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:

Simon Tavener - 25 May 2011

The Oxford Playhouse is certainly going through a phase of Gilbert and Sullivan productions: early in May we had The Pirates of Penzance, in a couple of weeks The Sorcerer arrives and this week Oxford Operatic Society are presenting their updated version of The Mikado.

Director Edward Blagrove has taken the bold decision to reset this satire of nineteenth century British politics and society in the cut and thrust world of modern multinational business. We get Powerpoint presentations, mobile phones and sharp suits instead of the more traditional kimonos, fans and painted faces.

Any theatrical updating needs to be done carefully – you have to respect the structures and relationships of the original whilst also making sure that the new setting works on its own terms. There are moments in this new production where the two worlds meet seamlessly and others where the tensions are not fully resolved. In many ways, I would have preferred the script to have been re...

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