The Mikado (2011)

Gilbert & Sullivan's
The Mikado
or, the town of Titipu

June 10, 11, 17 & 18, 2011 at 8pm
June 12 & 19, 2011 at 2pm
The International Gilbert & Sullivan Festival USA 2011

Directed by Jacy D'Aiutolo
Music Directed by Joseph Sorge

Cast

The Mikado of Japan - Tom Goode
Nanki-Poo, his son, disguised as a wandering minstrel - John Williams
Ko-Ko, Lord High Executioner - Gary Sullivan
Pooh-Bah , Lord High Everything Else - Blair Eig
Pish-Tush, a Noble Lord - Rick DuPuy
Go-To - Rand Huntzinger
Yum-Yum, engaged to Ko-Ko - Shaina Virginia Vatz
Pitti-Sing, a ward of Ko-Ko - Brittany Stranathan
Peep-Bo, a ward of Ko-Ko - Jessie Dulaney
Katisha, An Elderly Lady in love with Nanki-Poo - Jennifer Rutherford

Ensemble - Brian Beard, Dawn Fairbanks, Ralph Johnson, Monique Brooks, Mollie Fairbanks, Alexa Kuhn, Alexander Dennis, Anne Gribbin, Carlton Maryott, Chloe Fairbanks, Rand Huntzinger, Jane Maryott, Will Hernandez (Dancer), John Fairbanks (Supernumerary)

Children's Chorus - Grace Brigham, Molly Brigham, Tuyet Gunter, Francisca Maria Moreno, Sydney Pollack

Orchestra

Violin 1 - Steve Natrella (CM), Bonnie Barrows, David Friedlander, Irv Berner
Violin 2 -Martin Brown, Carolyn Larson, Andrew Nixon
Viola - Amanda Laudwein, Matt Kupferman, David Zajic
Cello - Michael Stein, Tom Zebovitz
Bass - Pete Gallanis
Flute - Jackie Miller, Louise Hill
Oboe - Gwen Earle
Clarinet - Laura Langbein, Laura Bornhoeft, James Bensinger
Bassoon - John Hoven, Steve Rennings, Steve Wechsler, Paul Chassey
Horn - Joe Cross, Michael Fantus
Trumpet - Curt Anstine, Tom Gleason
Trombone - Frank Eliot, Teri Leventhal
Percussion - George Huttlin

Production Staff

Producer - Denise Young
Assistant Music Director - Jenny Craley Bland
Stage Manager - Tynika Booth
Choreographer - Allison Otto
Set Designer - Jacy D’Aiutolo
Costume Designer - Denise Young
Lighting Designer - Jonathan Zucker
Make-Up & Hair Designer - Renee Silverstone
Make-Up Assistants - Alice Drew, Katie Pedneau
Audition Pianist - Jenny Craley Bland
Rehearsal Pianists - Jenny Craley Bland, Addie Edelson, Judy Gardner, Debbie Grossman
Master Carpenter - Rebecca A. Meyerson
Scenic Artist - Rebecca Meushaw
Carpenters - Tony Dwyer, William Kolodrubetz, Blair Eig, Gary Sullivan, Dave Kaysen
Props - Carlton & Jane Maryott
Photography - Harvey Levine
Program - Denise Young
Surtitles & Presentation - Douglas Maryott
Cover & Poster Art - Erika White Abrams
Publicity - Ed Vilade
House Management - Merle Haber
Set Storage - Rockville Civic Center

Director's Note

Many stories have been told and retold about the events leading up to the creation of The Mikado. Whether all of these stories are true or not, Gilbert and Sullivan’s famous feud (or one of them, at any rate) ultimately culminated in perhaps the best-loved, and certainly the most popular of the
Savoy operas. The Mikado opened on March 14, 1885 and ran for 672 performances in its initial run- more than any other Savoy opera.

Certainly, the initial success of The Mikado can be attributed in part to the popularity in 1885 London of all things “Japanese”. However, the play itself is not about Japan in any real sense. While the play is certainly set in “Japan”, Gilbert’s pen was, as always, aimed squarely at Victorian society and the English government. And while his initial targets are separated from us by three thousand miles and more than a hundred years, we can easily see their counterparts in modern life. Perhaps this reflects a disappointing lack of progress in society, but in this case, society’s loss is comedy’s gain.

The applicability of Gilbert’s humor across the world and across time has something to do with the continued popularity of The Mikado. But beyond that, The Mikado offers perhaps Gilbert’s most realistic, immediately accessible and human story. It is that story you will see- Gilbert’s tale, as it was in 1885, told again. We hope we have captured Gilbert’s humor and his story for you tonight.

Enjoy the show.

Synopsis

Act I
A year ago, Nanki-Poo fled from the court of his father, the Mikado of Japan, to escape marriage with Katisha. Assuming the disguise of a musician, he fell in love with Yum-Yum, but was prevented from marrying her by her guardian, Ko-Ko, who wished to marry her himself. Ko-Ko, however, has since been condemned to death for flirting. As Act I opens, Nanki-Poo is hastening to Titipu to find out whether Yum-Yum is now free to marry him. From Pooh- Bah (a corrupt and proud public official) and Pish-Tush, Nanki-Poo learns that Ko-Ko has, instead, become Lord High Executioner, thus preventing the sentence of decapitation from being carried out. Ko-Ko is, in fact, going to marry Yum-Yum that very day. A letter comes from the Mikado ordering him to execute somebody or else lose his position of Lord High -Executioner. Ko-Ko is in a quandary to find someone to execute, when Nanki-Poo appears, bent upon suicide because he cannot marry Yum-Yum. The two strike a deal: Nanki-Poo will marry Yum-Yum for a month, and then will be the subject for the public execution when that month is up. There is general rejoicing in the apparent solution to the problem, marred only by Katisha's arrival, seeking Nanki-Poo. She is driven away and threatens to take the matter to the Mikado.

Act II
Act II opens with Yum-Yum's bridal tea. As all are singing a "merry madrigal," Ko-Ko announces that he has discovered a law stating that when a married man is executed his wife must be buried alive. To save Yum-Yum from that fate, Nanki-Poo decides to kill himself at once. But this again throws Ko-Ko into a quandary to find someone to execute (especially as he has heard that the Mikado is on his way to Titipu). Nanki-Poo nobly offers himself for immediate decapitation, but Ko-Ko is unable to perform the act without some practice. Another way out of the difficulty presents itself. Ko-Ko has Pooh-Bah make a false affidavit that Nanki-Poo has been executed, and bids Nanki-Poo and Yum-Yum to leave the country. When the Mikado arrives, Ko-Ko thinks that he is there to verify that an execution has taken place, so he produces the affidavit and describes the execution with great gusto. But the Mikado has actually come at the prompting of Katisha in search of his lost son. When it is learned that the person whom Ko-Ko has supposedly executed is really the Mikado's son, Ko-Ko and his accomplices are declared guilty of "compassing the death of the Heir Apparent." The only hope for them is to admit the falsehood of the affidavit and produce Nanki-Poo alive. But, as Nanki-Poo has already married Yum-Yum and so cannot marry Katisha, Katisha will surely insist on their executions. Ko-Ko solves the problem by offering his hand to Katisha; and, after he sings her a touching ballad, she accepts him. The end of the opera comes with Nanki-Poo and Yum-Yum's joyful return to town.

Musical Selections

Act I

If you want to know who we are (Nanki-Poo & Men)
A wand'ring minstrel I (Nanki-Poo & Men)
Our great Mikado, virtuous man (Pish-Tush & Men)
Young man, despair (Pooh-Bah, Nanki-Poo & Pish-Tush)
And have I journeyed for a month (Nanki-Poo & Pooh-Bah)
Behold the Lord High Executioner (Ko-Ko & Men)
As some day it may happen (Ko-Ko & Men)
Comes a train of little ladies (Girls)
Three little maids from school are we (Yum-Yum, Peep-Bo, Pitti-Sing, Girls)
So please you, Sir, we much regret (Yum-Yum, Peep-Bo, Pitti-Sing, Pooh-Bah, Girls)
Were you not to Ko-Ko plighted (Yum-Yum & Nanki-Poo)
I am so proud (Pooh-Bah, Ko-Ko & Pish-Tush)
With aspect stern and gloomy stride - Ensemble

Act II

Braid the raven hair (Pitti-Sing & Girls)
The sun, whose rays are all ablaze (Yum-Yum)
Brightly dawns our wedding day (Yum-Yum, Pitti-Sing, Nanki-Poo & Pish-Tush)
Here's a how-de-do (Yum-Yum, Nanki-Poo & Ko-Ko)
Mi-ya sa-ma (Mikado, Katisha, Girls & Men)
The criminal cried (Ko-Ko, Pitti-Sing, Pooh-Bah, Ko-Ko, Katisha)
See how the Fates their gifts a lot (Mikado, Pitti-Sing, Pooh-Bah, Ko-Ko, Katisha)
The flowers that bloom in the spring (Nanki-Poo, Yum-Yum, Ko-Ko, Pitti-Sing, Pooh-Bah)
Alone, and yet alive! (Katisha)
Willow, tit willow (Ko-Ko)
There is beauty in the bellow of the blast (Katisha & Ko-Ko)
For he's gone and married Yum-Yum! (Ensemble)