Mikado: Contemporary satire in 1880s Japan

Thursday, March 12, 2009
Leanne Miller, from left, Megan Gerk and JeriLynn Karr are among the stars in the Southwest Nebraska Community Theatre production of Mikado, on stage at the McCook High School auditorium at 7:30 tonight through Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday. (Tor Olson/Olson's Photography)

Wonderful music. Beautiful costumes. An awesome set and staging! The Southwest Community Theater Association has done it again. An opera staged in McCook, Nebraska? "Come on," no one would attend! Ah, but attend we did and found it enthralling.

Billed as a "Comic Opera," one thinks of the unending high notes from a contralto and, "It ain't over until the fat lady sings"! Nope, it isn't one of those at all. It is up-to-date, modern and most of all a lot of fun. I found that I had to listen 60 mph on a 25 mph street. Listen close because there is an "ah ha" zinger a minute -- a parody of current events from right here in our community and across the nation.

Mikado was written by operatic collaborators, Arthur Sullivan and W.S. Gilbert, in London around 1885. At that time England was enamored with everything Japanese. In their musical Gilbert and Sullivan found a way to make fun of British politics and institutions more freely by disguising them as Japanese. You know, it still works today. Blagojevich, they got him, Jesse Dutcher takes a hit plus Matt Sehnert and his doughnut holes, they got him too.

With my first listen, I'll bet I missed most of the good natured little barbs and I'm not sure I caught them all the second time through.

I couldn't get a good count but I'm guessing that there has to be at least 60 community members involved. I noted a professional body man, a couple gandy-dancers, teachers and music teachers, college and high school students, day laborers, housewives, a plumber, preachers three, a mail carrier, even a lawyer! All involved have put together a sterling performance with not a professional vocalist or actor in the bunch. (Music teachers, well, I think they can properly be billed as professionals!) No matter the thespians are also your neighbors so come out, laugh with them, and support your friends as they give you a magical evening.

It is produced by Kay Flaska. Tim Miller débuts as director and is assisted by Janet Hepp. They do it well. Chuck Trail built the set and his Dian and her crew painted an awesome backdrop complete with a couple Tories and Mount Fuji in all its splendor. Janet Hepp fashioned the full black wigs to cover the blonde, brown, gray or shiny bald pates of the Caucasian actors. Sheryl Havens was responsible for the outstanding costuming! To my practiced eye, only one of the characters has any Asian blood and she is simply beautiful. Watch Erica also! You will be treated to three hours of music by a nine piece orchestra ably led by Christy Stevens. The sound and light crew have their act together so listening, even with a jet engine in my ear, was comfortable and easy.

The plot is a bit complicated so new to our audience was a short synopsis by Janet and Tim in full costume before the curtain opened. We were clued in as to what to expect and urged to participate

Mark Carmen turns in a good performance (I didn't know he could sing) as the Mikado. New to me was Jeremy Blomstedt, from Palisade, the most versatile Pooh-Bah, master of many voices representing a plethora of important bureaucrats. Veterans JeriLynn Karr as Yum-Yum, Charles Coleman with a superior performance as Ko-Ko, Greg Hepp as Pish-Tush and Tim Miller as Nanki-Poo ably fill the lead parts. New to our stage but most able is Tiffany Gapp playing the horrendous Kitisha. There are four choruses on stage, the Young Girl's, Women's, Noble's and Men's plus a gaggle of the Mikado's Guards. Great voices, wonderful harmony, and backed by a superior orchestra, you "gotta" see and experience it to believe it!

Ten bucks well spent! Ann and I loved it so much that we went back the second time. You'll not be disappointed!

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