Entertaining Curio
There are a handful of Gilbert and Sullivan curios around (The Danny Kaye and Nelson Eddy recordings for example) that offer a break from the D'Oyly Carte "Tradition"- this is one of them. It was not unusual for established stars in an other media to take a whack at the Savoy Operas. During the 50's and 60's there was a concerted effort in America to educate the middle class via television. The major networks would air plays, operas and Broadway shows. The idea was to inject some culture into the middle class and thus raise the national IQ. As Gilbert put it, "He who'd make his fellow creatures wise should always gild the philosophic pill." Certainly the opportunity to see little ole' pea picker Tennessee Ernie Ford retelling THE MIKADO and HMS PINAFORE on national television is justification enough to purchase this disc. For the dedicated Savoyard the chance to see Martyn Green and Cyril Richard square off on some patter pieces is simply irresistible. Above all this DVD is a...
Never Mind the Why and Wherefore...
What a treat! I can actually remember seeing some of these on TV as a child, around the time I first discovered G & S as a kid. Every moment of it was a gallop down some of my memory's favorite trails. And while I love every one of these, I do have to put in an extra word or two for Martyn Green, the only man, past or present, who could really sing "Titwillow" as it was meant to be sung. A moment of pure magic. This is delightful for old G&S fans and for some newb ies who want an introduction. (Review by Cheryl Duval)
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