The Mikado

I had to search far and wide for this DVD and it finally appeared on Ebay.

This 1966 production by D'Oyly Carte troop is true to its origins. Filmed on stage in England, this video performance is WAY better than the dated 1939 B&W film which is now on Criterion. The costumes and scenery are fresher but still authentic, the singing is superb, the actors "get into it" without overacting and adhere to the G&S tradition in the way only D'Oyly Carte can. Essentially The Mikado is a satire on British class wars superimposed over Japanese culture. It's hilarious. The lyrics by Gilbert are in the pantheon of literature and the music by Sullivan is unforgettable. The costumes, makeup, scenery, fans and story are jaw dropping. I first saw this operetta in 1965 and have been an opera fanatic ever since. For a somewhat fictionalized account of G&S and how The Mikado came to be, see the excellent film Topsy-Turvy (1999) directed by Mike Leigh.

I wandered into a theater sometime in the late '60s and watched The Mikado because I didn't have anything else to do that afternoon. I can't be sure that it was this production; it seems to me that it was performed by the D'Oyly Carte company, which I recall because it is such an unlikely -- therefore unforgettable -- name.

Anyway, it was almost a magical experience. I was for a couple of hours transported into an imaginary world which I had not known existed. The music was pretty, if not particularly memorable (one doesn't walk down the street whistling tunes from the Mikado). The dialog was OK, but the lyrics were hilarious. I have rented and borrowed various productions of The Mikado in an effort to find the one I saw forty years ago, but most are not entertaining; the lyrics are either inaudible or garbled beyond comprehension, etc. The one I saw was very well done and enchanting.

I have since seen the VHS version of Wilford Leach's production of Pirates of Penzance, with Kevin Kline, Angela Lansbury, etc., and am even more a G&S fan. It, too, has great lyrics and music, though you don't see people whistling its tunes either.

The Mikado ties with Pirates of Penzance as my personal favourite of Gilbert and Sullivan's operettas. Its story is exceedingly charming and clean family fun, while the music is some of Sullivan's most beautiful(especially The Sun Whose Rays). And if you love The Mikado as much as I do, you'll love this D'Oyly Carte performance in their Golden Age. It is deserving of a better DVD in the future, with clearer audio and a sharper image, but this is the DVD we're talking about not the performance(the latter of which being the one under review). And this performance is absolutely wonderful, tying with the 80s Stratford production as the best Mikado available on DVD(the Eric Idle one I also am fond of). It is a very beautiful-looking and authentic-in-detail traditional performance, I genuinely felt that I'd been transported to exotic Japan, a feeling that not many of the other DVD productions have done. The performance is also complete, with all the dialogue and lyrics intact. Furthermore, the dialogue and lyrics are still hilarious. The orchestra play the music as if they also know that it is one of Sullivan's most beautiful overall scores, in a very stylish and sumptuous reading. The chorus sing vibrantly and are equally enthusiastic in their acting, and there was nothing questionable about the conducting either. The staging is as charming and witty as the operetta itself, the bit where Pooh-Bah talks to Pish-Tush just for the camera is a tad contrived but is not enough to bring the performance down.

And we also have the pleasure of having a dream cast in the lead roles. John Reed- though Martyn Green in the 1939 film plays with a little more subtlety- is hilarious as Ko-Ko, clearly enjoying every minute he's on stage(the little list song is deliciously funny without ever feeling crude) and he has a fine voice, making the not-easy music seem easy. Valerie Masterson's Yum-Yum is youthful, beautiful and charm personified, with one of the most gorgeously-sung and heartfelt renditions of The Sun Whose Rays I've heard anywhere. Christine Palmer has a rich voice, and is commanding regardless of whether the role of Katisha calls for venom or pathos, both of which Palmer meets splendidly. Phillip Potter is marvellous, his tenor voice is unstrained and nuanced with a strong touch of youthfulness and he doesn't come across as bland(like a lot of Nanki-Poos) as an actor either. I've not heard a better Pooh-Bah or Mikado than those of Kenneth Sandford- droll yet instantly appealing with a lovely creamy baritone voice- and Donald Adams, who dominates from minute one of his appearance with a regal presence but that doesn't restrain him from a couple of endearingly silly moments too. In conclusion, a wonderful performance, if you want a good example of the Golden Age of D'Oyly Carte this Mikado more than fits the bill. 10/10 Bethany Cox

Although it is not shown in the link as I write this, Amazon does indeed carry the DVD version of this filmed performance. Having seen several filmed versions of the Mikado it remains the best performance hands down.

Now for the bad news: The audio quality is, in a word, muddy. If you didn't already know the lyrics by heart, you certainly would not be able to distinguish them here. It is a mono sound track that could have benefited by some audio wizardry. As for the visuals: It seems softish and a rather faded. The coloration of the costume and backdrops are, by design, subdued thus influencing the overall tone of the film but this print must have seen better days. Lastly, $36.00 is a bit dear for this but, hey, I'm a bit obsessive...

Despite the quibbles the performance is very enjoyable with the prime standouts being Ko- Ko (John Reed) and Yum-Yum (Valerie Masterson). It is their voices with which I compare whenever listening to other performers.

If you are new to Gilbert & Sullivan it would be better to find a clear recording of this material to appreciate the tone, pacing and vocal nuance of this work of art. But once discovered, I can assure you, if you have a soul, you WILL walk down the street whistling tunes from the Mikado!

The Mikado is a great operetta, but unfortunately this film does not do it justice. Nearly everyone's performances were stiff and lifeless. Philip Potter's acting (or lack thereof) was particularly dull - he appeared to be half asleep for the entire film. The faux-Japanese makeup, wigs, costumes, and props are obviously inaccurate and offensive. Most of the choreography consisted of simply opening and closing fans, which got boring very quickly.

There are a few redeeming aspects. The singing was generally good. John Reed was entertaining. But on the whole, the film is boring, outdated, and uninspired.