# Topsy-Turvy (1999)

### reviewed by
Frankie Paiva

    Topsy-Turvy

    rated R
    160 minutes
    October Films
    starring Jim Broadbent, Allan Corduner, Lesley Manville, and Ron Cook
    written and directed by Mike Leigh

    A Review by Frankie Paiva

A well made period piece is often a tough sell for audiences. Most of these films are highly dramatic and offer little in the areas of excitement or humor. Mike Leigh's new film Topsy-Turvy which explores Gilbert and Sullivan in a career slump breaks all of those rules. Blending a mix of colorful sets, great music, genuinely funny scenes and dialog, and wonderful performances, this movie keeps you interested for it's entire 160 minute length.

Famed playwright composer duo Gilbert (Broadbent) and Sullivan (Corduner) have just opened their latest production, Princess Ida, at the Savoy theater in England. The audience immediately proclaims it another hit, but the newspaper theater critic says otherwise. This critic says he sees no progress in artistic development coming from them, and says he cannot recommend the play. Sullivan feels the same way, he's tired of using the same music again and again and wants to write a grand opera, one so fantastic it will blow people away.

But there are concerns as to their future. The contract with the Savoy says that they must produce a new play when asked, and while Gilbert has one already written, Sullivan refuses to compose for he believes it's a rehash of what's been done before. Gilbert is hard set in a writer's block and doesn't know what to do. All of this changes when Gilbert is dragged by his wife to a local Japanese exhibition. He is appalled and intrigued at the same time about the native way of life there. This inspires him to write a grand play, The Mikado, a play sure to woo Sullivan back and draw large audiences. But at what price will it take to get the play onstage?

Another wonderful film that shows the lives of the actor. Offering much more behind the scenes process than All About My Mother did, it really gives us an idea of how much work went into these plays. The script was written with these scenes in mind, and original musical composer Carl Davis (Sullivan himself is also credited) adds some enchanting music to go along with them. This gives the film an upbeat pace, despite many of it's sad undertones. The star of the film has to be the woman (who's name escapes me) who researched the time period for the film. There are many great touches that really give us a feel for the era, including a very humorous scene in which Gilbert uses a telephone, which were just being introduced in their time. Leigh does a wonderful job of shifting the focus throughout the movie. For the first hour we are drawn into Sullivan's problems and by the 100 minute mark, we have nicely switched over to Gilbert's troubles. Other examples of this include the plights of various Savoy players who've been in all the plays the two created. Much of the humor is bittersweet, and really keeps this thing chugging along. While the length is an issue for some, so many of the scenes are carefully selected that you never get bored with redundant information. The only scene I thought was unneeded was an early scene where Sullivan watches two bare breasted women perform some type of mini-musical. If this scene had been removed, it easily could have achieved a PG-13 rating. And you haven't seen anything until you see Gilbert pretending to be a Japanese Samurai warrior.

All of the actors (and actors playing actors) really bring their characters to life. Towards the end, I found myself forgetting that this was a movie, that while fact based, was not entirely true. I felt like I was there, watching the entire thing happen. Another great film to add to Mike Leigh's filmography, and another great film that might change the way period pieces are made. This is fun, energetic, and at times exciting, bravo Gilbert and Sullivan, I give you a standing ovation.

    A-

    Frankie Paiva
    SwpStke@aol.com
    http://www.homestead.com/CinemaParadise/mainpage.html

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