(no subject)
At the meeting, we were told to find original facts about Thespis, and not what everyone else was going to say. Now, being presented with just the word 'Thespis' to go on, that gives me a pretty vague idea of what I should present. So instead of researching the Greek actor, I looked into the Gilbert and Sullivan opera aptly titled "Thespis" (also known as "The Gods Grown Old"). Librettist W. S. Gilbert and composer Arthur Sullivan wrote a total of fourteen operas together, "Thespis" being the first they collaborated on. It premiered in London at the Gaiety Theatre on December 26, 1871 and ran for 63 performances. After it's first run, the opera wasn't performed at all again until 1953
The first act starts out with aged and tired roman gods mourning over their fading influence. Jupiter says that things have risen to a crisis, but isn’t sure what to do about it. They see a group of mortals climbing the mountain and they hide to watch from a distance. Thespis’s acting company is there to have a picnic to celebrate the marriage of two of their members, Sparkeion and Nicemis. Daphne, Sparkeion’s former fiance, flirts with him to annoy Nicemis. So then Nicemis flirts with Thespis, but he explains, that as manager of the group, he has to stay aloof or else he will loose his influence. Jupiter, Mars and Apollo enter and the actors all flee in terror, all but Thespis. Jupiter asks Thespis if he’s impressed with the gods, but Thespis isn’t. He says they’re unimpressive and suggests they go down to earth to judge for themselves why people don’t take them seriously. They agree and Thespis and his acting troop are to keep things running on Mount Olympus while they’re gone. Each actor takes the place of one of the gods, as Thespis as Jupiter. Mercury stays behind to offer any advice the actors may need.
When the curtain opens on act two, the former ruins of Mount Olympus have been restored to their former beauty, under Thespis’s direction. However, Mercury doesn’t think they’re doing such a great job. For example, the replacement for Mars is a pacifist, and the actor playing Hymen refuses to marry anyone. He actors’ romantic entanglements also don’t agree with those of the god they’re replacing. Venus (Pretteia) is supposed to be married to Mars, but the actor playing him is her dad. Calliope (Daphne) is supposed to be married to Apollo (Sparkeion), but Sparkeion is already married to Nicemis. Thespis rules that Sparkeion and Daphne are married while they’re gods, but then when they’re not, Nicemis and Sparkeion are married again. When the gods return, they’re furious at all the complaints from earth that have accumulated while the gods were gone. The gods banish the actors from Olympus and as a punishment for their folly, Jupiter sends them back to earth as “eminent tragedians, whom no one ever goes to see.”
Today, the original music is lost, but atleast twenty two attempts have been made to write new music, either in Sullivan’s style, and according to his other songs, or not. Ony two songs survive, “Little Maid of Arcadee” and “Climbing Over Rocky Mountain” , which was re-scored and slightely re-written and put in “Pirates of Penzance”. There was also usually a five-movement ballet somewhere in act two.
Jessica Fong
by Samm Bettis
Next year in college fenestration is what she’ll learn
With a lot of monolsyllabic words, a great grade you will not earn.
And a hongi is a great way to greet a J Fong.
I’m not quite sure how she feels about evangelism
or if she’s friends with any cockalorum.
She doesn’t play an instrument with a fipple
and a raglan shirt is nothing you’d see her in.
But I love my advanced choir neighbor
and Mirable dictu, she’s there when we sight read
I’ll miss her next year
because she kept prom from being completely yuppafied.
The first act starts out with aged and tired roman gods mourning over their fading influence. Jupiter says that things have risen to a crisis, but isn’t sure what to do about it. They see a group of mortals climbing the mountain and they hide to watch from a distance. Thespis’s acting company is there to have a picnic to celebrate the marriage of two of their members, Sparkeion and Nicemis. Daphne, Sparkeion’s former fiance, flirts with him to annoy Nicemis. So then Nicemis flirts with Thespis, but he explains, that as manager of the group, he has to stay aloof or else he will loose his influence. Jupiter, Mars and Apollo enter and the actors all flee in terror, all but Thespis. Jupiter asks Thespis if he’s impressed with the gods, but Thespis isn’t. He says they’re unimpressive and suggests they go down to earth to judge for themselves why people don’t take them seriously. They agree and Thespis and his acting troop are to keep things running on Mount Olympus while they’re gone. Each actor takes the place of one of the gods, as Thespis as Jupiter. Mercury stays behind to offer any advice the actors may need.
When the curtain opens on act two, the former ruins of Mount Olympus have been restored to their former beauty, under Thespis’s direction. However, Mercury doesn’t think they’re doing such a great job. For example, the replacement for Mars is a pacifist, and the actor playing Hymen refuses to marry anyone. He actors’ romantic entanglements also don’t agree with those of the god they’re replacing. Venus (Pretteia) is supposed to be married to Mars, but the actor playing him is her dad. Calliope (Daphne) is supposed to be married to Apollo (Sparkeion), but Sparkeion is already married to Nicemis. Thespis rules that Sparkeion and Daphne are married while they’re gods, but then when they’re not, Nicemis and Sparkeion are married again. When the gods return, they’re furious at all the complaints from earth that have accumulated while the gods were gone. The gods banish the actors from Olympus and as a punishment for their folly, Jupiter sends them back to earth as “eminent tragedians, whom no one ever goes to see.”
Today, the original music is lost, but atleast twenty two attempts have been made to write new music, either in Sullivan’s style, and according to his other songs, or not. Ony two songs survive, “Little Maid of Arcadee” and “Climbing Over Rocky Mountain” , which was re-scored and slightely re-written and put in “Pirates of Penzance”. There was also usually a five-movement ballet somewhere in act two.
Jessica Fong
by Samm Bettis
Next year in college fenestration is what she’ll learn
With a lot of monolsyllabic words, a great grade you will not earn.
And a hongi is a great way to greet a J Fong.
I’m not quite sure how she feels about evangelism
or if she’s friends with any cockalorum.
She doesn’t play an instrument with a fipple
and a raglan shirt is nothing you’d see her in.
But I love my advanced choir neighbor
and Mirable dictu, she’s there when we sight read
I’ll miss her next year
because she kept prom from being completely yuppafied.