Ruth Tells A Story: Iolanthe

[esmeiolanthe]

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It's about darn time I updated something, even if it's only a special feature. :(

Comments

[mzyra.livejournal.com]

*Sits down for story time*
.... I might be up on the British political scene of 1882. Try me? *Tries to remember if that was Gladstone/Disraeli era*
LOL @ giving you one in James' Park - I have heardtell of what went down there even in Victorian times :P
Heeeee, intelligence test, I do love me some political humour and satire. TBH, I don't know why this isn't widely shown now, seems to fit the attitude towards the House of Lords a lot anyway :P Though obviously fairies aren't ~grown-up~ or ~manly~ enough for society...
LOL! Matthias and Tyrone are right, Gilbert /should/ have written that :P
LOL, I love the Lord Chancellor and his discussion with himself X)
Hehehe, Matthias and Tyrone XD
Another sad thing about this nowadays is it probably wouldn't have the name of the female leading character unless it was only directed toward women. Silly modern society :/

Loved this though Esme :D

[esmeiolanthe.livejournal.com]

Oooops, I forgot that one of my readers was a history major. >.> I remember you talking about studying American history and it completely slipped my mind that you studied British history too. :( I hope you don't mind if I give you a link instead of retyping the whole scene: http://math.boisestate.edu/gas/iolanthe/web_op/iol03d.html

(Yes, that does start out "math." Apparently, someone in the math department at Boise State is a huge Savoyard.)

You might also understand and get a chuckle out of the jolly little song that opens Act II: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ooqDc2Yg3lI&feature=related

I actually didn't know that St. James' Park had a reputation, either... Ah, the things you learn when you talk to a real British person!

It doesn't get performed as often as other operas because the tunes are frankly kind of dull. In fact, when performed badly, this opera is excruciating. Some of the other operas (like Mikado) are so good that even when they're performed badly, they're a hoot. Also, the fad for fairies has died out. Although Gilbert intended the fairies as a parody of Wagnerian sopranos, like the Valkyries... but Wagner has also gone out of fashion, since Hitler liked his so much.

Indeed he should! I'm glad I was able to rectify things. :P Although I wasn't the only one to interpret it that way: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ieiCimqWXuw&feature=related

I like the Lord Chancellor's discussion with himself too. It's one of the best parts, and I just couldn't bring myself to cut it out.

Matt would totally have done that, too. :P

Gilbert actually named three separate operas after the female leads: Iolanthe, Patience, and Princess Ida. I suppose that makes him triply enlightened? (I think it may have just been fashionable at the time.)

Glad you enjoyed it! :D I aim to please...

[mzyra.livejournal.com]

Ooooh, Tory in the top half with the brain? I'd have been more of a Whig myself :P

Hee, that Act II song would totally still be relevant today. Although you get some people more than just a 'little' *eyes extremists*

I don't think most people know, but I watch history documentaries when they're on the BBC and pick these things up :P

I prefer Matthias and Tyrone's more forthright version of the scene :P

Hee, good you didn't then ^.^

Fashions are silly and I shall never understand them *eyeroll*

Good work :D

[amylu1988.livejournal.com]

Read this yesterday and my laptop crashed before I posted my comment.

So lovely to see all your sims again, their plays are always fun to read. :D

Love the wings too, Sarah-Jane and Ruth look great as fairies.

I love Matthias and Tyrone's version too, it works so well! And the Lord Chancellor's discussion with himself was hilarious too. :D

[esmeiolanthe.livejournal.com]

Boo for crashing laptops! :(

The wings were one of the first three pieces of cc I ever downloaded, and if Leila wins her asylum challenge, she'll get a pair of her very own. Keep your fingers crossed for her!

I didn't have to change anything to arrive at Matthias and Tyrone's version -- just make it explicit instead of implied. Although I doubt that Gilbert was implying anything of the kind... The Lord Chancellor's discussion with himself is one of the best parts of the whole show! I am really glad I decided to leave it in. I was afraid that other people wouldn't like it as much as I do and would be bored...

I'm glad you enjoyed the story! I aim to please. :D