@lithead Isn't it wonderful! I know that it's from the filmed version of Joe Papp's 1980 "Plays in the Park," later transferred to Broadway. I guess I meant "Thank you to whomever made the studio decision to film this wonderful version."
One thing that is different from the D'Oyly Carte version *is* the emphasis on the burlesque. The songs are played for their popular culture associations - rather than their operatic references. The police as Keystone Kops, for instance.
I love Ronstadt's vocal performance -- and I'm so glad that the movie version is now finally on DVD! -- but from a comedy perspective, I think it was a mistake to have her "belt" this number. Lyrics like "Go to death and go to slaughter" just sound funnier when warbled in a sticky-sweet soprano!
This is a wonderful live performance illustrating the late Tony Azito's excellent dance technique. In this production, and the later film, you can see why he was picked because of his ability to mimic a marionette. Incidentally, he was a baritone, not a tenor. Many of same moves made it into the film but were expanded on because of the larger sound stage available.
In most of the show they do sing placing everything high but the director/musical director chose to do this to showcase all there voices completely and to give the show more variety. I like both versions.
He doesn't have to be a bass. If the person sings it well then they should do it and he does sing it well. He makes the part his own. Soo funny which is what this show is suppose to be. It's a spoof!
The director and musical director told her to do that. She doesn't suck. She did a great job for not being classically trained. There are only two songs that belts in (this being one of them and then poor wandering one).
This is the only song in which I like Linda, and it's because she drops the semi-classical sound (which she can't do well), and goes with her normal singing voice (which she does very well).
@Chishannicon I think that they only thing she really had to work on, was her diction and not being nervous. She was very nervous when she was singing Poor Wandering One. She actually is a Lyric high Soprano that just never really got proper training until this show which is why her voice isn't completely developed.
Actually, Linda Ronstad, Mabel in this production, also plays Mabel in the movie adaptation of this musical. Furthermore, at the time this production, as well as the movie version were produced, Linda Ronstadt had a thriving recording career...probably the reason she was chosen for the role. Not mention, she has a very unique voice. I actually enjoy her in this role...she's not a traditional soprano, but a coloratura soprano. Hell, essentially she sings with balls.
Yes but actually, Linda Ronstadt is really more of a lyric soprano that they made sound like a coloratura in this role. She had some great training for the role.
@Plawranc I have seen it. She is very good and has a great voice. There is no doubt she is fantastic. I feel though there is something lacking in that production. Not from her but other cast members. I just feel as a performer myself, I love showcasing as many talents as I can at the same time which is why I prefer this version of the show because it showcases all of the voice not just upper.
Well, as a US production of G&S it is well below what would be expected here in UK. There can be finesse in humour and it is not those who sing loudest who attract the best praise. The main issue with a G&S performance that has carried it forward over a hundred years can be expressed in one word - diction.
obviously...by the dialouge passed about here...its very evident that we Americans do indeed posses the capacity to see the flaws and pros of this production...
the quality of a production has very little do, if any with the country it is done in and your statement is simnply useless racism...
no i dont think the Mabel is good at all...yes i think the maidens are awful...but the police are very well within the range of artistic liscense and they are hysterical...i appluad them...
She's not awful. Everyone needs to stop saying that the cast is bad. It's not the cast who decides it's the director's and musical director decision how each actor portrays/sings the character. This revival production won many tony awards. It was very successful when it went to Broadway because it was so clever.
What on earth are you talking about? This is a fabulous piece of Musical Theatre created from an old Operetta.
Quite what 'the level of musical theatre' is supposed to mean baffles me and 'sing properly' seems so ludicrous as to be worthy of a wind up! Anyone that can belt roles created originally for the Soprano and Mezzo ranges 8 times a week without developing nodules in a well has to be doing something right!
I'm also a policeman in my school play
Caleedcutie 3 weeks ago
lol i am a policeman in the pirates of penzance play that my school is doing
PokemonStudios99 4 months ago
I wouldn' want these guys as my local police
Hawkflame 5 months ago in playlist More videos from ThePenzancePirate
I love this song...it always gets the crowd amped up
Shoelpkof 5 months ago
What a wonderful spirited version! It quite captures the almost burlesque quality of G & S - burlesque crossed with opera.
Thank you a million times to whomever filmed this, and to ThePenzancePirate for posting it. God bless Tony Azito, cut down far too soon.
lithead 6 months ago
@lithead This in itself is a movie, just to let you know. i dont think someone in the audience would be able to film the play.
janspek33 5 months ago
@lithead Isn't it wonderful! I know that it's from the filmed version of Joe Papp's 1980 "Plays in the Park," later transferred to Broadway. I guess I meant "Thank you to whomever made the studio decision to film this wonderful version."
One thing that is different from the D'Oyly Carte version *is* the emphasis on the burlesque. The songs are played for their popular culture associations - rather than their operatic references. The police as Keystone Kops, for instance.
lithead 5 months ago
why does the major general look familiar,,,?
ttiffwashere 10 months ago
This song sounds veeeeery strange when not sung by a bass-bariton.
thepantweaver 10 months ago
i play the sargent in the broadway jr. show
emilyroseg5 11 months ago
When Linda sings die at the end of her bit, I love it! This is like the only version of this song I can listen to. She is just so perfect!
musicalfool 11 months ago
this sounds.....pretty awful.
barkingtree88 1 year ago
Rex Smith is a hottie!
trancer2412 1 year ago
Who decided that the Sargent should sound like a 50 year old Vietnamese man with his two front teeth knocked out? And while he's eating a sandwich?
kurby345 1 year ago
I love Ronstadt's vocal performance -- and I'm so glad that the movie version is now finally on DVD! -- but from a comedy perspective, I think it was a mistake to have her "belt" this number. Lyrics like "Go to death and go to slaughter" just sound funnier when warbled in a sticky-sweet soprano!
ThrobertMcGee 1 year ago
The daughters in this scene always make me think of Nazis.
thepantweaver 2 years ago
This was GREAT! I am going to be in this musical this spring as a policeman and am SOOO excited!!
Randy09Cunningham 2 years ago 2
ughhhh that soprano doesn't really have the right voice at all....
Buzaglod 2 years ago
This is a wonderful live performance illustrating the late Tony Azito's excellent dance technique. In this production, and the later film, you can see why he was picked because of his ability to mimic a marionette. Incidentally, he was a baritone, not a tenor. Many of same moves made it into the film but were expanded on because of the larger sound stage available.
gildavis 2 years ago 2
This has been flagged as spam show
I love this song!
DoubleOhSammy 2 years ago
i did this for my school i was the major general we performed the whole thing
adamhenshaw13 2 years ago
the women should be singing in operetic tones, not belting, this was origionally written to be performed in operetic style.
ajkl27 2 years ago
In most of the show they do sing placing everything high but the director/musical director chose to do this to showcase all there voices completely and to give the show more variety. I like both versions.
Rachster86 2 years ago
The only problem I have is that the Sergeant should be a bass, not a tenor.
thefantastikmrbone 2 years ago 4
He is brilliant. The role is more comedic in this version and so it gets more laughs.
Plus he is good at this role.
Plawranc 2 years ago
He doesn't have to be a bass. If the person sings it well then they should do it and he does sing it well. He makes the part his own. Soo funny which is what this show is suppose to be. It's a spoof!
Rachster86 2 years ago
I was one the cops in my camp version. It was awesome.I love the Sargent.
whatitdoinc 2 years ago
Good to see G & S performed with glee. Too many people give it a stodgy and dull performance by treating it with a sort of musical snobbery.
G & S treated most of their collaborations as pantomime - very broad.
We have had too many years of timidity.
It`s good to see the spirit recaptured.
tintoid 2 years ago 5
I agree!
Rachster86 2 years ago
Wow...Mabel sucks too....Wow....this is an opretta...not a rock opera
Horusdragon 2 years ago
The director and musical director told her to do that. She doesn't suck. She did a great job for not being classically trained. There are only two songs that belts in (this being one of them and then poor wandering one).
Rachster86 2 years ago
Why is he in character voice/ a tenor? This is a bass role. Sorry
Horusdragon 2 years ago
I give this video my highest G&S rating: Five Taran Taras.
Kevin90028 2 years ago 6
Can you imagine being the Sergeant without a chorus of Police? That's what I be.... in 2 different shows.
Commentator732 2 years ago 3
This comment has received too many negative votes show
Linda Ronstadt, awful casting.
musicalsandstuff 2 years ago
i liked her
selenagomez28 2 years ago
I loved Tony Azito. If you weren't already laughing you sure are now. He always gave the performance of his life. God rest his soul
dramaqueen92789 2 years ago 19
i was the sergeant in my play it was so fun
mymomrocks14 3 years ago
Tony the Human Silly Putty! Gosh I love him! ^ ^
Wribbet 3 years ago 11
Same here! He was so wonderful.
CuriositysCat 3 years ago 3
@Wribbet got htat right
ProdigyStepper 1 year ago
@Wribbet got that right
ProdigyStepper 1 year ago
I'm a policeofficer in my play this year and i love this song because the guys have to do a kickline lol sooooo funny
bmsdancer310 3 years ago
This is the best part of this show!
wickedfeylady 3 years ago 4
I'm a policeman in this at my college. Can't wait to do the show. The cops in this are great. Mabel... not so much...
Gollum622 3 years ago
I'm a policeman in this play at my school.......it is really fun!!! The sergant is my favorite character out of them all!
dramaqueen3035355 3 years ago
My high school is doing this, and I play a policeman! HAHAHA the seargent is my favorite character. I love this song and this musical!
Iceclaw9 3 years ago
This is the only song in which I like Linda, and it's because she drops the semi-classical sound (which she can't do well), and goes with her normal singing voice (which she does very well).
Chishannicon 3 years ago 5
@Chishannicon I think that they only thing she really had to work on, was her diction and not being nervous. She was very nervous when she was singing Poor Wandering One. She actually is a Lyric high Soprano that just never really got proper training until this show which is why her voice isn't completely developed.
Rachster86 1 year ago
They seem less animated then the movie versions
t3hk00tn3ss 3 years ago 2
We've just sang this in our summer concert - wish i'd seen the sargeant major bits before as I would have improvised a bit more. Great rendition.
ShrewsAde 3 years ago
This comment has received too many negative votes show
the policeman are good...theyre not very good singers but theyre good dancers...
id rather find a guy who can do both...
the mable sucks ass...
and whats with the maidens...its as if theyre supposed to be ugly
master0rolando 3 years ago
overall though...i freakin love this police chief
master0rolando 3 years ago 4
The great Tony Azito. He's no longer with us unfortunately. Died of an aids-related illness in 1995.
rossmcl177 3 years ago
Actually, Linda Ronstad, Mabel in this production, also plays Mabel in the movie adaptation of this musical. Furthermore, at the time this production, as well as the movie version were produced, Linda Ronstadt had a thriving recording career...probably the reason she was chosen for the role. Not mention, she has a very unique voice. I actually enjoy her in this role...she's not a traditional soprano, but a coloratura soprano. Hell, essentially she sings with balls.
bannonsrs 3 years ago 2
Yes but actually, Linda Ronstadt is really more of a lyric soprano that they made sound like a coloratura in this role. She had some great training for the role.
Rachster86 2 years ago
@Rachster86 If you look at the Australian production, Mabel in that was absoloutely fantastic.
Plawranc 1 year ago
@Plawranc I have seen it. She is very good and has a great voice. There is no doubt she is fantastic. I feel though there is something lacking in that production. Not from her but other cast members. I just feel as a performer myself, I love showcasing as many talents as I can at the same time which is why I prefer this version of the show because it showcases all of the voice not just upper.
Rachster86 1 year ago
Well, as a US production of G&S it is well below what would be expected here in UK. There can be finesse in humour and it is not those who sing loudest who attract the best praise. The main issue with a G&S performance that has carried it forward over a hundred years can be expressed in one word - diction.
oakwoodbank 3 years ago
obviously...by the dialouge passed about here...its very evident that we Americans do indeed posses the capacity to see the flaws and pros of this production...
the quality of a production has very little do, if any with the country it is done in and your statement is simnply useless racism...
no i dont think the Mabel is good at all...yes i think the maidens are awful...but the police are very well within the range of artistic liscense and they are hysterical...i appluad them...
master0rolando 3 years ago 5
She's not awful. Everyone needs to stop saying that the cast is bad. It's not the cast who decides it's the director's and musical director decision how each actor portrays/sings the character. This revival production won many tony awards. It was very successful when it went to Broadway because it was so clever.
Rachster86 2 years ago
what the hell is up with Mabel? she is NOT a good mabel....mickey is MUCH better : )
bellaswan89642 3 years ago
This comment has received too many negative votes show
she looks like a man!!!! that is REALLY FREAKY!!
Violins1345 3 years ago
Is that Tony Azito as the head cop? Sounds like him but it sure doesn't look like him! Where's the 'stache? lol
curlytoes79 3 years ago 2
yes it is, it says so on the wikipedia page.
adcahela 3 years ago
u mean the seargent??
Violins1345 3 years ago
Love this as I do, what on Earth do the women sound like? This isn't musical theatre - sing properly!
BellyBoo1001 4 years ago
It's called "artistic Liscense" m'dear. They may sing however they want/think will make the show better
Ramko08 3 years ago
No, it's called "artistic licence". And it doesn't make the show better; it simply takes it to the level of musical theatre. But each to their own.
BellyBoo1001 3 years ago
What on earth are you talking about? This is a fabulous piece of Musical Theatre created from an old Operetta.
Quite what 'the level of musical theatre' is supposed to mean baffles me and 'sing properly' seems so ludicrous as to be worthy of a wind up! Anyone that can belt roles created originally for the Soprano and Mezzo ranges 8 times a week without developing nodules in a well has to be doing something right!
DameBrunhilde 3 years ago 3
well then dont watch it if you dont like it
lardmonk 3 years ago 4
Things like this, if you want to blame someone, blame the director. Chances are that's the person who either suggested it or did not correct it.
However, given the context of the song, it's PERFECTLY appropriate for them to sing that way.
zgates 3 years ago
ahh sorry I didn't mean to give you a thumbs down. I completely agree with you!
Rachster86 2 years ago
My favorite part is the cop whose helmet to too big for his head, at around 1:50.
Warjacki 4 years ago
That's Tony Azito and no, he's entirely real. He was a great performer who died in the 90's.
Kenoshabrat 4 years ago
He looks like Lurch form the Adams Family
CaptianTwig 4 years ago
Well actually only the face.
CaptianTwig 4 years ago
Joel gray as the sargent of police in the pirates of penzance
mannyfrancis 4 years ago
Does that sergeant fellow have stilts and fake arms or something?
He just seems too frankensteinish to be real:/
freddage91 4 years ago
thats freakin awesome!
warriorpride1 4 years ago
i love the short one that cant see a thing...
skyguy1990 4 years ago 17
Watch the same guy in "A Policemans Lot is Not a Happy One. He is great.
ThePenzancePirate 4 years ago
lol your my hero... this is my favorite musical... well maybe tied with Man of La Mancha
skyguy1990 4 years ago
@skyguy1990 Yeah, I can never stop watching him in A Policeman's Lot. He's brilliant.
BaronVonMeggles 7 months ago
Hilarious to watch
fpngan 4 years ago
Major General's Daughters with serious 80s hair! hehe
TRWolf 4 years ago
The policemen really are the best part of the whole show.
lolita24601 4 years ago
This comment has received too many negative votes show
OMG. Terrible, terrible, terrible, terrible.
SPAG22 4 years ago
Linda is wonderful in this as always.
Michael
5 *
mvmays 4 years ago 2