D'Oyly Carte Extends Savoy Run with The MikadoDate: 21 May 2002
The D'Oyly Carte Opera Company continues its current West End residency - which began in February at the company's spiritual home, the Savoy Theatre - with the return of Gilbert & Sullivan's most popular operetta. The Mikado - running at the Savoy from 27 June 2002 to 14 September (previews from 25 June) - follows D'Oyly Carte's productions of Iolanthe and The Yeomen of the Guard, the latter continuing until 8 June at the theatre.
D'Oyly Carte, which is dedicated to the works of Gilbert and Sullivan, last brought The Mikado to the Savoy in 2000, when it was nominated for an Olivier Award for Outstanding Musical Production. The operetta features such G&S classic songs as "Behold the Lord High Executioner", "A Wandering Minstrel I" and "Three Little Maids from School".
The Mikado, written in 1885, catered for Victorian England's fascination with all things Japanese. It is set in the mythical Japanese town of Titipu and tells the story of Nanki-Poo, the son of the Mikado of Japan, who flees the imperial court to escape an arranged marriage. While hiding in disguise, he falls in love with Yum-Yum who has been betrothed to Ko-Ko, the Lord High Executioner.
In 1876 Richard D'Oyly Carte formed the Comedy Opera Company and the following year produced The Sorcerer, his first collaboration with Gilbert and Sullivan. The ensuing success of their partnership enabled D'Oyly Carte to build the Savoy Theatre in 1882. It was the first public building to be lit throughout by electricity. The theatre was virtually destroyed by fire in 1990 but, after extensive refurbishments, it reopened in 1993. The D'Oyly Carte Company continues to be dedicated to producing faithful recreations of the Savoy Operas of Gilbert & Sullivan.
D'Oyly Carte's production of The Mikado is directed by Ian Judge and designed by Tim Goodchild with choreography by Lindsay Dolan.
- by Terri Paddock
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