Topsy-Turvy Totally Explained

Everything about Topsy-turvy totally explained

ť This article is about the 1999 film. For the Sing-Along Songs video, see Disney Sing Along Songs.

Topsy-Turvy is a 1999 film that tells the background story of the creation of Gilbert and Sullivan's The Mikado in 1884-1885. It was written and directed by Mike Leigh and stars Allan Corduner as Sir Arthur Sullivan and Jim Broadbent as W. S. Gilbert. The film focuses on the creative conflict between author and composer, and the momentous decision that the two men made to continue their partnership, which led to the creation of several more famous Savoy Operas between them.
The film wasn't released widely, but it received very favourable reviews, including a number of film festival awards and some Academy Awards. While considered an artistic success, illustrating Victorian era British life in the theatre in depth, the film didn't recover its production costs. Leigh cast actors who did their own singing in the film, and the singing performances were criticized by some critics, while others lauded Leigh's strategy.

Plot

The film begins on the opening night of Princess Ida at the Savoy Theatre. Sullivan (Allan Corduner), who is ill from kidney disease, is barely able to make it to the theatre to conduct. He then goes on a holiday to Continental Europe in the hope that the rest will improve his health. While he's away, ticket sales and audiences at the Savoy Theatre wilt in the hot summer weather of 1884. Producer Richard D'Oyly Carte (Ron Cook) has called on the author and composer to create a new piece for the Savoy, but it isn't ready before Ida closes. In the meantime, until a new piece can be prepared, he revives an earlier Gilbert and Sullivan work, The Sorcerer.
Gilbert's idea for their next opera doesn't impress Sullivan, who says he longs for something that's "probable" and involves "human interest", not dependent on magic. Gilbert wants to stick with his "lozenge plot" and refuses to write a new libretto, and there's a stand-off. The impasse is resolved when Gilbert is inspired by a falling katana (sword) he'd bought at the popular Japanese exhibition in Knightsbridge, and he proposes to write a libretto set in exotic Japan. Sullivan likes the idea and agrees to compose the music for it.
After many glimpses of rehearsals, some of them stressful, and other interesting details involved in preparation of the show (including fittings by the famous costumier, C. Wilhelm), The Mikado is ready to open. It is greeted with resounding approval.

Victorian society

While the film deals primarily with the production of The Mikado, it also shows many aspects of 1880s British life. George Grossmith's (Martin Savage) use of morphine, Sullivan's mistress, Mrs Frances ("Fanny") Ronalds' (Eleanor David) implying that she'll obtain an abortion, three actors' discussion of the destruction of the British garrison at Khartoum by the Mahdi, a private concert, a conversation about the use of nicotine by women, and Gilbert being accosted by a beggar (Brid Brennan), all show different aspects of British society and life at the time.
The film also accurately shows the Savoy Theatre as having electric lighting. In fact it was the first public building (and at the time one of the few buildings of any kind) in Britain, to be lit entirely by electricity. The film also shows a very early use of the telephone. However, the depiction of the Gilberts' marriage as cold and loveless seems at odds with the available evidence. W. S. Gilbert wrote many affectionate letters to his wife "Kitty", and the couple was very socially active both in London and at their home at Grim's Dyke, often holding dinner parties and being invited to others' homes for dinner.(See, e.g, Ainger, p.148, and Stedman, pp.318-320).

Background and production

The movie was filmed beginning 29 June 1998 in the United Kingdom. Its budget was $20,000,000.

Cast

Dorothy Atkinson as Jessie Bond, who plays Pitti-Sing
Brid Brennan as a mad beggar
Jim Broadbent as W. S. Gilbert
Ron Cook as Richard D'Oyly Carte, owner of the Savoy Theater
Allan Corduner as Sir Arthur Sullivan
Eleanor David as Fanny Ronalds, Sullivan's mistress
Dexter Fletcher as Louis, Sullivan's butler
Vincent Franklin as Rutland Barrington, who plays Pooh-Bah
Louise Gold as Rosina Brandram, who plays Katisha
Kenneth Hadley as Pidgeon, Gilbert's butler
Shirley Henderson as Leonora Braham, who plays Yum-Yum
Lesley Manville as Lucy "Kitty" Gilbert (Gilbert's wife)
Kevin McKidd as Durward Lely, who plays Nanki-Poo
Wendy Nottingham as Helen Lenoir, Carte's indispensable secretary at the Savoy Theater
Eve Pearce as Gilbert's mother
Cathy Sara as Sybil Grey, who plays Peep-Bo
Martin Savage as George Grossmith, who plays Ko-Ko
Michael Simkins as Frederick Bovill, who plays Pish-Tush
Sukie Smith as Clothilde, Sullivan's maid
Timothy Spall as Richard Temple, who plays the Mikado of Japan

Reception

The movie received an 86% rating at Rotten Tomatoes and a 90 at Metacritic, indicating that critical reception was overall positive. In the United States, the film grossed $6,208,548 in total, and $31,387 on its opening weekend. In the United Kingdom, the film grossed £610,634 in total and £139,700 on its opening weekend. Both the New York Film Critics Circle and the National Society of Film Critics named it as the best picture of 1999.

Awards

Topsy-Turvy received the Academy Award for Best Costume Design and the Academy Award for Makeup, and was nominated for Best Art Direction and Best Original Screenplay, losing these to Sleepy Hollow and American Beauty, respectively.
The film also won Best Make Up/Hair at the BAFTA Awards, and was nominated for Best British Film, Best Actor in a Leading Role (Jim Broadbent), Best Supporting Actor (Timothy Spall) and Best Original Screenplay. Broadbent also won the Volpi Cup for Best Actor at the Venice Film Festival, and the film was nominated for the Golden Lion at the same festival. The film also won the Best British Film Award at the Evening Standard British Film Awards.

Further Information

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