A typical line: "Is Frank the only person in the world who doesn't know you're in love with him?" And: "Did you want that kind of life so much that you went with her?" That last question is asked of the rising musical-comedy composer Franklin Shepard Colin Donnelll) by his soon-to-be-ex-wife, Beth Betsy Wolfee).
The last movement is a slapstick comedy, the composer says, but the galumphing humor is heavy-handed.
You might be when you realize that the scene was improvised by the actor who played Pepper: writer, comedy performer, composer and director Christopher Guest.
Several critics have likened Gianni Schicchi to Verdi's Falstaff, as both are masterpieces of operatic comedy from composers more usually associated with tragedy.
But in truth his genius was for comedy; his fellow composer, the rather severe Vincent d'Indy, dubbed him "l'ange du cocasse" - the angel of the comical.
A published composer, comedy songwriter, documentary filmmaker and self-proclaimed "man of science," Hill has even appeared on the small screen alongside actor and comedian Tom Green.
Add to that illustrious tally "Le Roi Malgré Lui" ("The King in Spite of Himself"), an elegantly antic 1887 comedy by the French composer Emmanuel Chabrier.
"Jerry Springer -- The Opera" (it is opera only in the loosest sense; it is almost entirely sung) originated with Richard Thomas, 38, a sometime comedy performer and a composer who has worked mostly in television -- a guy who adores Bach.
"No composer of comedy, iambic or lyric verse shall be permitted to hold any citizen up to laughter, by word or gesture, with passion or otherwise" (Laws, 7: 816e; 11: 935e).
The genius Mel Tolkin was head writer -- a terrific composer and comedy writer, and father of Michael Tolkin [he points to MT, in the audience, looking pleased].
Contracted to compose an opera for La Scala — ironically, a comedy — the 27-year-old composer tried unsuccessfully to extricate himself.
