Note E0501
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Note E0501 |
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This song is based on the song 'A Magnet Hung in a Hardware Shop' from the Gilbert and Sullivan Opera Patience. In Patience, it is sung by a man who is admired by all the women, except for the woman he truly wants. My parents once owned some Gilbert and Sullivan compilation albums, and when I listened as a child this was one of my favourite songs (though the first verse is much better than the second). It also has a jolly dancey tune, and so provides contrast to many of the other Gilbert and Sullivan songs, which sound either operatic or are patter songs. One thing we wanted to avoid with the Nikado, was all the songs sounding the same.
When I originally asked for cast members for the Nikado, many of
the volunteers said, "I don't want a speaking role," or "I can't
sing a solo". So the idea of having this song as a narration, with people
miming out the parts came to me. Stefania Dorudottir played an adoring maiden:
on stage for 3 minutes, no singing, no speaking, but adding so much. And Harry
Berman likewise played the Butterfly Wrangler.
So, Gelis (originally I considered the song for Adorne or FFJ or Tobie) narrates
the gist of Niccolo Rising in 3 minutes while others acted it out. Not bad going,
though some of the items (the moth for example, and the ball of wool) are somewhat
symbolic, to say the least. This is the only song which is longer in the Nikado
than in the original version - I added a third verse.
I wrote a full set of stage instructions in the script and spent
ages making a swarm of butterflies which dangled artistically and elastically
from a hoop suspended from a pole (these which got mislaid, and were replaced
with single larger butterfly made only an hour before the performance - it was,
in fact, more effective). In the car on the way up to Edinburgh, I can remember
saying to Cindy: "It will be miracle if we can fit these actions into this
song". In fact we managed to expand the directions. The actors we had were
sensational: Philippa Gile as Katelina stamping viciously on the ball of wool
when Claes deserts her for Marian was excellent and presages an acting career,
I think. But what can I say about Olive Millward's Simon? There are no words
to do justice to her impression of a truly vain man - I susepect she's known
a few!
The action for this song was directed by me in rehearsal. The remainder of the show was directed by Cindy Byrne, with me throwing in a few comments here and there.
Incidentally, how many rhymes can you think of for "Bruges"....
| A Magnet Hung in a Hardware Shop | A Scotsman Came to the Town of Bruges |
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1. A magnet hung in a hardware shop |
1. A Scotsman came to the town
of Bruges And all around (with the aid of rouge) Were maidens of every sort and type Who, should he pluck, would fall just ripe. But for them the Scotsman felt no whim Though he charmed them they charmed not him Their chances of marriage were all too slim For this Narcissus was cute but dim |
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A silver churn |
He's rather dim He's rather dim This most athletic Very aesthetic Man of lissom limb With love they're bitten And rather smitten By a man who is cute but dim |
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This most aesthetic |
This most athletic Very aesthetic Man of lissom limb With love they're bitten And rather smitten By a man who is cute but dim |
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2. And iron and steel expressed surprised |
2. A maiden lived in the town of Bruges And all around (both sweet and louche) Were swains of the aristocracy Their hopes were ardent and clear to see; But for them the maiden felt no whim Though she charmed them they were not HIM As suitors and swains they gave no joy For she'd set her heart On a working boy |
| It drove them home It drove them home While this magnetic Peripatetic Lover he lived to learn By no endeavour Can magnet ever Attract a silver churn |
A working boy A working boy This most athletic Very magnetic Man of love and joy Left her at a loss When he married his boss Her riches to enjoy |
| While this magnetic Peripatetic Lover he lived to learn By no endeavour Can magnet ever Attract a silver churn |
This most athletic
Very magnetic Man of love and joy Left her at a loss When he married his boss Her riches to enjoy |
| 3. Deserted by her low born lad The high born girl became so sad. She turned on her suitor and called him a churl With the conduct of an oaf and the talents of a girl But when she found she was with child She became compliant and meek and mild And turned to her suitor so cute but dim And declared to the world that she'd marry him |
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| She married him She married him She wed the athletic Very aesthetic Man of lissom limb And lived to fret And deeply regret A marriage grown so grim |
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| She married him She married him She wed the athletic Very aesthetic Man of lissom limb And lived to fret And deeply regret A marriage grown so grim |
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Updated 06 Jan 2002
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