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| Performance dates: | 21-26 February 2005 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Venue: | Haymarket Theatre, Basingstoke | ||||||||||||||||||
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Click here for full cast and crew details
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Click here to view images from the show. |
Click here for full cast and crew details |
The Mikado, one of Gilbert and Sullivan’s most popular operas, is a comedy about a young prince who wishes to follow his own heart against his traditional culture. Filled with creative genius and a cast of characters that has fulfilled every audience’s wishes since its first production in 1885, this production remains one of the most famous and well-known comedic operas of all time.
The idea for The Mikado first sprang into W.S. Gilbert's mind when an old Japanese sword, which had been hanging on the wall of his study for years, suddenly fell from its place. Gilbert took this as an omen and determined to leave his own country alone for a while and turn his biting satire instead towards the East. He did not have to look too far to research the subject of his new play. He found all the material he wanted in Knightsbridge, then a little village of Japanese immigrants within a mile of his own home in South Kensington. Here, he witnessed the strange arts, devices and lifestyles of this proud race.
The versions of the culture and government of Japan in the work are based on the notions of Victorian era England on the subject, and are further altered by the satirical tone of the work. Indeed, Victorian England is the target of Gilbert's satire, thinly disguised as a strange and distant land.
Our production of the play is being updated to our current times.
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Nanki-Poo has fled from the court of his father, the Mikado of Japan, to escape marriage with an overpowering lady named Katisha, who is somewhat older than himself. Assuming the disguise of a musician, he has fallen in love with a fair maiden, Yum-Yum, but has been prevented from marrying her by her guardian, Ko-Ko, who wishes to marry her himself. Heartbroken, Nanki-Poo has banished himself from the little town of Titipu where she lives. Upon learning that Ko-Ko has been condemned to death for the crime of flirting, Nanki-Poo returns to Titipu to claim Yum-Yum's hand. After an odd turn of events, it turns out that Ko-Ko has not only been reprieved of his death sentence, but has earned a promotion to the post of Lord High Executioner. |
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Unfortunately for Ko-Ko, he is not a big fan of killing people. With the Mikado of Japan becoming increasingly annoyed at the lack of executions taking place, Ko-Ko makes a deal with Nanki-Poo. Nanki-Poo is persuaded to offer his own head in exchange for a month of connubial bliss with Yum-Yum. Yum-Yum's ardour for Nanki-Poo is somewhat reduced, however, when she discovers that the wife of a beheaded husband is buried alive. The feared Mikado arrives with Katisha and Ko-Ko falsely tells the Mikado that the execution has already taken place, as he has been too cowardly to behead anyone. Katisha discloses who Nanki-Poo really was, the heir to the thrown. Ko-Ko has thus beheaded the heir and must therefore die. Facing a death sentence himself for executing the Heir, Ko-Ko pleads with Nanki-Poo to return. Nanki-Poo agrees - on the condition that Katisha is safely married off first. Ko-Ko therefore throws himself on the mercy of Katisha and begs her hand in marriage. She agrees, and begs mercy for him from the Mikado. Nanki-Poo then returns and, of course, ends up with his beloved Yum-Yum. |
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