Gilbert and Sullivan's THE MIKADO to be Presented
Tuscaloosa - The Department of Music at Shelton State Community College will
present Gilbert and Sullivan's greatest hit The Mikado in three performances April 7
through 9 at the Bean-Brown Theatre located in the Sandra Hall Ray Fine Arts Center
of the Martin Campus at 9500 Old Greensboro Road in Tuscaloosa.
Set in the story-book Japanese village of Titipu and featuring such favorite songs as
"A Wand'ring Minstrel," "Three Little Maids from School" and "Tit Willow," The
Mikado is arguably the most popular operetta ever written and has delighted
audiences for more than a century.
The Mikado was first performed at the Savoy Theatre, London, England in 1885 and
ran longer in its initial run than any other Gilbert and Sullivan opera.
Since then it has been filmed twice and performed in every possible style - jazzed,
swung, and even as a ballet.
The Mikado features favorite Gilbert and Sullivan characters, Yum-Yum (played by
Brittany Norris), Nanki-Poo (Chris Wood), and Ko-Ko (Joey Lay), the Lord High
Executioner with his "little list" of potential victims, not to mention the fearsome
Katisha (Eryn Davis), the hilariously ridiculous Pooh-Bah (Barry Bonner), and the
Mikado (Kevin Beck) himself, with his own list of punishments to fit the crime.
Other performers include: Marlin Ward as Pish-Tush, Micklynn Kannapel as Pitt-Sing,
Sarah Hunnicutt Beams as Peep-Bo, and Megan Skelton as Ling-Ling. The Citizens of
Titipu include:
Kayla Beams, Chance Blake, John Lyons, Hunter Nelson, Jared Hoggli, Dustin
Shipman, Brittany Stewart, Daniel Box, Matt Carter, Kaitlin Killian, Megan Pike,
Marquita Poe, Jacob Ramsey, Anna Samaniego, Alicia Stroup, Adam Vincent, Natalie
Sanders, James Thomas, Ham Bagby, Randy Smalley, Laura White and Lindsey
Vining.
"All of the roles are being performed by members of the Shelton Singers with the
addition of Kevin Beck, who is a former Shelton Singer. Kevin played "The Mikado"
in a production at the University of Alabama Birmingham two years ago," said Glinda
Blackshear, musical director.
In addition to Blackshear, artistic staff for the production includes choreographer
Ray Taylor, scenic designer Wheeler Kincaid, lighting designer Charlie Dennis and
technical director Russell Frost. Accompaniment will be provided by Susan Goode,
Syble Coats and Mark Brown.
Performances will be presented at 7:30 p.m. on April 7 and 8 with a 2:00 p.m.
matinee on April 9. All tickets are $5.00 and may be purchase at the Bean-Brown
Theatre Box Office beginning March 27.
For additional information, contact Glinda Blackshear at 205/391-2344 or by email at
gblackshear@sheltonstate.edu.
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(Plot synopsis follows)
THE MIKADO
SYNOPSIS OF THE STORY
Nanki-Poo, a wandering minstrel, has come to the town of Titipu in search of
Yum-Yum, a girl with whom he has fallen in love. Ko-Ko, her guardian, had
been condemned to death under the Mikado's capricious law against flirting.
but has since been appointed Lord High Executioner, on the assumption that
he will be unwilling to enforce a law of which he himself must be the first
victim. While Ko-Ko plans to marry Yum-Yum himself, Nanki-Poo woos the
beautiful girl. Yum-Yum returns his affection, but she is unwilling to defy
her guardian.
Meanwhile, Ko-Ko learns that his post is to be abolished by the Mikado for
non-performance of duty. His search for a victim is interrupted by the
appearance of the despondent Nanki-Poo, bent on suicide. The two men strike
a deal that Nanki-Poo may marry Yum-Yum,if he will agree to become Ko-Ko's
first victim at the end of a month.
The general rejoicing that follows this announcement is halted by the
arrival of Katisha, an elderly lady of the Mikado's court. Thwarted in her
efforts to claim Nanki-Poo as her lover, she attempts to reveal his true
identity, but the entire town shouts her down as the act ends.
Act II finds Yum-Yum and Nanki-Poo preparing for their wedding. But Ko-Ko
produces a surprise-"by the Mikado's law, when a married man is beheaded,
his wife is buried alive!" Yum-Yum is having second thoughts when the
approach of the Mikado himself is announced. Ko-Ko panics and decides that
a dead body will not be needed if the proper papers are produced. He sends
Nanki-Poo away to marry Yum-Yumand prepares a "certificate"of Nanki-Poo's
execution.
The Mikado is delighted to receive the news until he sees the name of the
victim. Ko-Ko now learns for the first time that Nanki-Poo is the son of
the Mikado. Along with Pooh-Bah and Pitti-Sing, who have acted as witnesses
to the fake execution, Ko-Ko is sentenced to be boiled in oil for
"compassing the death of the Heir Apparent."
When Ko-Ko goes to Nanki-Poo for help, the minstrel explains that he
originally disguised himself in order to escape Katisha's attentions, and he
has no intention of being anything but "dead" until she is married to
someone else. To save his own neck, Ko-Ko woos and wins the lady in record
time. When the Mikado returns from lunch to find his son still alive, and
Ko-Ko married to Katisha, he declares that "nothing could possibly be more
satisfactory."