Music Reviews

Apr 12, 2008 - Nevada Opera's exuberant, good-natured "The Mikado" is at Reno's Pioneer Center

By Jack Neal

Step aside Brittany and Paris for real stars. The obsession opera buffs have with the delights of Gilbert and Sullivan far outstrip the paparazzi-driven world of America’s current pop divas.

Who can resist the real worlds - contrived as they are - of Yum-Yum, Nanki-Poo, Ko-Ko, Pooh-Bah, Pitti-Sing, Peep-Bo, and Pish-Tush, with second-banana Katisha thrown in as a plot thickener? “Not I,” the Little Red Hen must have said at one time or another.

Good productions of Gilbert and Sullivan operettas never wear out their welcome. Excellent productions are to be cherished. Nevada Opera’s presentation of Gilbert and Sullivan’s “The Mikado” opened Friday night (4/11/08) at Reno’s Pioneer Center. It’s colorful, fun-filled and lovely - a superbly musical, zany “The Mikado” that’s to be cherished.

With a nod toward London’s Savoy Theatre, where “The Mikado” premiered in 1885, for a resounding “God Save the Queen,” Nevada Opera’s sparkling presentation charms from beginning to end.

Julie Wright Costa has staged the show and she doesn’t miss a trick at making it the lighthearted romp “The Mikado” is when it’s at its best. Not only is Costa’s directing on target, her Katisha - the old bag nobody wants - has the side-splitting look of John Goodman’s drag portrait of Linda Tripp on Saturday Night Live, circa the Monica Lewinski affair. Made up as she is, Costa is a clock-stopping looker and she sings well to boot. The show is so choreographed, a marvel of stage business, it gives an entirely new spin on the burlesque concept of fan dance.

Frederick Reeder is a knockout Lord High Executioner, a.k.a. Ko-Ko. Reeder is light of foot and deft of voice and intent on scene stealing, which he does cleverly (he’s never tiresome) at every turn. Nanki-Poo is in the very good hands of lanky Adam Holcomb, a giraffe-like romantic lead of Gilbert and Sullivan proportions. Jane Redding deliciously acts the plum role of the ultra-practical Yum-Yum and manages the show’s best singing in a production that sports lots of fine singing, including the men and women of the Nevada Opera Chorus.

Not to be overlooked in the grand-singing department is Matthew Lau, a formidable Mikado and a mighty presence. Lau wields all those tricky Gilbert words (with timely updates) and voluptuous vocal lines with glorious tones, dexterity and droll humor.

The supporting cast is chock-full of silly character studies. Steven Meyer is a shamelessly blustering Poo-Bah. Rick Cornell is a no-slouch Pish-Tush. As Yum-Yum’s sidekicks in song, Susan Sonnemaker (Pitti-Sing) and Jean Driver (Peep-Bo) provide solid support without getting in the way of Yum-Yum’s pursuit of Nanki-Poo.

The musical direction is superbly handled by conductor Michael Borowitz. The Nevada Opera Orchestra dazzles with a score that has dazzled for over a century. The Howard Tsvi Kaplan costumes are gorgeous. Don Carson’s set design is cartoon perfect. Don Smith’s lighting brings a glow to the proceedings, just like this good-natured and quick-paced show warms the heart.

Nevada Opera’s “The Mikado” is a fabulous trip into the topsy-turvy world of Gilbert and Sullivan.

Nevada Opera’s “The Mikado” plays Friday, April 11 (2008) at 7:30 p.m. (the performance reviewed) and Sunday, April 13 (2008) at 2 p.m. at the Pioneer Center for the Performing Arts, 100 South Virginia Street, Reno, Nevada. For information call 775-786-4046.