This production pushed all the right buttons – NODA North, August 2006
Director and Musical Director: Paul Toward Choreographer: Penny Brown
I love G& S and ‘The Mikado’ is my favourite. This production pushed all the right buttons. A professional company could not have done it better. Peter Brown, as Nanki-Poo, had the right voice for the part and being tall made Grace Niven (Yum-Yum), who is petite anyway, look like a pretty little doll. They both played their roles to perfection. David Wilson (KoKo) was great, as always, and his very topical ‘little list’ was a hoot.
Arlene Cadman put in a sterling performance, as Katisha, and Ian Atkinson was suitably regal as The Mikado. Anthony Stoker was excellent as the bumbling Pooh-Bah, and his interaction with KoKo was well worth insulting. (G& S lovers will understand what I mean.) Simon Johnson (Pish Tush) Lynne Lambert (Pitti Sing), Jules Herron (SittiPing, a new one on me), and Vicki Diggens (PeepBo) also put in sterling performances. The chorus did its bit too in making this an enjoyable evening. The scenery was simple, but very effective, and the lighting, costumes, and sound good. The 14-piece orchestra was well balanced and sympathetic to the cast under Paul Toward’s baton, and the backstage boys and girls did an excellent job with props etc. The show was much enjoyed by me and my friends.”
Anne Storrs
