If You Want to Know Who We Are, by Gilbert & Sullivan

[the_gneech]

If you want to know who we are
we are gentlemen of Japan
On many a vase and jar
On many a screen and fan
We figure in lively paint
our attitude's queer and quaint
you're wrong if you think it ain't, Oh!

If you think we are worked by strings
like a Japanese marionette
you don't understand these things
it is simply court ettiquette
Perhaps you suppose this throng
can't keep it up all day long
if that's your idea you're wrong, Oh!

If that's your idea you're wrong...

If you want to know who we are
we are gentlemen of Japan
on vase and jar
on screen and fan
on many, many, many, many, many, many
many a jar, Oh!
On vase and jar
on screen and fan!

--Gilbert and Sullivan, The Mikado, or the Town of Titipu

When all else fails, Victorian light opera really satisfies. ;)

-The Gneech, callous and obdurate

Comments

[chef-troy.livejournal.com]

I can't believe how totally I remember all of those songs. I bet I could step in and sing any of the male roles from that show (subject to voice type), although I'd need to brush up on the spoken parts.

Our great Mikado, virtuous man
When he to rule our land began
Resolved to try a plan whereby young men might best be steadied.
So he decreed in words succinct
That he who flirted, leered, or winked
(Unless connubially linked)
Should forthwith be beheaded! Beheaded! Behea-eh-eh-eh-eaded, should forthwith be beheaded.

And I am sure you'll all agree that he was right to so decree
And I am right, and you are right, and all is right as right can be
(etc.)

It was SO fun. I played the Mikado to the campy hilt. This was, as I said, an avant-garde production; they moved the setting to current-day Dallas and everyone was in American garb... except me. I was in full japanese drag, with balloony Hammer pants, a gold lamé cape, my hair in a "Samurai Delicatessen" topknot, my goatee shaved down to a Fu Manchu mustache, and wild Oriental makeup. To say my take on the character was a bit flamboyant is sort of like saying "Priscilla, Queen of the Desert" was a bit flamboyant. I'll look around for a photo and post it.

Unfortunately, I was so spoiled by landing a major part in my first theater experience that I didn't want to take the small spear-carrier roles that were all I was actually qualified for, so I didn't do any more musical theater after that. I'd love to go back and do some, but these days, with two kids and a comic strip I haven't got the time.