THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, April 23, 1995 TAG: 9504200195
SECTION: CAROLINA COAST PAGE: 19 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: John Harper
LENGTH: Medium: 76 lines
The Virginia Savoyards are bringing the best hits of the '70s, '80s and '90s to the Outer Banks on Saturday. But they won't be singing songs by Madonna, Mariah Carey or Richard Marx.
Instead, the 35-member group will sing Gilbert and Sullivan tunes - from the 1870s, 1880s and 1890s.
The performance, sponsored by the Outer Banks Forum, is the first Outer Banks appearance for the Norfolk-based group. Formed in 1964, the group has an active membership of 75. For the Outer Banks appearance, 35 men, women and children will sing the music of Gilbert and Sullivan.
``The music is catchy,'' group vice president Earl Crouch says of the 19th century operetta duo. ``And even 100 years later, Gilbert's words are still meaningful.''
Crouch is also the producer of this show, which is performed twice a year. It's an elaborate, choreographed show primed by two months of rehearsals. Englishman Tony Newing is the stage director, and Chris Kypros is the music director.
The 90-minute program of Gilbert and Sullivan's songs is performed by soloists, duos, trios and ensembles. One of the female singers is Edie Crouch, Earl's wife.
Why does the group sing only Gilbert and Sullivan?
``This is really great fun for people not into traditional opera,'' Crouch says, ``but who enjoy a story told with music.''
William Gilbert was a successful playwright when he met composer Arthur Sullivan in 1870. Neither man was actively seeking a partner, but both men agreed a partnership might help them in the active London theater scene.
Gilbert's witty words and Sullivan's sweeping melodies first met in the 1871 play, ``Thespis.'' Later that year, ``Trial by Jury'' debuted in London. The Savoyards will perform ``Trial by Jury'' plus selections from other works for the Outer Banks show.
In short order, the pair produced ``The Sorcerer,'' ``H.M.S. Pinafore,'' ``The Pirates of Penzance'' and ``Bunthorne's Bride.'' In doing so, they created what is called ``operettas'' or ``light opera.'' As opposed to the traditional tragedy of Italian opera, Gilbert and Sullivan's operas were comedies sung in English.
Their producer, Richard D'Oyly Carte, built the Savoy Theatre in 1881 for production of the pair's plays. From 1882-1889, the partners produced ``Peer and the Peri,'' ``Princess Ida,'' ``The Mikado,'' ``Witch's Curse,'' ``Yeomen of the Guard'' and ``Gondoliers.'' This body of work was known as the ``Savoy Operas.''
But as successful as the plays were, the relationship between the witty Gilbert and the serious Sullivan was tenuous at best. Sullivan wanted to do more than comic opera; Gilbert, on the other hand, enjoyed the collaboration. He often knocked off a script in two weeks. In 1889, they split after a disagreement over money.
Both men enjoyed some success without the other, but in 1893 the pair reconciled. They produced two more plays: ``Utopia Limited'' and ``The Grand Duke.''
Both men were knighted. Sir Arthur Sullivan died in 1900. His partner died in 1911.
But their music endures. Groups such as the Virginia Savoyards make sure of that.
The ``Evening of Gilbert and Sullivan'' is perfect for the health-conscious of the 1990s. It's less filling than a night of tragedy toiling tenors, but just as cultured. Think of it as opera light. ILLUSTRATION: WHAT & WHEN
Who: The Outer Banks Forum presents The Virginia Savoyards
What: An Evening of Gilbert and Sullivan
When: 7:30 p.m. on Saturday
Where: Kitty Hawk School
Tickets: $8 for adults, $4 for students
For more information: 261-2403 or 261-1998
by CNB