The Mikado

Gilbert and Sullivan's 'The Mikado' or 'The Town of Titipu' is one of their best known, and probably most often performed, comic operas. Set in Japan it follows the trials and tribulations of the character Ko-Ko, his ward Yum Yum and her love interest Nanki Poo.

Once again Girton Musical Theatre and Director Helen Wilson put their own ‘spin’ on this well-loved G&S show.  This year setting it at the Titipu International Arts Festival and Summer School, and as usual the audience are up for spotting the little anachronisms Helen always throws in; such as Nanki-Poo using contactless payment to bribe Pooh-Bah.   This Company’s staging of G&S is always excellent.  Costumes were very good and the scenery built and painted in-house by the cast and production team was first rate.  Lighting was fine given the limitations of the venue. The large orchestra under the baton of Musical Director Patricia Davies was never overpowering and delivered good support to the soloists throughout.

A talented cast of Girton Musical Theatre regulars and a number of recent newer members gave accomplished performances.  Bob Ball in the role of the wandering minstrel Nanki-Poo who is in fact the only son of The Mikado in disguise played the part with confidence.  Vic Olphin as Yum Yum the ward of KoKo, though in love with Nanki-Poo, with her lovely singing voice provided an excellent interpretation of the role. The part of Ko-Ko the tailor elevated to the post of Lord High Executioner was played with confidence and conviction by Ariel Cahn. He sang his musical numbers including, ‘On a Tree by a River (Tit -Willow)’ with feeling. 

Other principal actors each added their own individuality to the role and the storyline. Girton stalwart Jerry Harrison beautifully superior as Pooh-Bah the High Lord of Just About Everything was excellent, as was John Yates in the role of Pish Tush the nobleman.   Not until half way through act two do we meet The Mikado himself, played by Øistein Andersen and here we saw another stalwart who played the role with conviction and in good voice with ‘A More Humane Mikado’ and, of course, ‘The Punishment Fit the Crime’.  In the role of the formidable Katisha was Glynis Ellis and I have to say that this is the best I have seen Glynis who gave a good performance.  Completing the character line up were KoKo’s remaining Wards Brigitte Harrison as Pitti-Sing and Jo Lewry as Peep-Bo. Commiserations to Jo who had more or less lost her voice from a recent bout of the lurgy and congratulations to Brigitte who sang both roles beautifully.  Director Helen Wilson added two minor characters to the show, Just-So (played by Maggie Phillips) and Slow-Mo (played by Hannah Green) to run the International Arts Festival and Summer School slipping in a song adapted from “Princess Ida” which was beautifully sung.

Singing G&S is notoriously difficult but this cast did a good job particularly as I understand illness had been rife during the run up to show week. Throughout, the chorus provided good support and we heard great mellifluousness from the ladies with the male company particularly creating a really strong solid sound.  Their combined voices brought about a pleasing sound such as during the finale of Act 1 as the chorus drown out Katisha to prevent her revealing the true identity of Nanki-Poo and ‘Mi-ya-sa-ma’ in act two.

The Mikado is one of my favourite G&S shows and I enjoyed this production. Congratulations and well done to all involved.

NODA owns the intellectual Property Rights to the content of all show reports written by NODA Councillors, Reps and Assistant Reps.

© NODA CIO. All rights reserved.