Gilbert and Sullivan Productions are back with another musical extravaganza, as ‘The Mikado’ comes to Bembridge Village Hall from 25th-29th September.
Following on from the sell-out ‘Pirates of Penzance’ and ‘Iolanthe’, Gilbert and Sullivan Productions now turn their talent and attentions to what is perhaps the best known of the Savoy operas, albeit one less often performed nowadays.
Director John Abraham has taken as his inspiration the black and white 1930’s set and costumes of the celebrated English National Opera version starring Eric Idle which gives the show a more modern feel – and look out for our rewrite of the famous song ‘I’ve Got A Little List’ which brings us bang up to date with references to national and Island people and companies of 2024 who’d ‘not be missed’….
The production retains, however, all the humour and satire of the 1865 original, so come with us to the mythical town of Titipu where Ko-Ko the tailor (in a lovely example of life imitating art, Andrew Jenner who plays Ko-Ko also designed and made our amazing costumes) has been made Lord High Executioner….and now he has to find someone to execute. An obvious candidate appears when Nanki-Poo claims the love of Yum Yum, Ko-Ko’s pretty ward whom he plans to marry himself. But can he carry out the dastardly deed before The Mikado of Japan arrives to check that someone – anyone – has been put to death? Can Pooh-Bah (who holds just about every other important job in the town) advise and help him? Is Nanki-Poo really just a wandering minstrel? Why does Katisha arrive looking for him? You can bet the plot will get sillier and sillier – and funnier – as it goes on.
But who cares whether it all makes sense as long as everyone lives happily ever after (well, almost….) and we can all enjoy the fantastic music and well-known songs along the way, including ‘A Wand’ring Minstrel I’, ‘Three Little Maids from School’ and of course ‘I’ve Got A Little List. Just as in other GASP! productions, there will be a ‘sat chorus’ of members whose beautiful voices augment those onstage – previous audience members have commented on how rich the sound is, truly bringing the atmosphere of a large opera house to Bembridge Village Hall.
