“Then let the throng our joy advance, with laughing song and merry dance.”
The Mikado
The Town of Titipu
July 16 and July 17, 2016
The Gilbert & Sullivan Very Light Opera Company and the Minneapolis Pops Orchestra will present a concert version of Gilbert and Sullivan’s The Mikado, at the Lake Harriet Bandshell, on Saturday July 16th and Sunday, July 17th.
The performances are free and open to the public. There are benches available directly in front of the stage and lots of lawn seating available in the surrounding area. Plan to arrive early to get a good spot as our concerts are one of the most popular events of the summer at the Lake Harriet Bandshell.
The emperor of a far away land has decreed that the act of flirting when not married is punishable by death. Horrified by this prospect, the leaders of a town appoint the next man condemned as the Lord High Executioner, reasoning that this will prevent future executions since he “cannot cut off another’s head until he’s cut his own off”. The lyrics and dialogue have been slightly altered to make the setting a mythical empire. This was done to bring out more clearly Gilbert’s intent to satirize Great Britain’s politics and justice system.
| When: |
Saturday, July 16th, 7:30 PM, and Sunday, July 17th, 5:30 PM | |
| Where: |
The Lake Harriet Bandshell Minneapolis, MN |
Cast of named parts:
| Ko Ko | cheap tailor, and Lord High Executioner | Felix Aguilar Tomlinson |
| Yum Yum | His ward and intended bride | Sarah Wind Richens |
| Pitti Sing | His ward | Maggie Burr |
| Peep Bo | His ward | Sarah Mehle |
| Katisha | Member of the emperor’s court | Deb Haas |
| Nanki Poo | Disguised | Eric Mellum |
| Pish Tush | Nobleman of the town | Tom Berg |
| Pooh Bah | Lord High Everything Else | Waldyn Benbenek |
| Emperor | Christopher Michaela |
The Gilbert & Sullivan Very Light Opera Company has collaborated with Jere Lanz and the Minneapolis Pops Orchestra for many years in presenting a concert version of one of the Gilbert and Sullivan operettas.
Two excellent internet resources for information about The Mikado:
“A very good house. I wish I’d been in time for the performance.”
The Mikado