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The MikadoA comedic Mikado for the 21st Century |
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What if Gilbert and Sullivan's The Mikado wasn't set in the 1880's? What if, instead, this witty tale of mis-matched loves and exposing of society foibles was set in the present? And what if a bunch of enthusiastic ladies found out and bought tickets to see it?
Re-imagining this classic from librettist W.S. Gilbert and his long-time creative partner, composer Arthur Sullivan, is what NSLOS has done with this staging of Gilbert and Sullivan's The Mikado. It's a way you've never thought of it before. Still, this show has its familiar plot twists and music (including some rarely heard, restored music) which we know and love!
Stage director Matthew Bissett has worked an all-female chorus to advantage in this classic tale. The women are excited to participate on stage in the cabaret-style drama unfolding around them. The result is a very physical and comedic show and yet, still a familiar, brilliant The Mikado. It's set in a cocktail lounge and preformed for (and with) those enthusiastic ladies.
See, the Mikado guy runs a bar. That's his power base. Our hero, Nanki-Poo ... well, he is "a wand'ring minstrel." The all-female chorus stays onstage for most of the action following Nanki's every move. They really love what happens in this Mikado! They join in not only in song, but dressing up for it too, because it's "Retro 60s Ladies Night at the Sing-Along Mikado Cabaret." And it all works because the tale is timeless!
Music director Edette Gagne has taken the traditional men's and women's three and four part harmonies and voiced things into a three and four part female chorus that sounds amazing and fills out the sound quite remarkably. In addition, NSLOS' show features a beautiful, restored introduction to the famous duet, "Were I not to Ko-Ko Plighted," sung by the romantic, young Yum-Yum to her Nanki-Poo - a part rarely heard. Nanki-Poo's "minstrel" actually plays trombone on set. A small chamber orchestra is onstage throughout the performance.
If ever such diverse times could come together in a familiar world, it would be this new production of Gilbert and Sullivan's The Mikado with its physical comedy making it feel almost like vaudeville revisted.
The Mikado plays at Presentation House Theatre, 333 Chesterfield Avenue in North Vancouver. Preview performance April 19, opening April 20, as well as April 21, April 26 to 28 and May 2 to 5, all at 8:00 p.m., April 22 and 29 at 2:00 p.m. Tickets: Adults $30; seniors $25; students $20. Phone: 604.990.3474 or online: phtheatre.org