Gilbert and Sullivan’s ‘The Mikado’ mocks British Empire
Gilbert and Sullivan’s ‘The Mikado’ mocks British Empire
Gilbert and Sullivan’s classic satire of British pomposity opens at the Adobe Theater this weekend.
The classically convoluted plot, snappy lyrics and catchy tunes combine to skewer the British Empire. Its laws are both draconian and daffy.
“The reason they set it in Japan was because Japan was very foreign to them,” co-director Cy Hoffman said.. “It allowed them to invent the story. It was really the British they were making fun of.”
The operetta –– arguably the composers’ most popular –– has long inspired hand-wringing over its loopy names and Victorian-era casual racism.
But don’t expect any white actors in yellowface in the Adobe production, co-director Jane Hoffman said. This is a PC version with no Asian-ized makeup, exaggerated bowing or shuffling.
“Our goal is to make sure you know these are American actors playing British actors doing a satire on the British government,” she said.
Opening in 1885 London, the story took a cue from a Japanese traveling exhibition then on view at a museum, Jane said.
The cast of 12 will portray the original cast of 35 to 40 through dual roles.
The story follows a young man named Nanki-Poo who has banished himself from the town of Titipu after falling in love with the beautiful Yum-Yum, who is engaged to Ko-Ko. Its infantalized citizens bow to a despot called The Mikado.
When Nanki-Poo hears Ko-Ko has been condemned to death for flirting, he returns to Titipu, only to learn that Ko-Ko has been reprieved and promoted to Lord High Executioner. The plot pretzels and twists in this pointed satire spiced with humor.
“It’s probably their most famous and beloved opera,” Cy said. “They wrote 14 operettas. Most of them are still performed all the time.”
Gilbert and Sullivan actually hated each other.
“They never spoke,” Jane said. “They communicated through letters.”