Topsy-Turvy is a musical drama film about the creation of Gilbert and Sullivan's The Mikado in 1884 and 1885. It was written and directed by Mike Leigh and stars Allan Corduner as Sir Arthur Sullivan and Jim Broadbent as W. S. Gilbert, along with Timothy Spall and Lesley Manville. The film focuses on the creative conflict between playwright 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 was not released widely, but it received very favourable reviews, including a number of film festival awards and two design Academy Awards. While considered an artistic success, illustrating Victorian era British life in the theatre in depth, the film did not recover its production costs. Leigh cast actors who did their own singing in the film, and the singing performances were faulted by some critics, while others lauded Leigh's strategy.

Plot

On the opening night of Princess Ida at the Savoy Theatre in January 1884, composer Sir Arthur Sullivan (Allan Corduner), who is ill from kidney disease, is barely able to make it to the theatre to conduct. He goes on a holiday to Continental Europe hoping that the rest will improve his health. While he is away, ticket sales and audiences at the Savoy Theatre wilt in the hot summer weather. Producer Richard D'Oyly Carte (Ron Cook) has called on the playwright, W. S. Gilbert (Jim Broadbent), and Sullivan to create a new piece for the Savoy, but it is not ready before Ida closes. Until a new piece can be prepared, Carte revives an earlier Gilbert and Sullivan work, The Sorcerer.

Gilbert's idea for their next opera features a transformative magic lozenge, which Sullivan feels is repetitive, since it is similar to the story of The Sorcerer, and mechanical, due to its reliance on a supernatural device. Sullivan, under pressure to write more serious music, says he longs for something that is "probable" and involves "human interest", and not dependent on magic. Gilbert sees nothing wrong with his libretto and refuses to write a new one, which results in a stand-off. The impasse is resolved after Gilbert and his wife visit a popular exhibition of Japanese arts and crafts in Knightsbridge, London. When the katana sword that he purchased there falls noisily off the wall of his study, he is inspired to write a libretto set in exotic Japan. Sullivan likes the idea and agrees to compose the music for it.

Gilbert, Sullivan and Carte work to make The Mikado a success, and many glimpses of rehearsals and stressful backstage preparations for the show follow: Cast members lunch together before negotiating their salaries. Gilbert brings in Japanese girls from the exhibition to teach the ladies' chorus how to walk and use fans in the Japanese manner. The principal cast react to the fittings of their costumes designed by the famous costumier C. Wilhelm. The entire cast object to the proposed cut of the title character's Act Two solo, "A more humane Mikado". The actors face first-night jitters in their dressing rooms. Finally The Mikado is ready to open. As usual, Gilbert is too nervous to watch the opening performance and paces the streets of London. Returning to the theatre, however, he finds that the new opera is a resounding success.

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
• 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
• Naoko Mori as Miss "Sixpence Please"
• Wendy Nottingham as Helen Lenoir, Carte's indispensable assistant
• Cathy Sara as Sybil Grey, who plays Peep-Bo
• Martin Savage as George Grossmith, who plays Ko-Ko
• Andy Serkis as John D'Auban, choreographer
• 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

Depiction of 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 use of morphine, Sullivan's mistress, Fanny Ronalds' implying that she will obtain an abortion, three actors' discussion of the destruction of the British garrison at Khartoum by the Mahdi, a private salon concert, a conversation about the use of nicotine by women, and Gilbert being accosted outside the theatre on opening night by a beggar, all show different aspects of Victorian society and life at the time.

The film also accurately depicts the Savoy Theatre as having electric lighting. It was the first public building in Britain – and at the time one of the few buildings there of any kind – to be lit entirely by electricity. The film also shows an early use of the telephone. However, the depiction of the Gilberts' marriage as cold and loveless is at odds with the available historical 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.

Production

Topsy-Turvy was filmed at Three Mills Studios in London beginning 29 June and completed shooting on October 24. Location shooting took place in London and Hertfordshire, and scenes which took place at the Savoy Theatre were filmed at the Richmond Theatre in Richmond, London. The film's budget was $20,000,000.

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 and honours

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.

Topsy Turvy also won the Best British Film Award at the Evening Standard British Film Awards, and received 1999 awards for Best Picture (shared with Spike Jonze's Being John Malkovich) and Best Director from the National Society of Film Critics, and for Best Picture and Best Director from the New York Film Critics Circle.

Topsy-Turvy was ranked at number 481 in Empire's 2008 list of the 500 greatest movies of all time.

References

Notes

1. Carte and Lenoir later married.
2. Ainger, p.148, and Stedman, pp.318-320
3. TCM Misc notes
4. IMDB Filming locations
5. http://www.empireonline.com/500/4.asp

Bibliography

• Sragow, Michael. "The roar of the greasepaint, the smell of the crowd", Salon.com, 23 December 1999

External links

• Topsy-Turvy at The Gilbert & Sullivan Discography