Nothing Whatever to Grumble At [Paperback]

JOHN REED (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 13, 2006

'Nothing Whatever To Grumble At'? . well, hardly ever! There are one or two grumbles in John's story, it's true, but the few you'll find pale into insignificance against his joy of performing in the Gilbert and Sullivan operas. But this book begins long before John's twenty-eight years with the D'Oyly Carte Opera Company; it starts with his happy childhood, and his early days in the theatre. And after the D'Oyly Carte, his amazing second career which spanned a further fourteen years as a freelance performer and director.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

JOHN REED OBE Born near Bishop Auckland, County Durham, John spent his early years in the theatre playing in weekly repertory. A chance meeting with a friend resulted in an audition for the D'Oyly Carte Opera Company, which John joined in 1951 as a chorister and understudy to the principal comedian Peter Pratt. Eight years later he took over the comic roles and became a great favourite with audiences, here in the UK and throughout the USA and Canada. After leaving the company John was much in demand in America, both to direct and to perform in the Gilbert and Sullivan operas. He was awarded the OBE in 1977. CYNTHIA MOREY Hampshire-born Cynthia Morey trained in singing at the Royal College of Music, London, before joining the chorus of the D'Oyly Carte Opera Company in 1951. Three years later she became a principal soprano, leaving the company in 1957, and eventually joining Sadler's Wells Opera, where as a principal mezzo she played many character roles in operetta. As well as performing in the UK, Cynthia toured the USA, Australia, New Zealand and throughout Europe. She has also appeared in many West End musicals, and has written two books of theatrical reminiscences

Product Details

• Paperback: 178 pages
• Publisher: Xlibris, Corp. (June 13, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1425702554
• ISBN-13: 978-1425702557
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 5.8 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #788,549 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars For Gilbert and Sullivan fans, a treat. Others, not so much., May 30, 2009

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flint350 (Maryland) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: Nothing Whatever to Grumble At (Hardcover)

Being an avid G&S fan, especially of the John Reed era, I really wanted to read this book. Mr. Reed, now in his 90's, was an icon of the late 50's to the near 80's and even beyond, in the D'Oyly Carte Opera Company and is generally considered one of the top performers of the comic roles in the operas, such as KoKo in Mikado, Sir Joseph Porter in Pinafore, etc.

Though assisted by a 'ghost' writer (a friend and fellow cast mate), it is obvious from the start that this is not highly professional writing, but it is certainly acceptable and clearly tells the tale he wishes told. There are many great anecdotes from his long history with both the D'Oyly Carte and other activities (and some not so great, even showing a bit of petulance and diva style posturing). For those interested in the subject, either in general as G&S fans or fans of Mr. Reed, it is a nice, easy read (no pun intended). If you are not a fan, this is not a good introduction to Gilbert and Sullivan and is not intended to be. The book only hints at Mr. Reed's personal lifestyle and orientation, but that's not the point anyway. It is a very nice chronology of the company, the operas and his part in them and as such provides a few hours of welcome entertainment and some insights not previously known to most.