The winter
musical at The Little Theatre on the Bay is "The Mikado, or The Town
of Titipu". “The Mikado” opens Friday February 9th and continues
weekends through March 4th. “The Mikado” is a comic opera in two
acts, with music by Arthur Sullivan and libretto by W. S. Gilbert,
their ninth of fourteen operatic collaborations. It opened on March
14, 1885, in London, where it ran at the Savoy Theatre for 672
performances, a record for its time.
The opera
is inspired by, and purports to portray, Japanese culture, style, and
government. Specifically, Gilbert was supposed to have visited a
local London library and was almost hit by a Japanese sword which fell
from its wall display. Adding to his inspiration, a Japanese trade
exhibition was opening next door the same day.
“The
Mikado” draws on Victorian notions of Japanese culture, gleaned from
the general British fascination with Japanese fashion and art that
followed the beginning of trade between the two island empires. By
setting the opera in Japan, an exotic locale far away from England,
Gilbert was able to satirize English politics and institutions more
freely by disguising them as Japanese. Throughout the collaborative
series of G&S operettas, Gilbert used foreign locales to soften the
impact of his pointed satire of British institutions.
The
characters' names in the play are not real Japanese characters or
names – but are perfectly understandable as English "baby-talk". For
instance, the headsman is named Ko-Ko; a pretty young thing is named
Pitti-Sing; the beautiful heroine is named Yum-Yum; the pompous
officials are Pooh-Bah and Pish-Tush; the hero's name, Nanki-Poo, is
baby-talk for "handkerchief"; and the long-nailed woman scorned is
Katisha.
The
romantic lead Nanki Poo, was played by Chris Beebe who hopes to wed
Yum-Yum, portrayed by Kerry Oxford. Katisha, a haggard Old Maid, Josie
Reid, was betrothed to Nanki Poo by the Great Mikado, Ed Martin. At
the same time, the Mikado has issued an edict that flirting is a
capital offense. Ko-Ko, Neville Cordell, a lowly clerk, has been
elevated to High Executioner but is reluctant in his duties.
Pooh-Bah, Bob Hundhausen, bears a name that has come to stand for
anyone with no real authority but who acts otherwise, as in the
expression The Grand Pooh-Bah, has to decide the fate of Nanki Poo,
while Pish-Tush, Bill Movius, who is the "coolest" Gentleman of Japan,
has the dramatic obligation of setting the dilemmas facing the
principals throughout. Jenny Walsh as Peep Bo and Melissa Mimier King
as Pitti Sing complete the list of Principals.
The Ladies
Chorus included Phyllis Anderson, Deryl Beebe, Liz
Cowden, Joanne Gates, Jeani Hamilton, Susan Jordan, Betty Robertson,
and Mary Wargo. The chorus of Gentlemen and Nobles included Bill Binnewies, David Jordan, Bob Peil, and Don Williston.
“The
Mikado” was directed by Neville Cordell and Kerry Oxford who also was
Choreographer. Behind the scenes were the tremendous talents of Jeanne
Woods, Costumer, Jose Reid, Set Design, Gordon Freid, Makeup, George
Gizienski, Lighting Director, and Tom Collins, Accompanist. Becca
Ruley was the Stage Manager. Assisting in many categories were Jeff
Cragun and Jason Denton.
“The
Mikado” opened Friday February 9th with a Sushi and Sake Gala at 6 P.M.
and show at 8 P.M. The Gala required a separate admission of
$7.50. Performances were Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays through
March 4th.
view our Mikado Poster!