The Mikado at the Mayflower Theatre Southampton Review
The Mikado
Mayflower Theatre, Southampton
29 June to 2 July 2016
Reviewed by Angela Paull
Last night we went to see the Scottish Opera’s performance of The Mikado at the Mayflower Theatre in Southampton. The Mayflower is situated in the centre of the city and surrounded by plenty of parking (I always use Grosvenor Square as it has a flat rate of £2 after 6pm). The theatre has a bright roomy foyer, complete with snack kiosk, bars and a restaurant, so everything you could need is on site.
So what of the performance itself? This was the first time I had seen a Gilbert & Sullivan piece so I went in without any preconceptions and I was really very impressed indeed.
In a nutshell, the story revolves around Nanki-Poo, a young travelling musician who is in love with Yum-Yum. She, however, is promised in marriage to her ward Ko-Ko, the Lord High Executioner of Titipu. However Nanki-Poo is not who he first appears to be and is himself promised in marriage to Katisha from his home town. There is a wealth of plotting and subterfuge between these main characters before their convoluted affairs of the heart are resolved.
The sets throughout were magnificent – from the “magician” Koko and his magic box at the start of the show to a monster skeleton at the end this was a visually stunning production. The costumes and lighting all added to the drama and when combined with the perfectly pitched score from the orchestra it was altogether a feast for the senses.
There was also room for plenty of comedy along the way. At one point Ko-Ko, played by the excellent Richard Stuart, is consulting his list of potential future executions and what followed was a roll call including Brexiteers, Jeremy Corbyn and David Cameron amongst many others. Very topical and laugh out loud funny.
Nanki-Poo and Yum-Yum, played by Nicholas Sharratt and Rebecca Bottone, were portrayed with a marvellous lightness of touch and a real sense of slapstick at times. Both performers looked as though they were having a really good time and as an audience member you really wanted them both to avoid the unpleasant deaths that seem inevitable at one point!
Our favourite character of the evening though was Katisha – played quite brilliantly by Rebecca de Pont Davies. A Miss-Havisham-esque rejected lover she flounced around the stage in a fabulous black wedding outfit with just the right combination of fury and hurt but with enough humour to make her strangely likeable. Although she was denied a reunion with her intended, Nanki-Poo, there was potential for her happy ending, even though she was tricked into it. Ko-Ko’s reluctant wooing of Katisha leads to one of the shows stand out moments too – a very funny rendition of Tit-Willow, complete with puppet bird.
Although the tale is set in Japan it has a very British feel about it, Yum-Yum and her schoolgirl companions could be straight out of the pages of St Trinian’s. This makes it feel very accessible and whilst the songs were subtitled for the audience it was a very easy story to follow with lots of amusing dialogue between songs.
It is a long performance, at almost 3 hours with interval, and towards the end I was starting to feel a little uncomfortable in my seat but that’s common of all theatres.
All in all this was a show that delivered much more than I was expecting, if you think you wouldn’t like opera I would give this a go – you might just change your mind.
Rating: 5/5 
Tickets cost from £8 to £44 (booking fees may apply).
The Mikado is at the Mayflower Theatre in Southampton until 2 July 2016. For more information or to book tickets click here or call the box office on 02380 711811.
Mayflower Theatre, Commercial Road, Southampton, SO15 1GE | 02380 711811
