The road to Manderley
From time to time the younger queens ask La Cieca, “Why does all the camp date back decades? Did something happen to camp? Why is there no new camp? Where should we look to find our own 21st century camp?
Now La Cieca has an answer for you young queens. Look no further! Camp, with a capital C, is coming to a Broadway theater near you—soon! Or, uh, anyway—eventually!
And—oh, wait for it—the reprise bringing down the first act curtain!
Mmmmm, sweet trainwrecky goodness. The turning staircase is both unintentionally hilarious and, somehow, a kind of drag version of Sunset Boulevard’s famous stair case, wunderbar!
I also lament the lack of camp these days
Its like American culture, especially gay culture, is all about crisp, cool lines, uber professionalism, closer and closer to perfection, toned abs, high def cameras, rehearsal after rehearsal, you have to go to regional theater to see that “I want to perform more than anything, more than whatever part of me also tells me to maintain dignity and pride” thing that produces the best camp.
This is the sh*t that we expect out of a Wainwight. A Drawing Room operetta mystery with wild hog, tea and sauerkraut scones setting. An overwrought ‘severe hissy thing’ in black performing as if she is Peter Lorre in drag doing Phantom’s Madame Giry all over again as a star this time….Asked , it then exclaimed: “VHY,? I vanted to get to play a Votan character flotting schemes againgt this fraulein ,and then finally I get to going up in flames in Vandelay. Tvat’s vhy!”
I can understand why its origin was German…its that all this dour ‘faux maudlin’ carry on, they love.
The best bit of camp I can remember of late, was that full send-up stage number : a supposed musical of Tennesse Williams Sweet Bird of Youth in the film ‘Death Become Her’ with Meryl Steep no less. Coming down that staircase, attended with all those high kicking dancing bellboys racing about. It was punchy, expert and yet celebrated – being ‘camp’.
I’ll never miss camp so long as you keep posting, Harry.
Impossible now, of course, but great operatic Mrs. Danvers would be Martha Modl — or Leonie, who would give the ultimate version of one of her famous screams an Manderly entombed her in flaming collapse.
Or else…
Yes, I had also thought of Astrid. She would have worked superbly as well. And as Rebecca — the young Soderstrom? Zeani?
I can’t wait until Jane Eaglen decides to join the ranks and take on the Moedl-rollen.
I just finished reading for the second time this summer ‘Pride and Prejudice’. OMG how fun would that be as an opera? The libretto would sizzle, though perhaps not so much camp, unless we jacked up Lady Catherine’s part
Mr. DARCY- Bastianini, or Croft, or Hvorostovksy (sultry deep eyes and voice, with a basket for days)
Mr. BINGLEY- Juan Diego Florez (perky lil side-kick)
ELIZABETH- Elizabeth Futral
JANE- Victoria de los Angeles or Judith Blegen
MISS BINGLEY- Anna Moffo (glamazon in the trenches)
LADY CATHERINE DE BOURGH- Agnes Baltsa, or Elizabeth Rethberg, or Jessye (“Shall the gates of Pemberley be THUS polluted???”)
other bennet children- the french soubrettes from Manon act I
MR. COLLINS- Michel Senechal, or Paul Plishka
The Netherfield Ball, the drawing room of Rosings, and think of the arias, duets, trios, and quartets! not to mention the ballet and, in act VII, the confrontation of Lady Catherine and Elizabeth, which is the cat-fight to end all cat-fights.
F……K! Pride & Prejudice? To have to trudge through all those refined precious manners! With bonnets and parasols,afternoon teas, carriages, top hats and cloaks…and expected aria titles like ‘Ma-ma is not pleased”…and “You should be scolded, Child”. Pissing myself L.O.L. Here ‘s the first lines for a big aria “Oh that Mr Darcy…rather classy… but looked at.. from the back… a bit tight ‘arcy!’
Meanwhile, watch for this important new star to make her Met debut any day now:
http://specials.msn.com/A-List/Entertainment/10-year-old-opera-star.aspx?cp-searchtext=10%20year%20old%20opera%20star&wa=wsignin1.0
A little late to the party but I finally watched the clips. That reprise at the end of Act I is priceless. In a way, it’s quite perfect. LOL
How about La Podles as Mrs. Danvers?