Review: The Mikado at the RISE

The Mikado

The RISE

Reviewed on Tuesday 20th May 2014

This production of The Mikado, staged at the Rise 'superclub', Leicester Square, re-imagines the show with a chorus line of Ladyboys instead of the usual ensemble of school boys, nobles and guards.

This contrivance works well in this salubrious setting, which lends the the whole production an appropriately seedy edge: the perfect accompaniment to fishnet tights and well-tucked todgers. This re-staging gives a good deal of chutzpah to the quite traditional score of this Gilbert & Sullivan musical and the leggy six-foot-plus boys of the ensemble certainly gives the audience plenty to look at during the longer musical numbers.

The cast in this production are very strong, with Michael James Porter’s Scottish Ko-Ko stealing the show with a bravura performance of high camp idiocy. The voices too are superb: Oliver Metcalfe’s tenor voice soars as Nanki Poo and Jade Spivey makes a wonderful impression as Yum-Yum, with a beautifully clear bell-like tone. The whole production is extremely tight musically with the harmonies of "So please you, Sir, we much regret" and "Brightly dawns our wedding day" particular stand outs. 

My one complaint would be that the performance is over long: if you're giving material a modern-day twist, why stick with the Victorian traditions of multiple verses and false endings? Many of the numbers could have been cut in half without losing anything of the plot or the fun. 

If you’re looking for a fresh take on an old classic, get yourself to this vibrant and raunchy new production of The Mikado... just be prepared to see a whole lotta’ ladyboy!

Reviewed by Jody Tranter

The Mikado runs at The RISE until Thursday 29th May 2014.

Please visit www.themikadolondon.co.uk for further information and tickets.

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