[2035] in Depressing_Thoughts
Taste?
amgreene@ATHENA.MIT.EDU (amgreene@ATHENA.MIT.EDU)
Sun Apr 7 20:51:40 1991
Heather and I went to the Harvard G&S production of Trial & Sorcerer
today. It was abominable. Many of the principals couldn't sing, the
orhcestra shenanigans were worse than usual, the blocking was too busy
and extremely vulgar (ever wanted to see a faked orgasm in the middle
of a G&S operetta? The premarital sextet was nothing like this!). I
was appalled -- this was worse than Harvard's usual wanton destruction
of the Savoy tradition.
The depressing part is twofold. First of all, most of the audience
seemed to be relishing the performance, although the way that HG&S
glossed over the moral and dramatic dimensions of both works was
disappointing, to be generous, and is the sort of thing that contributes
to the unfortunate reputation of G&S as ``fluff.'' Secondly, I have
heard rumours about the HG&SP budget that puts it at about fifty
times what MITG&SP gets -- the rumours are that HG&S spends $250K
per year. And they have a beautiful set, and real-looking props. And
it hurts to see them wasting their real theater and golden opportunities
on such garbage that is an affront to traditional G&S.
The icing on the cake was the woman who turned to Heather and me during
the second intermission and, oblivious to my MITG&SP Sorcerer T-shirt,
commented, ``This is much better than that MIT production of Sorcerer
from last year.''
