SCOTTISH Opera’s version of the Mikado is delightful.
They have resisted the temptation to over-modernise the piece preferring to set it in ancient times with traditional costumes. However, the Lord High Executioner does bring the piece bang up to date with his list of people he would cheerfully execute - all or current political leaders and the most recent tax avoiding multi nationals - which is a perfect little insert to the piece.
There is generally a paucity of belly laughs during opera but Gilbert and Sullivan were comic masters and this piece is extremely funny.
From KoKo’s opening scene where he accidently chops the head off his audience participant during his magic act to the lustful advances of the nighmarish Katisha, the opera provides plenty of laugh out loud moments.
But it is the simple movements, beautifully directed, which set it apart. The opening chorus of the gentlemen of Japan is delightfully acted with each of the singers having individual movements and facial expressions. It was a real treat.
KoKo himself, Richard Stuart, is a master of voice and humour and put in a throughly enjoyable performance.
Nicholas Sharratt as the tragic hero Nanki-Poo has a spectacular voice but his performance was spoiled by an irritating Jonathan Ross style speech impediment which he used to give emphasis to the upper class fool role. It was completely unneccessary and, thankfully, disappeared by the second act.
His love interest Yum Yum, Rebecca Bottone, showed her character’s vanity and shallowness perfectly but her voice wasn’t the strongest in the company. Sioned Gwen Davis as Pitti-Sing sang better and her stage presence was such that you were drawn to her whenever she appeared.
Ben McAteer as Pish-Tush and Andrew Shore as Pooh-Bah were also wonderfully gifted singers with a heavy dose of comedy thrown in.
One gripe though was the inclusion of subtitles which your eyes tended to drift towards rather than following what was happening on stage. An opera in English, sung with perfect pronunciation, negated any need for such fripperies.
But overall this is a sparkling piece of entertainment which is unmissable for opera buffs and opera virgins.
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