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:

9 July 2010

The latest addition to the Stephen Joseph Theatre summer season is another of Chris Monks’ entertaining updates of Gilbert and Sullivan, this time The Mikado set in Titipu Cricket Club. However, this is only part of the theatre’s attempt to ensure that even the most rain-swept visitor to the Yorkshire coast can fill the week with a splendid variety of dramatic fare.

This year the McCarthy Theatre houses two one-acters, staged separately at lunch-times and occasionally together in the evening. Opening next week is the world premiere of James Quinn’s Twenty 20, appropriately enough about cricket, but first up is a controlled and intelligent production by Adam Sunderland of Caryl Churchill’s challenging and elusive play about cloning and identity, A Number.

A Number has always attracted star players from its 2002 premiere (Michael Gambon and Daniel Craig) onwards; when I saw it previously, Timothy and Samuel West were the father and...

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