The Sorcerer
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The Sorcerer’s 2023 Last Gasp Cast Bash concert was begun by Malka Key who continued her longstanding, well-loved tradition of providing a synopsis to the show for all to enjoy, but perhaps especially for those who may not have figured out the plot, even by the end of the run! Malka describes herself as a non-singer, and so she spoke the following to the rhythm, if not to the tune of “My Name is John Wellington Wells” … and did so entirely from memory!
Alexis engaged to Aline, If you want to be happy for life He’s a plan to distribute a potion, Aline is thrown quite out of kilter, Low-class vulgarity Mixing starchy austerity It’s not just the chorus that’s switched, First the potion’s charm In collectivity, Out with austerity, There’s one way of undoing spells. Once the public opinion is done Our 2023 production of The Sorcerer was our third show following the Covid-19 pandemic, successfully staged, in part, due to the Health and Safety Plan protocols that the company had drafted and put in place, that required weekly Covid testing during the run of the show. Richard Rames wrote the following alternate lyric song, with introductory dialogue, to the tune of “All is Prepared,” poking good natured fun at our testing protocols. Richard (spoken): Madam, I trust you are in the enjoyment of good health.” Holly (spoken): Sir, you are vastly polite, I protest I am mighty well. My COVID test was negative! Notary: All is prepared for this week’s COVID testing, Chorus: All is prepared for this week’s COVID testing, Notary: Obey the COVID officer’s requesting, Chorus: Obey the COVID officer’s requesting, Alexis: I will wiggle it, I will wiggle it Aline: I will wiggle it, I will wiggle it Chorus: See they plunge, without a niggle, it, The Gilbert & Sullivan Very Light Opera Company’s Last Gasp Cast Bash tradition is to sing alternate lyrics to songs from the show just performed. Joe Andrews broke with that tradition in 2023, setting his alternate lyric song to “Agony,” the prince’s song from A Little Night Music. The song mentioned “Alines” as that role was double cast in our production and included allusions to the opinions of some that the character of Alexis is a bit of a prig, while at the same time, nodding to the fact that Joe played the role of Mrs. Partlett in the production quite delightfully in drag! Seth: Both my Alines seem to know I’m a pain Joe: Once a pursuer, a hero, a wooer, Both: Sorcerer! Seth: (Seth signaling himself) Slightly malicious, Joe: (Joe signaling himself) But both look delicious, Both: (Seth) In crimson (Joe) Or peach Seth: Am I too passionate, toxic, Joe: You are lovely but callow. Seth: What’s “callow”? Joe: It’s shallow …that’s “callow.” Seth: I’m handsome, not smart… Joe: Mrs. Partlett’s no smarter. Both Ah ah ah ah ah ah ah ah ah ah ah ah! Seth: Beauteous! Joe: Duteous! Seth: Proud!! Both: We just must be adored, Seth: We have one volume, Joe: Loud Both: We will not be ignored. Our 2023 production of The Sorcerer included the unique addition of a bell choir to the opening number, “Ring Forth, Ye Bells.” Holly Windle’s alternate lyric song celebrating this innovation was sung at the Last Gasp Cast Bash by the entire company. All: Sing forth with bells Women: Then there’s plot exposition, Men: Exposition that’s perplexing, Women: Men: (Rather odd ones and obscure). Women: Would perhaps the addition Men: Of surtitles be less vexing? Women: Can it do what it claims, Men: Given Gilbert? We’re not sure. (repeat tutti) Women: Sing forth with bells, All: We’re soon with Wells, Sing forth with bells Sing forth with bells Sing forth with bells Sing with bells, sing with bells, While our 2023 production of The Sorcerer was a delightful show, praised by its reviewers, the show did draw a much smaller audience than usual. Holly Windle’s alternate lyric song, sung to the Act II Finale, acknowledged these realities, and cast a somewhat concerned eye towards attendance at the company’s upcoming fall 2023 production of H.M.S. Pinafore. Those singing her song, including Seth Tychon Steidl, Maggie Benham, Anna Maher, and Doug Freeman, however, were far more optimistic about H.M.S. Pinafore’s prospects and respectfully changed one of Holly’s lines as they sang the song, from “We really doubt it” to “We do not doubt it!” Alexis: How keen, I have to say, such happiness! Aline: Yes, yes. Alexis: Oh, joy! Aline: You silly, don’t say that. Alexis: Why? Aline: Of course, we did a lovely show, Dr. Daly: My dear, you’re right, reviews are fluff. Alexis, Aline, Dr. Daly: The Pasternacks will be in France, Alexis: Glum ones, be still. I hear you. Aline: I really doubt it. Alexis: We’ll fill the hall. Dr. Daly: We really doubt it. Alexis: Yes, in the fall, Aline, Dr. Daly: We really doubt it, alas. Chorus: Reviewers may flatter, Reviewers may flatter, Alexis, Aline, Dr. Daly (sung during the chorus): Oh, why does it matter? W.S. Gilbert found it quite amusing that women would fawn over young clergymen, as fervently as or even more so than they might over military men or men of high rank. While our attitudes about such matters may be changed in the twenty-first century … we still enjoy the humor! This following alternative lyric song was first performed in 1997 and again in 2010, at the Last Gasp Cast Bash events for those year’s productions of The Sorcerer. It was performed in 1997 by Jim Ahrens, Waldyn Benbenek, Mather Dolph, Joseph Andrews, Zoe Kuester, and members of the chorus, and in 2010 by Jim Ahrens, Waldyn Benbenek, Mather Dolph, Erin Capello, Paul Coate and members of the chorus, and in 2023 by Waldyn Benbenek, Seth Tychon Steidl, Josh Zapata-Palmer, Sif Oberon, Maggie Benham, Anna Maher, Doug Freeman, and members of the chorus. Sir Marmaduke: Stroll, strut and beguile, Men: None so cunning as he, Trio: See, see they wink, Dr. Daly: I just don’t know why, Women: None so handsome as he, Those of us who regularly perform as members of the chorus in theatrical productions have to admit that we’ve all thought about what it would be like … if not fervently wished … to perform in a principal role. This alternate lyric song, written by Ernest and Stephanie Brody, and sung to the tune of “Dear Friends, Take Pity On My Lot,” gives voice to that quiet ambition! This song was performed at the company’s 1997 Last Gasp Cast Bash, by members of the chorus and the show’s directors, and once again in 2023. Chorus: Dear friends, take pity on our lot, Directors: I’m sorry you’re not what we want, Chorus: We really want a part, We know why we don’t get a part, Directors: We heard you sing, Chorus: We want a solo part, The directors for our 2010 production of The Sorcerer decided not to cast the role of Mrs. Partlet as an elderly, lower class women, but as a young, desirable woman of “questionable” reputation. Their concept was that it would be much more humorous for Sir Marmaduke to be mismatched with Miss Partlet, a young “gold-digger,” rather than with a person of a lower social position. This alternative lyric song written by Holly Windle and sung to the tune of “I Rejoice That It’s Decided” by Jim Ahrens, Walydn Benbenek, Erin Capello, Paul Coate and Victoria Valencour. Alexis: I resist this odd affair, it Quintet: She will fool him, fleece him, rule him, Aline: No exhausted, ancient widow, Sir Marmaduke: No high-born and gracious lady Quintet: She will hold him, tease him, scold him, Miss Parlet: Let dear Constance go for vicars – Dr. Daly: All the village drank the potion Others: All his flock is leading he! Quintet: She will lull him, cheat him, gull him, Alexis & Dr. Daly: But, although “numbskull” they call him, Aline & Miss Parlet: He will think it all worthwhile. Sir Marmaduke: All worthwhile, all worthwhile. A unique aspect of The Sorcerer is that the script calls for the cast to fall asleep on stage at the end of the Act I Finale, and still to be sleeping on stage at the beginning of Act II. Staging this has been a challenge for The Gilbert & Sullivan Very Light Opera Company and its productions on the Howard Conn Fine Arts Center stage … as the stage has no curtain. What are the “sleeping” cast members to do? It’s always seemed inappropriate to have the cast simply stand up and walk off the stage during the intermission in full sight of audience members who are still in the theater. The directors in the Company’s productions of The Sorcerer have come up with various solutions. In the 1985 production, the cast “slept” on stage for the entire intermission. Rumor has it that some actually did fall asleep! In 1997, the director had a roll drop installed as a part of the set. The drop came down at the end of Act I, but as it had to be installed halfway up the stage, it was necessary for the entire cast to move to the back half of the stage and fall asleep in a crowded mass. In 2010, the director came up with an interesting “mixed solution.” A third of the cast fell asleep on stage and had to “sleep” on stage during the entire intermission. A third of the cast wondered off stage to fall asleep … which, of course, made it possible for them to enjoy cookies in the Green Room with the orchestra during intermission! The final third of the cast, wondered out into the theater lobby, where they “fell asleep.” It was this final group of cast members who had, perhaps, the toughest assignment, as they were required to sleep, despite the occasional prods and “humorous” comments by audience members. The following alternative lyric song celebrated this experience. It was written by Jim Brooks and sung at the 2010 Last Gasp Cast Bash by all the cast members, to the tune of “Oi! Where Be I.” One note … the song refers to a “rant,” which is an English country dance step that was used in the 2010 production. Men: Oi! Why be I, a’sleepin’ in the lobby with all those little brats a’pokin’ me? Women: Don’t gripe! My head is on your knees, Men: Just like you! Always were the whiner! Women: Please say something kinder, couldn’t you? Men: That’s quite a pose, sleepin’ on the table. Women: I’m sure that’s true, and it takes willpower. All: Eh, but we loike to pule! Men: If you’ll rant with me, I know I won’t embarrass you! Women: If you’ll rant with me, I’m sure I will not harass you! Men: If you’ll rant with me, I’ll look just like an ass with you! All: All this will I do if you’ll rant with me! Women: If you’ll rant with me, I know I won’t compete with you! Men: If you’ll rant with me, I’ll use both my left feet for you! Women: If you’ll rant with me, I’ll try to keep a beat with you! All: Do “potato chip”, if you’ll rant with me! The company’s first production of The Sorcerer, in the fall of 1985, included a performance that took place on November 17th, the 108th anniversary of Gilbert and Sullivan’s original staging of the operetta. The company celebrated the event, after that day’s performance, by singing “Happy Birthday to You,” to the Sorcerer, personified on stage by the actor who played the role of John Wellington Wells, Mark D. Williams. Prior to the curtain, however, the company sang for themselves, in the green room, an alternate lyric tribute to The Sorcerer and its 108th anniversary. The company also sang a slightly revised version, with the lyrics in the past tense, at the company’s 2023 Last Gasp Cast Bash, sung by Seth Tychon Steidl, Maggie Benham, Anna Maher, Joe Andrews, and members of the chorus. Alexis: We rejoice we were provided, Chorus: We did sing, dance it, quote it, Aline: Though for many years neglected, Chorus: We did sing, dance it, quote it, Mrs. Partlett: Not a famous operetta, Chorus: We did sing, dance it, quote it, |