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A comic opera set in stone The Mikado
The Gilbert & Sullivan Opera Company
Grand Theatre. Wolverhampton
**** IT would be difficult to imagine a more
suitable production than this to celebrate the anniversary of the laying
of the Grand’s foundation stone exactly 120 years ago. The acclaimed Gilbert & Sullivan Opera Company
were also making their final appearance after a week at the theatre
staging three of the G&S classics, and what a superb performance they
gave. Set in the fictional Japanese town of Titipu, the
story is packed with delicious humour with love and the threat of
execution on the agenda. Simon Butteriss, who also directed the operetta,
gave a superb performance as Ko-Ko, the somewhat reluctant Lord High
Executioner who planned to marry the beautiful Yum-Yum but ended up
having to wed the rather plain and elderly Katisha in order to save his
own skin. He delighted the audience with the song about his
‘little list of people who never would be missed’ . . . including a fan
who tipped Wolves to win the cup; an international footballer who took a
bite out of an opponent; and a Prime Minister who employed a hack who
turned out to be a crook! Nick Allen and Claire Lees sparkled as the young
lovers, Nanki-Poo and Yum-Yum, while Bruce Graham excelled in the role
of Poo-Bah, the Lord High Everything Else, and there were outstanding
contributions from John Savournin (Pish-Tush) and Sylvia Clarke (Katisha). One disappointment for me was the decision to
make the Mikado (Matthew Kellett) a fun figure rather than a scary
ruler. Great chorus work, and fine music from the
National Festival Orchestra conducted by David Steadman. Paul Marston
28-06-14
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