David Spicer Productions

Anthony Warlow in For A Song To Sing O

Anthony Warlow in A Song To Sing O

" A Blissful marriage of witty dialogue with some of the most enduringly popular music and lyrics ever written"
Melbourne Herald Sun June 1991

" As a source of innocent merriment, this is one to put on your little list"
Sydney Morning Herald 1993

Synopsis:

A Song to Sing O is a one man musical play about the original Gilbert and Sullivan patter man George Grossmith first performed by Anthony Warlow and has since toured successfully across Australia starring Dennis Olsen and the U.K . It takes place in George Grossmith's dressing room at the Savoy Theatre London , in between the matinee and evening performances on Aug 17 1889, on the day of his last appearance with Mr D'Oyly Carte's company. Here's what Sydney's Daily Telegraph wrote about one of the sell out performances.

"Melvyn Morrow has written a clever biographical piece with 19 G and S gems including some delightful and engaging numbers from Grossmith himself. It is the afternoon and evening of the subjects, departure from D'Oyly Carte a solo career awaits , and our Savoyard is being interviewed by the invisible Mr Peabody an American journalist who can offer valuable publicity to Grossmith's imminent tour of the US. Grossmith trips through his career, sprinkling such delights such as Ruler of the Queen's Navee Iolanthe's Nightmare Song, Titwillow and the Major General Song from Pirates. In all it is delightful"

Here's a taste of the dialogue.

" Twelve years I've been with the operas, but now a new career. Solo performer. No Not Gilbert and Sullivan. I'll be performing my own songs in America. Yes words and music by yours truly. But tell me what on earth is that contraption? A sodium camera? ( there is a flash GG jumps) Merciful heavens! And you can actually print the photographs in your magazine? How terribly clever. The Illustrated London news still uses engravings. Dear me this is very exciting and the photographs will be wonderful publicity. You'll keep them head and shoulders wont you? Lovely. Anything more would require Ernie and he'd be performing more than me. He's a sweet man is Ernie, but a disaster as a dresser. Been with Mr Carte since Trial by Jury. Probably born in a leap year and can't be fired until he is seventy in 1992. Very good. Yes it is Pirates of Penzance.You certainly know your Gilbert and Sullivan. How many have I appeared in? Well it's not such a little list really. Sorcerer, Pinafore, Pirates, Patience, Iolanthe, boring old Ida. and now Yeoman. That's eight. ( looking to his folly stick as if it had corrected him). All right nine. ( to Peabody) Don't mind him . I played the judge though in Trial by Jury, but not the original production. It was a charity performance. Oh I was very nervous playing The Learned Judge - though I'd been a court reporter in my youth. Did very well for myself. And Mr Gilbert had been a barrister - without much success. But rehearsals were like being in the Dock. At one point I'd been rehearsing my song for almost an hour. I remember it so well. "Mr Gilbert" I said "we've been over this song at least 20 times at least" "What's that I hear Grossmith" " Oh er I was just saying...sir...that I've rehearsed this confounded business until I feel a perfect fool" " In the unlikely event of your being perfect Grossmith we'll move onto the next song" " I beg your pardon" " I accept your apology"

Our plaintiff was a rather stout lady. Can't remember her name but she'd once sung Wagner ( business ) At one rehearsal she skipped into the court room, slipped and fell " Very good, very good madam. I always knew that one day you'd make an impression on the stage". I think you know in a way he got more pleasure from Trial by Jury than from any other opera. It was his revenge on the legal professional for his own failure at the bar"

Song Number 1. The Judges Song.

Cast: Solo and 1 pianist. Royalties: 14 %.

SPECIAL OFFER: Christopher Hamilton, one of Australia most talented patter men is available to tour A Song to Sing O with set in tow. A sure bet for a small professional or regional theatre. For amateur theatres a package can be negotiated to include master classes in music theatre, making this a fund-raiser, and a fun time.


	Anthony Warlow in A Song To Sing O " A Blissful marriage of witty dialogue with some of the most enduringly popular music and lyrics ever written" Melbourne Herald Sun June 1991 " As a source of innocent merriment, this is one to put on your little list" Sydney Morning Herald 1993 Synopsis: A Song to Sing O is a one man musical play about the original Gilbert and Sullivan patter man George Grossmith first performed by Anthony Warlow and has since toured successfully across Australia starring Dennis Olsen and the U.K . It takes place in George Grossmith's dressing room at the Savoy Theatre London , in between the matinee and evening performances on Aug 17 1889, on the day of his last appearance with Mr D'Oyly Carte's company. Here's what Sydney's Daily Telegraph wrote about one of the sell out performances. "Melvyn Morrow has written a clever biographical piece with 19 G and S gems including some delightful and engaging numbers from Grossmith himself. It is the afternoon and evening of the subjects, departure from D'Oyly Carte a solo career awaits , and our Savoyard is being interviewed by the invisible Mr Peabody an American journalist who can offer valuable publicity to Grossmith's imminent tour of the US. Grossmith trips through his career, sprinkling such delights such as Ruler of the Queen's Navee Iolanthe's Nightmare Song, Titwillow and the Major General Song from Pirates. In all it is delightful" Here's a taste of the dialogue. " Twelve years I've been with the operas, but now a new career. Solo performer. No Not Gilbert and Sullivan. I'll be performing my own songs in America. Yes words and music by yours truly. But tell me what on earth is that contraption? A sodium camera? ( there is a flash GG jumps) Merciful heavens! And you can actually print the photographs in your magazine? How terribly clever. The Illustrated London news still uses engravings. Dear me this is very exciting and the photographs will be wonderful publicity. You'll keep them head and shoulders wont you? Lovely. Anything more would require Ernie and he'd be performing more than me. He's a sweet man is Ernie, but a disaster as a dresser. Been with Mr Carte since Trial by Jury. Probably born in a leap year and can't be fired until he is seventy in 1992. Very good. Yes it is Pirates of Penzance.You certainly know your Gilbert and Sullivan. How many have I appeared in? Well it's not such a little list really. Sorcerer, Pinafore, Pirates, Patience, Iolanthe, boring old Ida. and now Yeoman. That's eight. ( looking to his folly stick as if it had corrected him). All right nine. ( to Peabody) Don't mind him . I played the judge though in Trial by Jury, but not the original production. It was a charity performance. Oh I was very nervous playing The Learned Judge - though I'd been a court reporter in my youth. Did very well for myself. And Mr Gilbert had been a barrister - without much success. But rehearsals were like being in the Dock. At one point I'd been rehearsing my song for almost an hour. I remember it so well. "Mr Gilbert" I said "we've been over this song at least 20 times at least" "What's that I hear Grossmith" " Oh er I was just saying...sir...that I've rehearsed this confounded business until I feel a perfect fool" " In the unlikely event of your being perfect Grossmith we'll move onto the next song" " I beg your pardon" " I accept your apology" Our plaintiff was a rather stout lady. Can't remember her name but she'd once sung Wagner ( business ) At one rehearsal she skipped into the court room, slipped and fell " Very good, very good madam. I always knew that one day you'd make an impression on the stage". I think you know in a way he got more pleasure from Trial by Jury than from any other opera. It was his revenge on the legal professional for his own failure at the bar" Song Number 1. The Judges Song. Cast: Solo and 1 pianist. Royalties: 14 %. SPECIAL OFFER: Christopher Hamilton, one of Australia most talented patter men is available to tour A Song to Sing O with set in tow. A sure bet for a small professional or regional theatre. For amateur theatres a package can be negotiated to include master classes in music theatre, making this a fund-raiser, and a fun time.