The Mikado, London Coliseum - ★★★★ - Until November 30, 2019


Lovers of Gilbert and Sullivan don't miss this one! The ENO does a thoroughly amusing production of this classic. Updating the costumes and set to the 1920's and the High Executioner's list to today, the ENO re-invents and yet stays true to the original. The show remains the silly, romantic romp that we all enjoy, even as Gilbert's lyrics may make us ponder some deeper questions such as the impermanence of life and love and the arbitrariness of justice and convention. Chris Hopkins and the orchestra do a beautiful job of celebrating Sullivan's wonderful music and all the cast are quite on point. Richard Suart gets it just right as Ko-Ko, the Lord High Executioner and Andrew Shore is delightfully pompous and craven as Pooh-Bah. Soraya Mafi's Yum-Yum is convincingly sweet, girlish and vain. She beautifully delivers her paean of self-adoration in "The sun whose rays." Elgan Llŷr Thomas does a lovely version of "A wand'ring minstrel I" and is suitably lovestruck as Nanki-Poo. Yvonne Howard is alternately comic and then poignant as Katisha, and John Tomlinson literally embodies the Mikado in his enormous suit. This is a production that absolutely delivers on the great fun, sly gibes and charming melodies that define the Gilbert and Sullivan experience.

 Reviewed by J.C.
Image: ENO The Mikado 2019, John Tomlinson. © Genevieve Girling
 Our Score:  ☆☆☆☆ 

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 WHEN, WHERE, GETTING THERE:
Until November 30, 2019
Oct 28 & Nov 2, 9, 16, 22, 30 at 7 pm
Nov 2, 9, 30 at 2 pm
London Coliseum
Nearest station: Charing Cross
https://www.eno.org/whats-on/the-mikado
Map & Location: St Martin's Ln, Charing Cross, London WC2N 4ES, UK

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