590:. He describes his country as a land "where everything is conducted on principles the very reverse of those" in England. The people are born elderly and grow younger until they become infants. They start out wise and gradually forget everything, until at last their minds are a perfect blank. Folly is honoured, wisdom is despised, true beauty consists in making yourself ugly, and people walk on the ceiling with their heads on the floor. He has been comparing customs in the two countries and invites Satis to accompany him to Topsyturveydom. Satis readily agrees.
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570:
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donkeys and that the seats in
Parliament are bought and paid for. Satis states that in England, "Members are elected because they represent most faithfully the opinions of their constituents." The king's mother and grandmother enter holding a baby (the king's great grandmother). Thinking that Satis looks 74, ask him where his nurse is. He replies that he's not so old at all, only 52. He tells the king's mother that she is pretty, and she leaves in a huff.
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marriage to her. They can go to
England and grow older, then come back and grow younger. Tipto says, "But we love one another.... People in this country only marry those they hate, and wretchedness is the invariable result... but I'm such a strange girl that I prefer happiness... but the idea of marriage – oh, it's too dreadful." She sings to him about the horrors of marriage.
603:
My son! I have always been a careless and injudicious mother to you, and I am about to propose a most imprudent step. You are now of age, and it's high time you began to think of taking a wife. Several old and hideous princesses who are enormously poor have proposed for your hand, and I think it high
636:
The king returns and says that Satis has insulted his mother. Satis admits it. The king is overjoyed and offers him his mother as a bride. Satis declares that he loves the king's grandmother. The king is very angry and says "prepare to die". But the prime minister suggests a more hideous punishment:
632:
Satis notes that the king's grandmother, Tipto, is beautiful, and says that he likes beautiful girls. Tipto admits that she is beautiful and says that she is not insulted. But, she wonders, how can an ugly old fellow like Satis care to talk to a beautiful young girl like her? Tipto is Satis proposes
628:
Crapolee and Satis enter the reception room just as the courtiers sing the national anthem to the king, "Fiends dissect our Royal Master". They groan and hiss at him because they love him so. Satis says that he would like to see a session of
Parliament. He learns that the legislators are all wealthy
598:
From inside the King's reception room in
Topsyturvydom, an inverted landscape is seen through the window. A chandelier sprouts from the middle of the floor, and chairs and tables hang upside-down. A ridiculous celebration has been planned, for the king is coming of age (having been born at 80, he is
608:
The king protests that he wants to "kick up his heels" for a few more years, and his mother replies, "Your sound common sense is simply disgusting." The king's grandmother, Tipto, who is so old that she is gaining "full possession of all her faculties" appears, and the king asks her to put down her
554:
Note: although the libretto refers to Serape and Tipto as the Queen's mother and grandmother, they are actually the King's mother and grandmother. However, this may be another
Topsyturvey element. Also, Tiddyickle is a baby, and so the stage name "Dolly Wood" may be a pun on 'wooden
637:"He loves your grandmother and your grandmother loves him – let him marry her and spend a lifetime of uninterrupted bliss!" The king dispenses the horrible punishment: "Take her, and may a grandson's heartfelt blessing pursue you wherever you go!"
458:. Gilbert was either too busy to see his own show, or else, disappointed by its lack of success with audiences, he had put it out of his mind. In a letter to T. Edgar Pemberton, author of the 1903 book on the Criterion Theatre, Gilbert wrote:
497:(1870). At the same time, he was developing his unique style of absurdist humour, described as "Topsy-Turvy", made up of "a combination of wit, irony, topsyturvydom, parody, observation, theatrical technique, and profound intelligence".
599:
now to 59). The king is filled with pleasure when his courtiers express their hatred for him. They call him an ugly donkey and a detested monarch, which delights him. His mother comes to see him and says:
501:
dates from the end of this period, during which
Gilbert tried a variety of different styles and was working towards the mature comic style of his later work, including the famous series of
609:
childish science books, or he shall have to commit her to a "sane house". Tipto sings, "I always forget that I mustn't remember, But never remember I ought to forget."
466:. If you happen to have a copy of it and could lend it to me for a few hours it might suggest some reminiscences: as it is I don't even know what the piece was about!
342:, filed with the Lord Chamberlain's office, and now held in the British Library, spells it "Topsyturvydom", and the opening night programme had "Topseyturveydom".
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was extremely productive, writing a large quantity of comic verse, theatre reviews and other journalistic pieces, short stories, and dozens of plays and
296:
in London and ran until 17 April, for about 25 performances. This was the first work shown at the newly built
Criterion, and it was played together with
747:
1218:
991:
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491:. Some of his work during this period exhibited a more restrained style, exemplified by a series of successful "fairy comedies", such as
312:
does not survive, but amateur productions in recent decades have used newly composed scores or performed the work as a non-musical play.
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372:. As in that work, the king is a "detested" monarch. Gilbert also renews the idea of party politics working in a backwards way in
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378:, where the House of Lords is threatened with obsolescence by having its members selected by competitive examination.
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362:), where things are the opposite of the norm. Party politics is lampooned, much as it would be two decades later in
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I am sorry to say that in my mind is an absolute blank to the opening of The
Criterion. I never saw
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Advertisements for the work spelled the title "Topsyturveydom", whereas the license copy of the
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called the piece "clever, but rather remote... an exercise rather than an amusement."
288:. Styled "an entirely original musical extravaganza", it is based on one of Gilbert's
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909:
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The Prime
Minister of Topsyturveydom arrives at the home of old Satis, a member of
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Christmas number. Cellier produced his most successful early work, a full length
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1874 was a busy year for both
Gilbert and Cellier. Gilbert illustrated
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487:. His dramatic writing during this time was evolving from his early
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374:
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593:
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536:
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Ballad (Tipto) – "Oh, sad is her state and beyond all apologies"
444:-illustrated story called "The Story of a Twelfth Cake" for the
414:
300:, written and performed by Gilbert's friend, the dramatist and
646:
Duet (Crapolee and Satis) – "True beauty we hate and despise"
532:
Serape (The King's Mother) – Miss Hughes (Mrs. Gaston Murray)
897:
The Bab Ballads, with which are included Songs of a Savoyard
683:
The Bab Ballads, with which are included Songs of a Savoyard
700:
Gilbert & Sullivan: a selling exhibition of memorabilia
346:
is set in a quasi-utopia (reminiscent of Gilbert's earlier
878:
Contradiction Contradicted – The Plays of W. S. Gilbert
604:
time you began to think of making one of them unhappy.
545:
Tiddyickle (The King's Great-Grandmother) – Dolly Wood
925:
W. S. Gilbert, A Classic Victorian & His Theatre
744:"Gilbert's Plays – Annotated chronological listing"
658:Ballad (Tipto) – "Grows the little brook in going"
1353:
292:, "My Dream". It opened on 21 March 1874 at the
661:Finale – "Monster, let this thought arrest you"
594:Scene 2: King's reception room in Topsyturvydom
985:
649:Song (King) – "I do not prize a pauper's lot"
520:Crapolee (His Prime Minister) – E. W. Garden
514:Mr. Satis (M.P. For Ballotville) – J. Clarke
479:From the mid-1860s through the early 1870s,
430:, another adaptation from the French called
1204:People associated with Gilbert and Sullivan
1177:International Gilbert and Sullivan Festival
829:
711:Programme, Criterion Theatre, 21 March 1874
517:King Patatra (Of Topsyturveydom) – F. Dewar
1172:Cultural influence of Gilbert and Sullivan
992:
978:
655:Chorus – "Fiends dissect our Royal Master"
406:, about the redemption of a fallen woman;
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56:Where white is black and black is white.
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875:
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615:
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248:Still I could wish that, 'stead of here,
216:You sneer when you your hat should doff:
54:Where right is wrong and wrong is right—
1194:List of compositions by Arthur Sullivan
922:
894:
840:. W. S. Gilbert Society. Archived from
773:. W. S. Gilbert Society. Archived from
736:
677:
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191:Who cannot smoke right through a gale.
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903:
702:, c20th.com, accessed 16 November 2009
620:Gilbert illustration of the Bab Ballad
573:Gilbert illustration of the Bab Ballad
252:Where greatest fools bear off the bell
178:This seems an awkward state of things,
166:The girls are boys—the boys are girls!
43:I slept—and what d'you think I dreamt?
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250:My lot were in that favoured sphere!—
234:Your sages, with their toys and cots,
164:But strangest of these social twirls,
137:But there, a judge who wants to prime
59:Where babies, much to their surprise,
800:. The Gilbert and Sullivan Archive.
768:
746:. The Gilbert and Sullivan Archive.
672:
150:Of course, I m—ean to say, you know,
120:But there the beaks (so people said)
104:Historians burn their midnight oils,
1336:
724:. London: Hutchinson and Co., 1904.
239:But this remark, I grieve to state,
218:Why, we begin where you leave off!
214:"Have you no eyes within your head?
203:"How strange," I said to one I saw,
200:With pluck enough to fire a round.
97:Must learn some nonsense every day;
41:The other night, from cares exempt,
13:
899:(6th ed.). London: MacMillan.
640:
426:), an adaptation from the French,
227:I framed this brilliant repartee:
223:Less learned than our babies are!"
161:What we should think a dirty act.
141:Derives them from the common sense
139:His mind with true ideas of crime,
88:Is wisdom in that favoured sphere;
86:For that which we call folly here,
79:Is born with learning in his head,
77:But though a babe, as I have said,
72:With views (it seems absurd to us)
50:Where vice is virtue—virtue, vice:
14:
1398:
942:
880:. Associated University Presses.
230:Although your babes are wiser far
212:"Dear me," my mad informant said,
196:Is always shot for showing pluck—
118:Commit all robbers who are found;
101:His wisdom teeth and wisdom too.
68:For, as their nurses dandle them,
65:And Art at all their fingertips.
63:With every Science on their lips,
1335:
1326:
1325:
1209:Works about Gilbert and Sullivan
804:from the original on 13 May 2008
722:Sir Charles Wyndham: a Biography
535:Tipto (The King's Grandmother) (
245:I woke and found myself in bed.
241:Came just a little bit too late;
152:What we call virtue here below.
132:And glean the motives of a thief
99:And cut, to carry out this view,
95:A boy, if he would push his way,
92:Is blatant folly in their eyes.
52:Where nice is nasty—nasty, nice:
45:I dreamt that somehow I had come
856:
750:from the original on 9 May 2008
523:Wilkins (A Footman) – Mr. Smith
330:"My Dream", quoted to the right
232:Than our most valued sages are,
205:"You quite upset our every law.
198:That is, if others can be found
194:A soldier (save by rarest luck)
187:A sailor should be sick at sea,
185:With them, as surely as can be,
180:But if to think it out you try,
168:The men are women, too—but then
157:What we consider just and true,
134:From books and popular belief.
108:And sages close their aged eyes
106:Intent on giant-killers' toils;
83:Before he calls himself a man.
908:. Cambridge University Press.
826:, 19 April 1871, p. 8, col. 2.
816:
789:
771:"Gilbert's Non-Dramatic Works"
762:
727:
720:See also Pemberton, T. Edgar.
714:
705:
688:
564:
314:
254:I ought to do extremely well.
243:For as I framed it in my head,
225:I muse awhile—and then, oh me!
176:To one who to tradition clings
159:And only good men do, in fact,
155:For only scoundrels dare to do
148:Who practice virtue every day—
146:Policemen march all folks away
128:judges, pure and wise in tone,
122:Commit all robberies instead.
47:To dwell in Topsy-Turveydom!—
21:Like many of Gilbert's plays,
1:
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611:
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236:Are duller than our idiots!"
221:"Your wisest men are very far
130:Know crime from theory alone,
90:The wisdom we so highly prise
81:He must forget it, if he can,
409:Rosencrantz and Guildenstern
189:And not a passenger may sail
61:Are born astonishingly wise;
7:
927:. Oxford University Press.
798:"The Life of W. S. Gilbert"
560:
548:Topsyturvey Courtiers, Etc.
182:It doesn't really signify.
116:magistrates, in duty bound,
110:To other sages' lullabies.
70:They crow binomial theorem,
10:
1403:
1182:W. S. Gilbert bibliography
1152:D'Oyly Carte Opera Company
390:; supervised a revival of
209:So systematically wrong?"
74:On differential calculus.
1321:
1227:
1139:
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1007:
923:Stedman, Jane W. (1996).
876:Crowther, Andrew (2000).
838:"A Life of W. S. Gilbert"
836:Crowther, Andrew (1998).
796:Crowther, Andrew (1997).
733:Quoted in Stedman, p. 123
207:However can you get along
143:Of practical experience.
1387:Operas by Alfred Cellier
665:
529:Crambo – Miss C. Brabant
508:
1372:English-language operas
1109:The Yeomen of the Guard
1067:The Pirates of Penzance
904:Rowell, George (1982).
895:Gilbert, W. S. (1908).
862:Crowther (2000), p. 67.
308:. The musical score to
1362:Works by W. S. Gilbert
906:Plays by W. S. Gilbert
621:
582:Scene 1: Home of Satis
574:
526:Quop – Miss Montgomery
420:Ought We to Visit Her?
396:; and, in addition to
331:
256:
1244:The Sapphire Necklace
681:Gilbert, W.S., 1908,
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572:
418:; a dramatisation of
393:Pygmalion and Galatea
388:The Piccadilly Annual
326:illustration for the
322:
18:
1367:English comic operas
1167:Bridget D'Oyly Carte
1022:Richard D'Oyly Carte
1001:Gilbert and Sullivan
844:on 30 September 2007
685:, MacMillan, London.
503:Gilbert and Sullivan
432:The Blue-Legged Lady
364:Gilbert and Sullivan
1162:Rupert D'Oyly Carte
822:"Court Theatre" in
494:The Palace of Truth
455:The Sultan of Mocha
428:Committed for Trial
264:(sometimes spelled
173:women all are men.
26:is based on one of
1300:The Rose of Persia
1252:The Contrabandista
769:Crowther, Andrew.
622:
575:
489:musical burlesques
440:. He also wrote a
359:Gulliver's Travels
332:
304:magazine founder,
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1219:Performing groups
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294:Criterion Theatre
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1308:The Emerald Isle
1292:The Beauty Stone
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777:on 29 April 2011
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696:"Topsyturveydom"
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276:) is a one-act
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