gilbert and Sullivan transformed musical theatre, and created a series of witty, melodic operettas which set a new standard for stage professionalism. Both men had written minor musical shows with other collaborators, but neither expected that musical theatre would be their key to lasting fame. In all, they collaborated for 14 pieces of work which are most famously known as

  • Edward Degas Research Paper

    993 Words  | 2 Pages

    Japanese influence on European artists in the 19th century is revealed in the accommodation of Japanese designs into household objects, decorative designs, the outline of sets, and the numerous influence of different ideas of Japanese origin. Japan began to look outwards after a period of isolation and protectionism, the nation began to trade with the West once more in 1853, with this, Japanese goods soon found their way into Europe. Japanese crafts were well accepted in European countries, particularly

  • Critique of The Pirates of Penzance

    665 Words  | 2 Pages

    Critique of The Pirates of Penzance A new and original comic Opera by Messrs. W. S. Gilbert and Arthur Sullivan, entitled the "Pirates of Penzance, or Love and Duty. It is amazing how two dramatic writers have mastered the ability to amuse the public in such an original manner. This opera had its premiere on December 31, 1879, at the Fifth Avenue Theater in New York with Arthur Sullivan conducting. It opened on April 3, 1880, at the Opera Comique in London and ran for 363 performances. When