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et in Victorian London, Topsy-
10, "limy is a backstage look at the
first production of Gilbert and
Sullivan's The Mikado. A bit of an
homage to the theater, Topsy TUrvy
is in many ways a turning point for
its filmmaker, but at the same time,
it allows him to expand upon his
proven directorial technique.
The story is straightfor
ward; it the
writer/director's
RE VIEW
inserts of witticisms,
evocations of facial gestures and his-
torically precise sets of Victorian
artifacts that pull together and make
this a Mike Leigh film.
Though more often dreary in
atmosphere and disturbing in
nature, Leigh's films all contain
one element in common: He has a
way of eliciting brilliant perfor
mances from his actors. In Topsy-
Turvy, he literally sets the stage for
his troupe to find their way to
achieve this brilliance.
Once again, he began without a
script, working with carefully chosen
actors to develop one during
"rehearsal." Through this process, all
are involved in the creation of their
own characters, which results in mak-
ing viewers feeling a bit like voyeurs.
Starring Jim Broadbent (Little
Voice, The Crying Game) as WS.
Gilbert and Allan Corduner (The
Impostors, Yentl) as Arthur
Sullivan, the cast of Topsy Turvy
exceeds 90 in number, yet it still

-

.if irTi4RNS•g egOI:1 40

feels intimate — even as the film
stretches well beyond two hours.
Both actors are exceptional, as is
Timothy Span (Secrets and Lies), whose
performance as a member of Gilbert
and Sullivan's theater troupe is both
excruciating and feather-light.
The nuances of these actors are
the real treat of Leigh's film, show-
ing the everyday life of everyday
people, who just happen to be
putting on a musical.
It is whimsical, thoughtful, pro-
found, and, yes, it is fun.
Even if one knows nothing of the-
ater, or Gilbert and Sullivan for that
matter, Leigh still offers up a meaty
i
gem of interest
nterest to anyone interested
in film. Theater fans, however, will
go berserk for Leigh's newest venture.
The tidbits the audience sees of
Leigh's production of The Mikado are
said to be among the finest since its
original production under the direc-
tion of the duo themselves: choreog-
raphy, costumes and, of course, the
unexpectedly melancholy lyrics and
melodies interspersed throughout.
One piece in particular, per-
formed by Shirley Henderson, last
seen in Tratnspottzng, and here play-
ing Leonora Braham, delivers
Gilbert and Sullivan's soliloquy
through the character Yum-Yum
with a delicacy, sadness and
strength that is chilling. Rated R.
*4x* (out of 4)

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Jim Broadbent stars as W.S. Gilbert and
Allan Corduner as Arthur Sullivan in "Topsy-Turvy."

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