****** - Verified Buyer
4.5
5 stars for production/performance, 4 for the quality of the video. If you love Gilbert& Sullivan and especially The Mikado, you definitely need to see this production. It is an utter delight with some of the most clever staging I've ever seen. And the costumes and makeup are so much fun (do pay attention to details and how the designer really did a great mashup of Victorian and Japanese dress/costume). The performers are also wonderful, the gentleman playing Nanki-poo has a gorgeous tenor voice. There is lots of silliness, of course, some of it unexpected (that giant vase!) I've seen at least 4 or 5 different productions of The Mikado, and this is one of, if not the best productions I've enjoyed.I enjoyed the presentation but it was a far cry from the Doyle O'Carte version. The voices are good, but the staging was quite different than I expected.Using a traditional score and a concept setting, the operetta comes alive in a new way. Peter Cousens brings a musical comedy interpretation to his Nnnki-Poo, while the set is changed to a Victorian Orientalia shop in London. Anne-Maree McDonald is a very traditional Yum-Yum, adding different elements which work as a whole.This production was Hollywood-ized,revised and dispised.Really unhappy. I ordered this for my grandmother for Christmas and it is not zoned for Australia. Should not be an option if it's not going to work!! How do I apply for a return and refund?This is one of the best presentations I've seen.This is truly an excellent production. Ths quality of the singing ---- chorouses, solos, duets arewonderful.This 1988 Mikado at 21 years of age lacks many of the more up-to-date production qualities that would make this a more desirable DVD. Sound quality was inconsistent; it seemed like the performers were occasionally too far from microphones so it sounded as if they were singing from the other side of the stage. This becomes a major consideration when you consider the wordiness of the Gilbert and Sullivan libretto. If you're a fan of following along with the story and catching all the lyrics, this is not your Mikado.The other distractor was the costuming. In this production, they blended the traditional Japanese period costumes with 19th Century Victorian elements that were more annoying then amusing. I could've done without the briefcases, black umbrellas and derby hats on the men's chorus as well as Nanki Poo's pimped out bicycle festooned with streamers and a handlebar basket.Also a distraction were 1980s period references in comic ad libs about Crocodile Dundee and obscure Australian politicians that are unknown to the rest of us.Having said all that, performance-wise, Heather Begg was exceptional as Katisha. Pooh Bah (John Yurisich), Pish-Tush (?), and the Mikado himself(Robert Eddie) were fine operatic singers so they could be enjoyed, however, Ko-Ko (Graham Ewer) left much to be desired with his silliness and apparent rushing through some of his numbers. He murdered "Taken From the County Jail" singing as if he couldn't wait to get through it. Not sure why they arranged it that way but he was obvioulsy in collusion with the orchestra who played right along at record speed. Peter Cousens as Nanki Poo made about as weak a showing as any I have ever seen in any male lead in a musical performance. One wonders where they got him and why? Anne Maree MacDonald as Yum Yum did a fine job and saved Cousens on more than one occasion by balancing out his tepid singing with her lovely soprano.All in all, I would suggest looking around a little more before I spent twenty-five bucks on this Mikado, particularly if you like your G&S less adulterated.For so many years the D'Oly Carte company controlled how Gilbert & Sullivan operettas were to be performed. Once the restrictions were lifted, several companies have reinterpreted their works. I have found that Opera Australia has produced a number of original productions of G&S's works that are a lot of fun to watch. I looked forward to receiving this DVD and was delighted by it. Although,it was made in 1986, the copy is clear and crisp to watch. The unique costumes are colorful, although some are not very oriental. The main characters are superb and the sets are unique. The Mikado is suitably horrifying. There are some local political references that are not relevant to a worldwide audience, but easy to ignore. The main actors are not separately miked and although easy to hear their voices don't match the sound with the rest of the chorus. Also, why doesn't Kultur, the production company, put subtitles for the hard of hearing as well as those who find Gilbert's patter songs difficult to follow? Even though this is a video recording made 20 years ago, it was just released. Surely, it must be possible to put the subtitles on before it is released. Otherwise, I would heartily recommend this DVD.
