Topsy-Turvy is also a movie written and directed by
Mike Leigh, about the world of Topsy-Turvy
opera in
London on the
19th century.
"
Gilbert: Every theatrical performance is a contrivance by its very nature.
Sullivan: Yes, but this piece consists entirely of an artificial and implausible situation.
Gilbert: If you wish to write a Grand Opera about a prostitute, dying of consumption in a garret, I suggest you contact Mr Ibsen in Oslo. I am sure he will be able to furnish you with something suitably dull." - film
script.
With beautiful sets and careful production, the film is a visual orgy. After reviews less than flattering and audiences growing thin, famous composer
Arthur Sullivan and writer
William Gilbert -
superstars of Topsy-Turvy plays find themselves in a
creative crisis and an exhaustion of themes. Sullivan is played by
Allan Corduner and Gilbert is played by
Jim Broadbent.
The search for new elements and new hits drives
Gilbert & Sullivan to write a masterpiece about
Japan, "
The Mikado". We seen the
conception,
creation,
production and all the intrigue
behind the stage, with the
divas, the
ego battles and the
costumes. Sullivan wants to write *serious* music, but Gilbert is quite comfortable with routine plots. The theater owner (their employer) wants to keep the mass audiences entertained and thrilled, making them come back several times - and also wants Gilbert & Sullivan together.
The pair had been working in partnership for a decade and London loved them. To separate them would mean a serious loss of audience. After visiting a japanese
fair under the influence of his
wife, Gilbert conceives The Mikado. Sullivan joins him and they have a new play. The actors, accostumed to work for them and quite proud of it, are delightful.
Egocentric,
intriguing,
proud and delicate, they prove enough scenes of theater
diplomacy.
And then there's the
music. During
rehearsals, we get to hear extracts from the new and old
plays, with the perfect
choreography as a
side dish. The plays and most of the characters are based on real-life Gilbert & Sullivan, the biggest hit in London during the 1880's.
This is a very unique movie in Mike Leigh's career, as his other works are usually very
intimate and visually simple. Most of his themes also show the problem of
class struggle and humanity.
Main cast:
Allan Corduner
Francis Lee
Jim Broadbent
Lesley Manville
Martin Savage
Stefan Bednarczyk
Sukie Smith
Timothy Spall
Wendy Nottingham
William Neenan
Sources:
http://us.imdb.com/Title?0151568
http://www.topsyturvymovie.com/