A PC Gilbert

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The operas of Gilbert and Sullivan appeal to many people today because they are a genuine piece of Victoriana, as authentic as William Morris wallpaper or a Penny Black stamp.

Half the charm of the Savoy operas is that they are so dated.

They have that air of innocence, naivety and contain all the fun of that long vanished age.

But here we are now in a different century, a different age, a time when we mustn't offend.

Who could take offence at G & S comic operas? I have heard some say that the Japanese may be offended by the ridiculous characters in the Mikado and there have certainly be many attempts to rewrite certain passages.

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Above is the score from the Mikado......what is sung now is "The banjo serenader".

there is also a mention here of a "piano organist". How can it be a piano and an organ? I think what is meant is a barrel-piano which looked similar to a barrel-organ.

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The above line is now sang as....."Is painted with vigour".

Instead of just the above change, it was seriously suggested to rewrite the whole verse!

Two of the proposed alternatives were:-

The lady who dyes a chemical yellow

Or stains her grey hair green,

Is taken to Dover

And painted all over

A horrible ultramarine.

The lady who dyes a chemical yellow

Or stains her grey hair puce,

Is made to wear feathers

In all the worst weathers

And legibly labelled 'Goose'.

Isn't that just plain awful. It doesn't sound like anything Gilbert would have written.

I actually don't like this messing around with older works, whether it be music, or literature.

The question is - where do you stop? There must be thousands and thousands of references in songs, plays and books which could offend someone somewhere.

Why do people have a right, not to be offended?

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