The Venetian Twins (musical comedy)
Encyclopedia
The Venetian Twins is an Australia
n two-act musical comedy. It was translated and adapted from a commedia dell'arte
play - I due gemelli veneziani by Carlo Goldoni
-, and the lyrics were written, by Nick Enright
; the music was composed and arranged by Terence Clarke
. It premiered on 26 October 1979 in the Drama Theatre of the Sydney Opera House
. The Nimrod Theatre Company
production was directed by John Bell
for the inaugural season of the Sydney Theatre Company
, and starred Drew Forsythe
as the twins; the cast included the coloratura soprano Jennifer McGregor, Tony Sheldon
, and Tony Taylor
(for all four of whom their roles were specifically written), and John Ewing
as Pancrazio, the villain. The script was published by Currency Press
, Sydney, in 1996, and the vocal score by Fitzroy Press some time later. The work has been professionally produced in every capital city - three times in Sydney, twice in Brisbane = has twice toured, and is frequently produced by schools and amateur theatre groups. The work has been a set text for the NSW Higher School Certificate English and Drama courses.
There were three women and seven men in the original cast; for the revival by Nimrod
at the Seymour Centre
in 1981, this was revised to nine; there is some doubling of roles. The instrumentation is: flute doubling guitar; clarinet; trombone; percussion, including tubular bells; and piano.
The manuscript of the libretto and lyrics, and related papers, are held by the Australian Defence Force Academy
.
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
n two-act musical comedy. It was translated and adapted from a commedia dell'arte
Commedia dell'arte
Commedia dell'arte is a form of theatre characterized by masked "types" which began in Italy in the 16th century, and was responsible for the advent of the actress and improvised performances based on sketches or scenarios. The closest translation of the name is "comedy of craft"; it is shortened...
play - I due gemelli veneziani by Carlo Goldoni
Carlo Goldoni
Carlo Osvaldo Goldoni was an Italian playwright and librettist from the Republic of Venice. His works include some of Italy's most famous and best-loved plays. Audiences have admired the plays of Goldoni for their ingenious mix of wit and honesty...
-, and the lyrics were written, by Nick Enright
Nick Enright
-Life:He was drama captain of St Ignatius' College, Riverview in 1964, where, like Gerard Windsor and Justin Fleming, he was taught by Melvyn Morrow. At that school, he won the 1sts Debating Premiership in both 1966 and 1967....
; the music was composed and arranged by Terence Clarke
Terence Clarke (composer)
Terence Clarke works in theatre as director and composer , and, to a lesser extent, as actor, pianist/MD, teacher, and dramaturg. He was born on 10 February 1935, educated at Shore and the University of Sydney , graduating BA with first class honours in Music...
. It premiered on 26 October 1979 in the Drama Theatre of the Sydney Opera House
Sydney Opera House
The Sydney Opera House is a multi-venue performing arts centre in the Australian city of Sydney. It was conceived and largely built by Danish architect Jørn Utzon, finally opening in 1973 after a long gestation starting with his competition-winning design in 1957...
. The Nimrod Theatre Company
Nimrod Theatre Company
The Nimrod Theatre Company, in Nimrod Street, Kings Cross, Sydney, Australia, was founded by in 1970 by John Bell, Richard Wherrett and Ken Horler, and gained a reputation for producing more "good new Australian drama" from 1970 to 1985 than any other Australian theatre company...
production was directed by John Bell
John Bell (actor)
John Anthony Bell, AO, OBE is an Australian actor and theatre director.Bell was born 1 November 1940 in the town of Maitland, New South Wales where he was educated at the Marist Brothers....
for the inaugural season of the Sydney Theatre Company
Sydney Theatre Company
The Sydney Theatre Company is one of Australia's best-known theatre companies operating from The Wharf Theatre near The Rocks area of Sydney, as well as the Sydney Theatre and the Sydney Opera House Drama Theatre....
, and starred Drew Forsythe
Drew Forsythe
Drew Forsythe is an Australian actor, singer, writer, and comedian.He attended Atherton Primary School, far north Queensland....
as the twins; the cast included the coloratura soprano Jennifer McGregor, Tony Sheldon
Tony Sheldon
Tony Sheldon is an Australian actor/singer best known for his work in theatre; he is also a writer.- Career :...
, and Tony Taylor
Tony Taylor
Antonio Nemesio Taylor is a former second baseman in Major League Baseball. From 1958 through , Taylor played for the Chicago Cubs , Philadelphia Phillies and Detroit Tigers...
(for all four of whom their roles were specifically written), and John Ewing
John Ewing
John Ewing may refer to:* John Ewing , professional baseball player* John Ewing , U.S. Representative from Indiana* John Ewing , U.S. Minister to Honduras, 1913–1918...
as Pancrazio, the villain. The script was published by Currency Press
Currency Press
Currency Press is Australia's only specialist performing arts publisher and its oldest independent publisher still active. Their list includes plays and screenplays, professional handbooks, biographies, cultural histories, critical studies and reference works....
, Sydney, in 1996, and the vocal score by Fitzroy Press some time later. The work has been professionally produced in every capital city - three times in Sydney, twice in Brisbane = has twice toured, and is frequently produced by schools and amateur theatre groups. The work has been a set text for the NSW Higher School Certificate English and Drama courses.
There were three women and seven men in the original cast; for the revival by Nimrod
Nimrod Theatre Company
The Nimrod Theatre Company, in Nimrod Street, Kings Cross, Sydney, Australia, was founded by in 1970 by John Bell, Richard Wherrett and Ken Horler, and gained a reputation for producing more "good new Australian drama" from 1970 to 1985 than any other Australian theatre company...
at the Seymour Centre
The Seymour Centre
The Seymour Centre is a multi-purpose performing arts centre within the University of Sydney, NSW in the Australian city of Sydney. It is located on the corner of City Rd and Cleveland St in Chippendale, an inner-circle suburb, just south-west of the city centre.The building was designed by...
in 1981, this was revised to nine; there is some doubling of roles. The instrumentation is: flute doubling guitar; clarinet; trombone; percussion, including tubular bells; and piano.
The manuscript of the libretto and lyrics, and related papers, are held by the Australian Defence Force Academy
Australian Defence Force Academy
The Australian Defence Force Academy is a tri-service military Academy that provides military and tertiary academic education for junior officers of the Australian Defence Force in the Royal Australian Navy , Australian Army and Royal Australian Air Force .Tertiary education is provided by the...
.