Children's Musicals
June 8th 2010 07:35
This blog has been neglected of late because I've been working on the children's musical a friend and I are collaborating on. Note that when I say "children's" I don't mean it'll be performed entirely by children (though the two main roles would be played by children) but that it'll be geared towards the interest of children, in that it's in part a fairy tale, with a wicked witch and so on.
Talking of children performing entire musicals - or rather, light operas - I was intrigued to read some time ago that in the 19th century in New Zealand there used to be more than one touring company which was composed entirely of children. Some of them grew up to be stars of the stage; many vanished from the scene entirely.
New Zealand wasn't the only place where this happened: The success of "H.M.S. Pinafore" having proved an established fact, it entered into the mind of the stage-manager, Richard Barker, that a performance of the opera by a company of children might prove attractive. The suggestion met with hearty approval of Gilbert, Sullivan and D'Oyly Carte.
Barker made search for available juvenile talent, and eventually succeeded in forming a full company to man the "Pinafore " and a bevy of charming little ladies all under the age of sixteen to represent the "sisters, cousins, and aunts."
Under a sullen, frowning exterior, Richard Barker hid a very kind heart. With his strict discipline the little ones became willing and happy pupils of a tutor whose love of children was one of his chief characteristics.
The vocal score had to be re-orchestrated throughout to suit the vocal capabilities of the youthful singers. The production was a triumph. A leading critic remarked:
"We have no hesitation in describing it as the most marvelous juvenile performance ever seen in the metropolis. So well have these children been taught, and so thoroughly do they comprehend their characters, that it becomes a source of the keenest enjoyment to the spectator to follow their wonderfully attractive performance."
Can you imagine a bunch of kids being allowed to tour a country these days with only a stage-manager-cum-producer in charge of them?
Talking of children performing entire musicals - or rather, light operas - I was intrigued to read some time ago that in the 19th century in New Zealand there used to be more than one touring company which was composed entirely of children. Some of them grew up to be stars of the stage; many vanished from the scene entirely.
New Zealand wasn't the only place where this happened: The success of "H.M.S. Pinafore" having proved an established fact, it entered into the mind of the stage-manager, Richard Barker, that a performance of the opera by a company of children might prove attractive. The suggestion met with hearty approval of Gilbert, Sullivan and D'Oyly Carte.
Barker made search for available juvenile talent, and eventually succeeded in forming a full company to man the "Pinafore " and a bevy of charming little ladies all under the age of sixteen to represent the "sisters, cousins, and aunts."
Under a sullen, frowning exterior, Richard Barker hid a very kind heart. With his strict discipline the little ones became willing and happy pupils of a tutor whose love of children was one of his chief characteristics.
The vocal score had to be re-orchestrated throughout to suit the vocal capabilities of the youthful singers. The production was a triumph. A leading critic remarked:
"We have no hesitation in describing it as the most marvelous juvenile performance ever seen in the metropolis. So well have these children been taught, and so thoroughly do they comprehend their characters, that it becomes a source of the keenest enjoyment to the spectator to follow their wonderfully attractive performance."
Can you imagine a bunch of kids being allowed to tour a country these days with only a stage-manager-cum-producer in charge of them?
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