Thursday, August 16, 2012
Mike or Ralph?
If Magic Mike had debuted in Victorian London India might have stepped out to see it, having, as she does, an appreciation for the male figure. Alas, she'd have to be content with Ralph Rackstraw from Gilbert & Sullivan's H.M.S. Pinafore, which debuted at the Opera Comique in London on May 28,1878. Here's my favorite song, "Never Mind the Why and Wherefore."
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
Is there a sailor stripping scene in Magic Mike? (Not seen it, Channing Tatum makes me ill.) I'm missing the Rackstraw/male stripper analogy. Am I dense?
ReplyDeleteI saw a production of Pinafore where one of these numerous encores was done with real handbells and the whole thing was amazing to watch. Handbell ringing is a real art and involves precise timing; one goof and disaster.
The analogy is a thin one. Ralph is supposed to be the hunky love interest, as you know, although I've always found him insipid and certainly nothing like as attractive as Mike. Of course, I haven't seen the movie (insert smiley face icon here). I'll wait until I can rent it for $2.99 on my iPad. I know G & S isn't everyone's cup of tea, but I love 'em. I even have my own copy of "Topsy-Turvy."
ReplyDeleteI love HMS Pinafore! And, honestly, would go see a production of that any day over Magic Mike.
ReplyDelete