The Mikado

Synopsis

A comic operetta with a Japanese theme. Songs such as 'Three Little Maids from School', 'A Wandering Minstrel', 'A Most Humane Mikado' etc. One of Gilbert and Sullivan's most popular works. In the town of Titipu, local government has fallen into the hands of two dubious characters: Ko-Ko, in charge of public executions; and Pooh-Bah, who has a finger in every pie. A young man arrives who, unknown to most, is Nanki-Poo, son of the Mikado. Fleeing an arranged marriage to the elderly Katisha, he falls for the beautiful Yum-Yum, Ko-Ko's fiancée. When the Mikado arrives, thirsty for executions, Ko-Ko thinks he has the perfect plan...until Katisha turns up, bent on revenge.

Our Review:

25 February 2013

Nanki-Poo, brother of The Mikado, disguises himself as a lowly wandering minstrel to escape from Katisha, an overbearing gold-digger. Arriving in Titipu, he falls in love with the sweet and pretty Yum-Yum, but she's already betrothed to the Lord High Executioner, Ko-Ko. As Ko-Ko hasn't met his beheadings quota, and with the young minstrel suicidal at the thought of Yum-Yum's imminent wedding, Nanki-Poo is persuaded to marry Yum-Yum for a month, after which Ko-Ko will chop his head off. Win-win all round - until Yum-Yum finds out that, as a widow, the law requires her to be buried alive. All is eventually resolved through a combination of manipulation, corruption and compromise to reach the anticipated Gilbert and Sullivan happy ending.

Gilbert set this operetta in a fictional version of Japan so he could take a sly dig at the British institutions and politics of the 1880s. Director Matthew Johnson moves the location from Japan to a contemporary English golf club, with all i...

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Latest User Review

tom reynolds - 5 March 2013:

An excellent production by a talented cast. G and S would be delighted with the vigour and wit and by the clever use of such limited space and effects. Iolanthe or Patience next ??...

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