Oh, the many, many performances of our youth which shall remain in our hearts as Oscar-winning forever. Those were the days. Thank you for this column.
I must have watched the Angela Lansbury/Kline/Ronstadt film 40 times! And while I, too, know many interesting facts about the square of the hypotenuse (and I’m teaching them to the 3-year-old toddler across the meadow from my house), I am not a major general. This column reminds me of all those great times watching that VHS tape. But alas, I loaned that tape to a tenor in the Santa Fe Opera, and he never returned it. Can’t really blame him. But of all the awful things that happened after Richard II, I mean RReagan, that production was the only panacea. Pure, true genius. Thank you for reminding me of it, and for once again confirming Shelley’s idea that maybe we could be governed best by poets instead of Pirates.
Delightful column! A personal favorite of mine as well. Gilbert and Sullivan—was fortunate enough to grow up with a mother who adored them. Fab memories of the stereo blasting “The Mikado” in the background as we kids played; thanks, Greg
Fabulous Greg--thank you! Pirates is one of my absolute favorites and I admit that I saw it free TWICE in NYC many many years ago when it was previewed for its Broadway run at Shakespeare in the Park directed by the late great Joe Papp. And then saw it on Broadway, which was not nearly as wonderful as under the stars.
It was--and the cast (Kevin Kline is "my" Pirate King forever because of this) was excited and goofy like they could never be on Broadway with that kind of audience and in that venue.
Thank you for this. I appeared in my high school production of Pirates. I think I was Edith. "Let us gaily tread the measure. Make the most of fleeting pleasure. Though the moments quickly die. Treat them gaily as they fly." It's amazing to me how well it holds up.
Thanks Greg. Always enjoy your ability to remind us that history is always on repeat. I was also reminded of Bruce Springsteen asking Linda Ronstadt how she could sing that show so often. She prompted Bruce to get a voice coach which he did.
I saw Linda Ronstadt, Kevin Kline and George Rose in Pirates in Penzance at the Delacorte Theatre Summer of 1980. My first trip to Manhattan, New York City. It was great. Linda is my musical idol. I love this and I bet you were a fantastic Major General.
I'm sure I had nothing on George Rose. My main contribution to the show was the idea that, when the Pirate King inducted me as an honorary member of the band, he handed me a Pittsburgh Pirates cap. The anachronism was, I think, the sort of thing Gilbert would have found amusing.
This was fun! Thank you! My own fingers tripped not-so-well on the keyboard and my toots tootled not-so-well on the flute, but the memories are still good ones!
My fourth-grade teacher, who must have been a masochist, decided to have our class perform Pirates. I guess she edited out the romance between Frederic and Ruth, which would have been above our heads anyway. I was chosen as Ruth and can still perform my solo--45 years later! I wish I could post a photo here because I have a few that my parents purchased from the photographer. Fun memories.
You've captured what was so magical about growing up in NJ in the late 70's early 80's and living through the pre-Guiliani sanitizing of the city. Taking the train into NYC from about 14, getting served at places like Steak & Ale in Times Square, going to Broadway shows by using 1/2 price tickets we got from our HS English teachers and seeing Kevin Kline and Linda Ronstadt in Pirates...feel incredibly lucky looking back. Thanks for the memories...
Oh, the many, many performances of our youth which shall remain in our hearts as Oscar-winning forever. Those were the days. Thank you for this column.
None of the ones that I was acting in were Oscar-worthy, I assure you...
Thank you for this trip down memory lane. What a solid foundation you had!
I must have watched the Angela Lansbury/Kline/Ronstadt film 40 times! And while I, too, know many interesting facts about the square of the hypotenuse (and I’m teaching them to the 3-year-old toddler across the meadow from my house), I am not a major general. This column reminds me of all those great times watching that VHS tape. But alas, I loaned that tape to a tenor in the Santa Fe Opera, and he never returned it. Can’t really blame him. But of all the awful things that happened after Richard II, I mean RReagan, that production was the only panacea. Pure, true genius. Thank you for reminding me of it, and for once again confirming Shelley’s idea that maybe we could be governed best by poets instead of Pirates.
I should probably hunt it down and watch it. It's probably great! I think it may be on YouTube, even...
Delightful column! A personal favorite of mine as well. Gilbert and Sullivan—was fortunate enough to grow up with a mother who adored them. Fab memories of the stereo blasting “The Mikado” in the background as we kids played; thanks, Greg
Love it!
Fabulous Greg--thank you! Pirates is one of my absolute favorites and I admit that I saw it free TWICE in NYC many many years ago when it was previewed for its Broadway run at Shakespeare in the Park directed by the late great Joe Papp. And then saw it on Broadway, which was not nearly as wonderful as under the stars.
Oh that must have been magical. So much of the action takes place outside...on the ship, on the island, etc.
It was--and the cast (Kevin Kline is "my" Pirate King forever because of this) was excited and goofy like they could never be on Broadway with that kind of audience and in that venue.
It's the New World, and here we value Justice & Fair Play. Bite the bullet, rogues. It builds *character*
Thank you for this. I appeared in my high school production of Pirates. I think I was Edith. "Let us gaily tread the measure. Make the most of fleeting pleasure. Though the moments quickly die. Treat them gaily as they fly." It's amazing to me how well it holds up.
It sure does. And comedy tends not to age as well as tragedy. But the jokes are still solid.
Thanks Greg. Always enjoy your ability to remind us that history is always on repeat. I was also reminded of Bruce Springsteen asking Linda Ronstadt how she could sing that show so often. She prompted Bruce to get a voice coach which he did.
I didn't know that!
I saw Linda Ronstadt, Kevin Kline and George Rose in Pirates in Penzance at the Delacorte Theatre Summer of 1980. My first trip to Manhattan, New York City. It was great. Linda is my musical idol. I love this and I bet you were a fantastic Major General.
I'm sure I had nothing on George Rose. My main contribution to the show was the idea that, when the Pirate King inducted me as an honorary member of the band, he handed me a Pittsburgh Pirates cap. The anachronism was, I think, the sort of thing Gilbert would have found amusing.
This was fun! Thank you! My own fingers tripped not-so-well on the keyboard and my toots tootled not-so-well on the flute, but the memories are still good ones!
I've seen a ton of musicals over the years, but amazingly, I have never seen this one. Sounds like a good one.
My fourth-grade teacher, who must have been a masochist, decided to have our class perform Pirates. I guess she edited out the romance between Frederic and Ruth, which would have been above our heads anyway. I was chosen as Ruth and can still perform my solo--45 years later! I wish I could post a photo here because I have a few that my parents purchased from the photographer. Fun memories.
It wasn't a hot steamy romance. G-rated, almost. You had to really think about it to get how inappropriate it was.
You've captured what was so magical about growing up in NJ in the late 70's early 80's and living through the pre-Guiliani sanitizing of the city. Taking the train into NYC from about 14, getting served at places like Steak & Ale in Times Square, going to Broadway shows by using 1/2 price tickets we got from our HS English teachers and seeing Kevin Kline and Linda Ronstadt in Pirates...feel incredibly lucky looking back. Thanks for the memories...
Ah, those $10 fake IDs in Times Square. Those were the days.