The Mikado

The Gilbert and Sullivan purists may well complain at the treatment of their beloved works however, I believe that even the adored pair themselves would have been amused at the antics of their Ko-Ko, Pooh-Bah, Katisha etc. in this shameless pot-pourri of laughter and music that made up the production of THE MIKADO from Northern Light Theatre Company recently.

The essential Mikado remains, with all of its delicious characters. But a broad brush has been wielded in colouring it in. Damon Hill's Ko-Ko is a delight and Carolyn Mesecke's Katisha has never been so sufficiently decayed. Nick Setchell makes a splendid Lord High Everything Else and Craig Brooker's very hep Mikado, although looking just a little too young, stood out with his 6 inch platform shoes.

Yum-Yum, Pitti-Sing and Peep-Bo (Kerri Seager, Peta Nievelstein and Kelly Appleby respectively) provide the necessary smattering of maidenly beauty and Miss Seager's, 'The Sun Who's Rays' was a veritable delight to listen to.

Overall this was a copybook ensemble performance that would have looked good on any professional stage. The energy levels were kept high from curtain to curtain and, there was not a moment of let-up, the laughs kept coming thick and fast with a wonderful injection of contemporary humour sprinkled throughout, just to keep it all up to date, including the GST!

Musical Director Mark Horner assembled a large and effective orchestra, which became a bright part of the show itself with Horner adding to the comedy here and there throughout the show.

Kerreane Wilkinson's Choreography was essentially flawless and she has obviously put in all the work needed to keep any audience impressed. She gets better with every show and we are lucky to have such a talent among our Adelaide companies. Every number was decorated with precise and well-rehearsed movement and dance and one's eye was kept very busy all through the total production.

A somewhat simplistic setting with excellent lighting effect worked like a dream, again demonstrating my earnest belief that companies can keep their costs down set-wise if they just use a little imagination. It's not what you do; it's the way that you do it.

Director Ceri Hutton-Horner has excelled herself on this occasion ably assisted by a splendid support team and an almost flawless cast. Plenty of things for me to criticise of course but, I enjoyed myself so much I have forgotten what they were. Pure musical entertainment. Surely the next offering will be HMS PINAFORE?

HYSTERICAL

PULSE Messenger Review 28 March 2001
Rod LEWIS

It is no easy task to put a fresh face on Gilbert and Sullivan's most oft-produced operetta
But under the direction of Ceri Hutton-Horner, the northern light theatre company has not only managed to give the Mikado a face lift, but possibly the best amateur production of the show to date.

More than 40 talented performers fill the Shedley stage to tell the story of Nanki Poo, a wandering minstrel who's affection for Yum-Yum is cut short by her engagement to the Lord High Executioner.

Dwayne Hueppauff and Kerri Seager are sensational as the central lovebirds, as are Nick Setchell and Carolyn Mesecke in the other two leading roles, Pooh-Bah and Katisha.

In the part of the lord high executioner Ko-Ko Damon Hill commands attention every time he's on stage. His rendition of the list song updated with some modern references as per tradition, is a one of the many high lights of the show.

Craig Brooker is the only disappointment in this production, miscast in the cameo role of the Mikado himself. Brooker appears 20 years too young for the role and despite a valiant and enthusiastic attempt, lacks the stage presence to make the character work.

Kereanne Wilkinson's exciting choreography meets every challenge of the show, providing an energetic and often humorous sparkle to every number, while musical director Mark Horner leads the 12 piece band with precision.

The colourful costumes are imaginative and fun, accentuating each character's personality, and Damon Hill has once again designed the highly original set.

With strong use of the colour red and the appropriate Japanese flavour, the stage is both spacious and practical a delight to behold.

On sound Brad Tabe keeps the microphone levels spot on, ensuring all voices are heard during the numbers.

With such high energy, colour, execution and a plethora of much loved tunes like 'Here's a how-de-do', 'Tit-willow', 'Three Little Maids', and 'Gentlemen of Japan', 'The Mikado' should be the hit this company deserves.

 
Tom Foolery

Review
Robert LAIDLAW

A TOM Lehrer fan of 20 years, Fran Edwards is in her element as director of this collection of 30 of the offbeat Harvard math professor's witty ditties.

The songs, sandwiched together with short introductions or Lehrer's own musings on life, attack many of society's sacred cows and are as topical today as when Lehrer wrote and performed them in the 1950s and '60s.

Everything from pollution to relationships and drug abuse gets an airing, while organisations such as the Boy Scouts, the military and the church are still ripe for lampooning.

A cast of seven, accompanied by pianist Dianne Davis, presents the show in cabaret style.

Mark Gulliford is the strongest performer of the four males, although Rohan Watts' verbatim rendition of The Elements - a reworking of Gilbert & Sullivan's Mikado list song - is excellent.

Iris Petitt-Leeks and Cathie Oldfield are standouts among the women. Iris's drunken rendition of Wienerschnitzel Waltz, and Cathie's sensual Masochism Tango win plenty of audience response.

The relaxed atmosphere of the setting, with a buffet supper and licensed bar, is the perfect backdrop to Lehrer's humour. And the cast use limited space in the venue to good effect.

The early technical problems and forgotten lines on opening night were soon forgiven as the show went into full swing with toe-tapping music and laughs.

Edwards and her team have proved that Lehrer's humour has not aged after 40 years - it is still close to the bone, as clever as ever and uproariously funny.

Bye Bye Birdie

Review

Northern's 100th production! It was after "Bye Bye Birdie" was chosen for our end of year production that we discovered that we had picked for our 100th production the same show we did as our 50th - hows that for symmetry? We think redoing this lovely show is an apt way to celebrate our centenary!

'Bye Bye Birdie' is one of the most captivating musical shows of our time. It tells the story of a rock and roll singer who is about to be inducted into the army. The singer, Conrad Birdie, is an Elvis Presley type, Albert Peterson, his agent, a very pleasant mild mannered young man, and Albert's faithful secretary Rose Alvarez concoct one final national publicity plan before Conrad's induction. Conrad will bid a typical American teen-age girl goodbye with an all-American kiss.

The lucky girl, Kim MacAfee of Sweet Apple, Ohio, and her family will appear on the Ed Sullivan Show.

With Albert's mother, Mae, trying to prevent her son marrying Rosie and everyone swooning over Conrad, Sweet Apple is in chaos. Rosie decides to become the Latin American spitfire she has been painted as, Conrad rebels against being told what to do and where to go and mayhem ensues.

This production boasts a strong cast of principals, with Brendan Clare and Ceri Hutton-Horner in the lead roles of Albert and Rosie, Vaughan Harmer and Cathie Oldfield playing the MacAfees and Stacey Webb as the irascible Mae. The juvenile leads of Kim and her sweetheart Hugo are played by Lauren York and Graham Loveday, with Rohan Watts as the charismatic Conrad Birdie. The large teen chorus is a mixture of NLTC regulars and newcomers.

Directed by Megan Hendy with musical direction by Kate Pope and choreography by Peta Nievelstein this production will be loads of fun. The song list includes such numbers as 'Put on a happy face', 'I've got a lot of living to do', 'One last kiss' and 'Kids'.