The Mikado

Overview

Gilbert and Sullivan's The Mikado is being performed at the Opera House on September 5 and 6.

The opera-comedy first opened in London's Savoy Theatre in 1885, and was originally designed as a satire of British politics and institutions.

Nanki-Poo is a wandering minstrel who falls in love with Yum Yum, but she cannot marry him as she has been designated to marry the Lord High Executioner. The Executioner, desperately in need of impressing the Mikado (Emperor of Japan), and in need of someone to execute, agrees to let Nanki-Poo marry his bride to be but only if he can execute him after one month of marriage. Meanwhile, the brutal Mikado's inspecting various officialdoms and in search of his son, who ran away from court after a cougar tried to pin him down. Things get a little complicated when the Mikado arrives on the day of Nanki-Poo's execution.

The play still continues to be one of the most popular musicals of all time, and is still regularly performed at the Savoy. The Mikado is touring fully staged with cast of 40 singers and 24 players to Sullivan’s original orchestration.