The Mikado is Gilbert & Sullivan’s most successful and famous work, and it seems apt that on the fortieth anniversary of the Exeter University Gilbert & Sullivan Society, this seminal operetta should be gracing the boards of the Northcott stage.

The production, directed by Ben Wills, spared no costs in transporting its audience to ancient Japan where our hero Nanki-Poo (played by Michael Gormley), is searching for his love Yum Yum (Kat Beaty). Unfortunately, when he arrives in the town of Titipu, masquerading as a wandering minstrel, he discovers that Yum Yum is betrothed to another man: Ko Ko, the town’s Lord High Executioner (Jonty Fisk). What ensues is a comedic love triangle which is further complicated by the town’s strict prohibitions against flirting (a capital offence), and the Mikado’s official decree that someone in the town must be executed before the month is out in order to make up the numbers.

Unfortunately, the show got off to a bad start with the orchestra’s rendition of the Overture, which was not only slow moving but out of time, with several wrong notes. This didn’t improve much as the performance went on, with the orchestra and performers rarely remaining in time with one another for an entire song. Due to no fault of the actors, one felt that the orchestra was under-rehearsed and that the performers had been used to singing many of the songs at a different tempo to the one the conductor was providing.

That said, there were some excellent voices on the stage. Michael Gormley’s portrayal of the naïve and love-struck Nanki-Poo was warmly endearing, and although his acting was slightly wooden in parts, his strong tenor voice and tuneful performance saved him in his many solos.

However, it was Jonty Fisk, playing Ko Ko, who really saved the first half as his entrance brought an energy to the stage that the rest of the cast hadn’t yet managed to provide. His song ‘As some day it may happen’ was a wonderfully clever performance which contemporised Gilbert and Sullivan’s original list of things that won’t be missed - including Big Brother contestants and Northern Rock - receiving several impromptu aplauses from the audience. Chris Ford (playing Poo-Bah) also did a good job in getting a few laughs from the audience, and Hannah Gregson’s performance as Pitti-Sing really upped the ante when it came to the female singers. Her voice was much stronger and powerful than many of the others and she played her part with great gusto and vivacity.

Overall, all the vocal performances were strong and clear, however, it seemed that many of the cast were singers rather than stage performers which meant that despite their beautiful voices, something was often left lacking in their performances. There was a good use of space and staging, and Ben Wills (the director) obviously has a talent at creating visual jokes outside the text, with several successfully hilarious moments that one would guess were not Mr Gilbert and Mr Sullivan’s original intentions. The production, with a little more tightening up (and a bit of rehearsal from the orchestra) has all the makings of a very enjoyable evening that really brings to life the fabulous music and lyrics that is The Mikado.

***
Emily Jenkins