THE MIKADO IN CONCERT. Comic Opera by WS Gilbert & Sir Arthur Sullivan. Hosts: Nick Plummer, Megan Armstrong-Davies, Melissa Sanderson. Director Kyla Thorburn. Alastair Cockburn musical director and conductor of the Cape Philharmonic Orchestra. Presented by G&S Cape Town. At Artscape Theatre 25-27 July, 2025. SHEILA CHISHOLM attended Sunday afternoon’s matinee.
It’s (almost) a given, when Kyla Thorburn and Alastair Cockburn join forces, audiences can expect a top notch production.
This remarkable concert version, proved no exception. Into that pair put Michael Mitchell’s classic Japanese flavoured sets; Female leads, costumed in couturier, Stephen van Eeden’s glorious, bespoke, gowns; Male leads, male and female choruses, the fabulous orchestra and Cockburn’s expertise with the baton, in immaculate formal evening wear….what do we have? A rare production showing off Sullivan’s fabulous musical accompaniment to Gilbert’s ‘nonsensical take’ on Japanese Society
Then add multi-hued lanterns, the odd Kimono to further the Mikado’s Japanese flavour. Liam Cookson’s sound design and Shanique van Schalkwyk’s excellent Radio Mic control, which must receive high commendation.
Clear diction
For the first time for a long-time soloists and ensembles diction came across clearly.
This production raised musical theatre’s bar so many notches, they will not easily be bettered.
The Mikado written in Gilbert’s typical satirical witty libretto, and Sullivan’s wonderful melodic music, tells why Nanki Poo (Wilhelm Lichtenberg), flees from Titipu (a fictitious Japanese town). As the Mikado’s (deep voiced, majestic Henco Hunter) son Nanki-Poo has been forced into an engagement to Katisha (superbly portrayed as a real shrew by Regina Malan).
Nanki-Poo, in-love with Yum-Yum (pretty, clear-voiced, engaging Sian Atterbury), has returned to Titipu (A Wandering Minstrel) to find Yum-Yum.
Yum-Yum with her sisters Pitti-Sing, Peep-Bo (charming Kerryn Warren and pleasing TeNeale Meaker) made their presence in Titipu known from a ‘ladies seminary’ singing their famous trio Three Little Maids from School.
The sisters are Ko-Ko’s wards. He, (Barend van der Westhuizen) as Lord High Executioner of Titipu is intent on marrying Yum-Yum. Nanki-Poo is determined he, not Ko-Ko will marry Yum-Yum. Stephan le Roux as Lord of Everything he chooses to be, arrogantly muddles the already muddled associations..
Reading from a humorously crafted script silver-tongued Nick Plummer, eloquent Melissa Sanderson and articulate Megan Armstrong-Davies lead the way through this maze of topsy-turvy relationships, while also briefing the audience on Gilbert and Sullivan’s partnership, and their 14 operas–me known as the Savoy Operas.
That this exceptional production only received three airings in Artscape’s Opera House is a disgrace. Such an exceptional high-quality production deserved to be seen by many more patrons.
What: The Mikado – In Concert review
Who: Cape Town G&S
Where and when: Artscape Opera House from 25 – 27 July 2025
WS
