When lovers want to be together, they will stop at nothing to do so.
For one young Japanese couple in Gilbert and Sullivan's classic operetta, The Mikado, that means deceiving a king and facing execution all in the name of love.
The Scarborough Music Theatre opened with this lively musical last week, to a full house, who definitely saw a staging of The Mikado unlike any they've seen before.
Director Herschel Rosen decided to set the show first in London, via a Japanese exhibit taking place. As visitors pass through Japanese artifacts and people, they come to life to begin the story of the city of Titipu, Japan.
Set in 1885, Nanki-poo (Gregory Finney) leaves the kingdom court to avoid being married to Katisha (Linda Gallant) and reclaim his true love, Yum-Yum (Natasha Negovanlis).
Unfortunately, he finds that she's engaged to the town executioner, Ko-Ko (Chris Hardess), who has recently taken that job to avoid being executed for flirting, which is punishable by death.
Because he can't kill himself, Ko-Ko, and the town, is safe from any execution until he does so. Except The Mikado (Rob Yaneff), curious to find out why no one has been executed, decides to visit Titipu.
Ko-Ko and Pooh-Bah (Jason Silzer), the town's everything (chief justice, treasurer, mayor etc.) become frantic and need a plan. Nanki-poo, ready to kill himself over the loss of Yum-Yum, is offered a deal.
Ko-Ko says he can be with her for one month if he agrees to then be executed. He jumps at the chance, creating some unknowing consequences. Then, mayhem ensues as Ko-Ko and Pooh-Bah scramble to appease the angry Mikado after he realizes it's actually his son who has been executed.
There were hits as well as misses in this show. The misses were British moments like the Japanese/Maypole dance. It was distracting and a consistent Japanese setting would've been better. Also, the Mikado needed to be a more menacing, but instead, looked like he just came back from Mardi Gras.
Hits were definitely the performers.
Negovanlis stole the show, showing maturity beyond her 17 years. She had fantastic stage presence and her voice was powerful and beautiful. She amazed in songs like Here's a How de-do and The Threaten'd Cloud has Passed Away.
Hardess was so endearing as Ko-Ko and one of his best moments was his song As Some Day it May Happen, where he lists all the people he would kill because "they wouldn't be missed." This included Dr. Phil, hip-hop singers and Sanjaya.
Gallant as the hideous Katisha with a heart of gold was outstanding, and dazzled in numbers like, Heart's Do Not Break and There is Beauty in the Bellow of the Blast.'
Overall, this show was entertaining, had a beautiful Japanese set and costumes, and contained some stellar talent. It is guaranteed to be a unique and memorable performance of The Mikado.
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The Mikado's remaining shows are May 3 to 5 and 10 to 12, 8 p.m., and May 6 and 12, at 2 p.m., Scarborough Village Theatre, 3600 Kingston Rd. Tickets are $21 and $18 for students and seniors, Thursdays and Sundays only. For tickets, call 416-396-4049.