The Mikado

Gilbert and Sullivan’s operettas have been a staple of the theatre repertoire both amateur and professional and (biased as I am) I would argue that they are some of the best entertainment to be had by any audience. Sadly the younger generation do not view it like this until they are persuaded to take part and then they find out why G&S has endured for so long.

The Plaza Suite, part of the Stag theatre complex, is a small venue but this was turned into the town of Titipu by making a raised square platform at one end and the audience seated around the outer margins thus leaving the centre floor area free for extra acting space. The clever use of boxes in different positions gave seating or extra height and even flower beds in Act 2. No specific scenery except for back cloths with Japanese characters. Needless to say there is not room for an orchestra and what we lose in musical light and shade we gain in the energetic and well-balanced playing of piano duo Alan Thompson (MD) and Roger Harris with occasional additions of a flute, drum, guitar and ukelele.

Director Keith Neville’s approach to this Victorian operetta was to fast-forward to the 1980s and made it more into musical theatre to gain the interest of the younger element. So we see ourselves being introduced to the ‘Gentlemen of Japan’ in a martial arts gymnasium. Although not all the gentlemen were in their ‘first flush’ they managed the energetic moves quite well, if not always co-ordinated. Nanki-Poo was delightfully acted and sung by Alex Dunmore. The straight-laced Pooh-Bah (Nick Morris) looked like an undertaker, no doubt one of his many jobs! He handled this part very well and teamed with him was Simon Raikes as Pish-Tush. I wasn’t quite sure what his costume in the first act was meant to represent. Kenny Wyton’s Ko-Ko gave us a very clever topical ‘list’. He put a lot into his characterisation.

The ‘Train of Little Ladies’ enters looking like punk rockers or was that St.Trinians? Olivia Piper as Yum-Yum, who I understand is 17 years old, has a lovely singing voice, she was ably assisted by Rachael Adams and Katie Mills as Pitti-Sing and Peep-Bo. I was disappointed that I couldn’t hear any harmony in the chorus numbers. Then enters Katisha looking for all the world like a re-incarnation of Margaret Thatcher, right down to the handbag wielded as a weapon. What a lovely portrayal of this formidable lady by an obviously experienced Diane Ebden. The Mikado himself looked like a country and western singer or perhaps JR? Not quite the usual austere character we are used to. I must applaud the hard work of the ensemble who didn’t let the pace drop. It just goes to show that G&S is alive and well in whatever era it is set.

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