The ENO Mikado (1986)

Cast The Mikado Richard Angas Nanki-Poo Bonaventura Bottone Ko-Ko Eric Idle Pooh-Bah Richard Van Allan Pish-Tush Mark Richardson Yum-Yum Lesley Garrett Pitti-Sing Jean Rigby (recording) Ethna Robinson (video) Peep-Bo Susan Bullock Katisha Felicity Palmer English National Opera Producer: Jonathan Miller Conductor: Peter Robinson

Jay CDJAY 1321

MCA MCAD 6215

This recording/video is based on a controversial production that Jonathan Miller directed for the English National Opera. The action of the opera was transferred to an English seaside hotel in the 1920s. I must confess that I did not originally care for the production, but a revival at the New York City Opera in the fall of 2001 persuaded me that Miller's wacky vision was compelling theater in its own right.

I believe Dudley Moore played Ko-Ko in one or more of the revival seasons. Richard Suart has played it frequently in recent years, including the aforesaid revival at the New York City Opera in 2001.

Showtime SHOW CD/MC005

The recording is of substantial excerpts, but not the complete opera. It is not likely to be anyone's first choice, but collectors who already have a Mikado or two may find it a refreshing change of pace. The video is superbly done technically, so it comes down to whether you approve of Miller's vision of the opera.

In the recording, of course, you lose all the visual effects, so the most interesting numbers are those where ENO has altered the standard text. Perhaps the most notable is the list song, which was entirely rewritten with topical references. Brian Sweeney is a fan of the duet between Ko-Ko and Katisha in the second act:

Thames Video Release

May I say, in spite of the entirely new Little List, I love it, if only for "Beauty in the Bellow," where Felicity Palmer (it's her again! I love her!) replies to Eric Idle's Ko-Ko:

Ko-Ko: Are you old enough to marry, do you think?
Katisha: Oh, YES!
Ko-Ko: Won't you wait until you're eighty in the shade?
Katisha: Why should I?

And, she sounds like she can't wait for the honeymoon, probably leaving Ko-Ko even more frightened. It's very very funny.

Ron Orenstein also loved the production, saying he "thought Idle was a terrific Ko-Ko and particularly liked the very arch Yum-Yum." Chris Webster added:

I found the production to be a revelation, and I loved every minute of it. Bell-boys, tennis rackets, BBC accents, pilots, the lot. I have since seen the production twice in the theatre, and would have no hesitation in attending again should it have another revival. The only disappointment was that Eric Idle was replaced by this time, by the gentleman who for some explicable reason is now considered to be Mr. G&S himself.

Musical Heritage Society 912115K

Mel Moratti pointed out that the Musical Heritage Society CD re-issue is not complete, but consists of 19 numbers, and 61.25 mins playing time. This includes most of the Act One finale. The Koch and Showtime highlights consist of 12 numbers only. As Mel observes, even at budget price this is not a very good playing time. The tracks of this version are:

If you want to know
A Wandring minstrel
Our Great Mikado
Young Man Despair
Behold the Lord High
Little List
Three Little Maids
Braid the Ravens Hair
the Sun whose rays
Flowers that bloom
Tit Willow
There is beauty in the bellow