20 minutes with the hilarious, charming and insightful Dennis Olsen AM, legend of the Australian stage. I hope you can watch the whole interview, share with friends, and subscribe!
I hope Dennis is doing well, thank you for getting an interview with him and providing what's basically the only freely available footage of him performing in the last 25 years. He's somebody I would love to sit down and just have a chat with.
Just came upon this interview. Wonderful. Denis played the piano for the Sacred Heart College production of The Pirates of Penzance at the Brighton Town Hall in 1959. Br Eric produced and conducted. I was in the 'girls' chorus (boys only school!). It started me on a lifelong love of G&S. Thanks Denis.
A living legend, a national treasure. Thank you James for your intelligent, insightful questions and thank you Dennis for giving this interview. I come back every year or two to watch it again. Saw Dennis both on film (SA Opera productions of G&S that were then shown in a theatre in Melbourne) and on stage live. We went backstage afterwards and got your autograph. I also remember something that I've not seen on anyof the videos. During "The Flowers that Bloom in the Spring" (Mikado), on the line "I've got to take under my wing, a most unattractive old thing, with a caricature of a face", you pulled a "Mickey Mouse" mask out of your sleeve. What a moment! In case you should happen to read this comment from a life-long fan, I was just another face in the dark, but I wish you all the best now that you're in a stage of life that's out of the public eye.
Wonderful to find this interview. Dennis Olsen was and is a role model performer especially for the singers of my era when we did so much G&S in Sydney in the 1970s. Just saw his Lord Chancellor in the Australian Opera Production of Iolanthe from 1976. Saw him first in 1971 in the Mikado as Koko with TAO when they presented that wonderful G&S series at the Elizabethan Theatre in Newtown. Thank God for Dennis Olsen. Thank you Dennis.
What a powerhouse of G&S is this man! And with so many other appreciations of English drama/music. My exposure to him was initially through his work with Australia, which is both eye-bopping and hilariously brilliant. This interviews deeper plunge into Olson's career is so unspeakably enriching. What a genius this man is!
Thankyou for posting this interview. I have great memories of being taken, as a young child, to all the G&S productions in Melboourne by my father in the 60's. My particular, favourite actor and the only one I could remember was Dennis Olsen. I was mesmerized and delighted by his performances and consequently developed a life long love of the Savoy Operas. So lovely to find this interview and see, somewhat belatedly, the man behind the actor; a down to earth and charming person. Many thanks.
This man is a quite remarkable talent, and only well known, it seems, in Australia. This is a pity. His Bunthorne in Patience is by far the best I have seen, and his Don Alhambra remarkably original and funny. He has exquisite comedy timing and precision. Australians are lucky he wasn't poached by British or American producers, and lured to the bright lights of the West End or Broadway!
What superb timing he has/had! I so wish I could have seen him in a live production - what a joy that would have been! I grew up in the St. Marylebone Operatic Society in London, UK and during my time there we did Gondoliers, Mikado and Patience which is probably why I really admire his stagecraft. He is phenomenal (and this is just from viewing a few videos which are generally of poor quality) in my opinion. Definitely the best Koko I have ever seen, not to mention the Chancellor in Iolanthe!! Bravo!!!! Thanks Dennis!!!
@Adrian Edwards Oh I agree tenfold. I've only just discovered this remarkably talented man (where have I been all this time). He is simply without peer. His Bunthorne is utterly brilliant. I can't stop watching When I go out of door. It has me in fits laughing.
Dennis Olsen talks about his great opening-night experience doing "Iolanthe" and the photo and music played right before that segment is from "The Gondoliers." Hm.
Does anybody know - how much of the wonderful antics Dennis did on stage were his own creativity as a performer, how much were suggested by the director, or perhaps a bit of both?
Australia has Dennis in musical theatre that Australians really love we in the UK have Michael Ball in our musical theatre slightly different styles but we love him too
I hope Dennis is doing well, thank you for getting an interview with him and providing what's basically the only freely available footage of him performing in the last 25 years. He's somebody I would love to sit down and just have a chat with.
Just came upon this interview. Wonderful. Denis played the piano for the Sacred Heart College production of The Pirates of Penzance at the Brighton Town Hall in 1959. Br Eric produced and conducted. I was in the 'girls' chorus (boys only school!). It started me on a lifelong love of G&S. Thanks Denis.
A living legend, a national treasure. Thank you James for your intelligent, insightful questions and thank you Dennis for giving this interview. I come back every year or two to watch it again.
Saw Dennis both on film (SA Opera productions of G&S that were then shown in a theatre in Melbourne) and on stage live. We went backstage afterwards and got your autograph. I also remember something that I've not seen on anyof the videos. During "The Flowers that Bloom in the Spring" (Mikado), on the line "I've got to take under my wing, a most unattractive old thing, with a caricature of a face", you pulled a "Mickey Mouse" mask out of your sleeve. What a moment! In case you should happen to read this comment from a life-long fan, I was just another face in the dark, but I wish you all the best now that you're in a stage of life that's out of the public eye.
Wonderful to find this interview. Dennis Olsen was and is a role model performer especially for the singers of my era when we did so much G&S in Sydney in the 1970s. Just saw his Lord Chancellor in the Australian Opera Production of Iolanthe from 1976. Saw him first in 1971 in the Mikado as Koko with TAO when they presented that wonderful G&S series at the Elizabethan Theatre in Newtown. Thank God for Dennis Olsen. Thank you Dennis.
I agree! I found this by pure accident....and it is refreshing. Thanks Dennis!
I’m enthralled by this stage animal. What an artist. Brilliant in every clip I’ve seen on CZcams. I’m just sorry I never got to see him live. ❤
Great interview with a great talent. Had the honour of seeing him in Australian Opera's The Gondoliers. Magic!
What a powerhouse of G&S is this man! And with so many other appreciations of English drama/music. My exposure to him was initially through his work with Australia, which is both eye-bopping and hilariously brilliant. This interviews deeper plunge into Olson's career is so unspeakably enriching. What a genius this man is!
Just wonderful.
Wonderful in every way. Thank you!
What a lovely thing to stumble across. Dear Dennis!
Thankyou for posting this interview. I have great memories of being taken, as a young child, to all the G&S productions in Melboourne by my father in the 60's. My particular, favourite actor and the only one I could remember was Dennis Olsen. I was mesmerized and delighted by his performances and consequently developed a life long love of the Savoy Operas. So lovely to find this interview and see, somewhat belatedly, the man behind the actor; a down to earth and charming person. Many thanks.
The best "Don Alhambra" and "Bunthorne" ever :)
Wonderful!
This man is a quite remarkable talent, and only well known, it seems, in Australia. This is a pity. His Bunthorne in Patience is by far the best I have seen, and his Don Alhambra remarkably original and funny. He has exquisite comedy timing and precision. Australians are lucky he wasn't poached by British or American producers, and lured to the bright lights of the West End or Broadway!
What superb timing he has/had! I so wish I could have seen him in a live production - what a joy that would have been! I grew up in the St. Marylebone Operatic Society in London, UK and during my time there we did Gondoliers, Mikado and Patience which is probably why I really admire his stagecraft. He is phenomenal (and this is just from viewing a few videos which are generally of poor quality) in my opinion. Definitely the best Koko I have ever seen, not to mention the Chancellor in Iolanthe!! Bravo!!!! Thanks Dennis!!!
@Adrian Edwards Oh I agree tenfold. I've only just discovered this remarkably talented man (where have I been all this time). He is simply without peer. His Bunthorne is utterly brilliant. I can't stop watching When I go out of door. It has me in fits laughing.
Dennis Olsen talks about his great opening-night experience doing "Iolanthe" and the photo and music played right before that segment is from "The Gondoliers." Hm.
Does anybody know - how much of the wonderful antics Dennis did on stage were his own creativity as a performer, how much were suggested by the director, or perhaps a bit of both?
Australia has Dennis in musical theatre that Australians really love we in the UK have Michael Ball in our musical theatre slightly different styles but we love him too
Not going to lie, the fellow really does sound like G-Man a whole lot