#The Mikado

[tsrdfs]

Artists Susan Herbert (1945-2014) Gilbert & Sullivan cat painting "family portrait", So go to him, The sun and I

[oeuvrinarydurian]

It’s Snarky Baby Morse Saturday!

I submit to you, snark, an eye roll, youthful arrogance and utter contempt for our beloved Dorothea Frazil, as our baby walks off in high dudgeon after she asks him for a quote at the beginning of “Fugue”.

The smirk and eyeroll combo slay me.

[supercantaloupe]

fascinated by. everything about this really

[basingstokemercury]

Literally how it happened

[doyouknowthismusical]

[woweeitsnekogal1]

I just went to tag something “#short shorts” but one of the autofill tags was “#short sharp shock” and I’m sorry are people posting about the mikado all that often that if I type in “#short sh” there’s a good chance I’m gonna write “#short sharp shock”??????

[assortedantics]

Hello! I thought I would bother you with a question. You’ve expressed an interest in The Gondoliers so I thought I would ask:

1. Is it your favourite Gilbert and Sulivan?

2. What’s your favourite song from there and, bonus: from all of G+S’ works?

3. Who’s your favourite character from The Gondoliers (similar bonus applies).

Thank you, and sorry to interrupt.

P.S.: I am pleased to have yet concealed my own pet obsession i.e.: Pinafore and wanted to ask your opinion on that.

P.P.S.: have a lovely day!

Thank you ever so for the ask!

1) It’s (currently) my second favourite, with my favourite being Princess Ida, but it has my favourite aesthetic, if that makes sense. A lot of set designs/costume designs I see of it remind me of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang for some reason, which is my childhood film, and therefore the aesthetics of the Gondoliers feels somewhat nostalgic to me. Also I just really like Italy.

2) My favourite song from The Gondoliers is In a Contemplative Fashion, simply because Tessa and Gianetta, who have hitherto been typical Gilbert and Sullivan love interest ladies (which there’s nothing at all wrong with), are revealed to be absolutely unhinged when it comes to their husbands, which is both very sweet and very funny. I also really like Dance a Cachucha, List and Learn, and Take a Pair of Sparkling Eyes. My favourite overall Gilbert and Sullivan song is Here’s a How-de-do from The Mikado. I have no explanation as to why, I just like it.

3) My favourite Gondoliers character is definitely Gianetta. Who thought such a sweet, soft-sounding soprano would threaten such brutal murder? My favourite Gilbert and Sullivan character is Mr Wells. I love the concept of a sorcerer who owns a sorcery shop, and he didn’t deserve what happened to him. He’s closely followed my Cyril from Princess Ida, who’s closely followed by every character except for Alexis and Fairfax.

As for my opinions on HMS Pinafore, I love it! Josephine is an absolutely charming leading lady, and Sir Joseph’s sisters, cousins, and aunts make up a very fun chorus. And Kind Captain, I’ve Important Information is remarkably sinister.

Every opinion expressed in this post is subject to change in a week.

[shakespearenews]

"A boy, for instance, who was invited to name five Shakespeare plays, mentioned 'Macbeth,' 'The Mikado,' 'Quo Vadis?' 'San Toy,' and 'The Sign of the Cross.'"

[dickensianenglishbulldog]

Sometimes one has just got to take one’s little list into one’s own hands…

[disease]

Geraldine Ulmar, as Yum-Yum in The Mikado | 1885

[vulnerasti-cor-meum]

she was so real for this

[vbartilucci]

The first production of The Mikado I ever watched straight through, and probably still my favorite.

As is traditional, there's lots of new lyrics and lines in the show, updated for modern tastes and current events. Things like Ko-ko announcing that "people who do Rubik's Cube in fifteen seconds flat" were on his "little list".

The tale goes that G&S went to the Limehouse district and asked that the local performers play them some traditional tunes that they could...adapt" for the show. Allegedly, the performers played them some bawdy drinking songs, assuring them they were heart-rending tales of love and tradition.

Here's Act 2

[pacingmusings]

Seen in 2024:

The Mikado (Victor Schertzinger), 1939

[basingstokemercury]

the mikowboy

[greencheekconure27]

[mooncustafer]

So many things about this:

Miller explaining how the show’s orientalism has worn thin, so he’s decided to do it as a sort of panto/Marx Brothers movie/1930s West End musical

Miller acting out all the gestures and body language he wants the actors to do

Miller falling over laughing while directing Eric Idle

The way everyone in this is a sort of beautiful cartoon even before they get into character

Trying to get the 1930s English theatrical accent right: “…in the whole world.” “Werld.” “World.” “Werld.”

The way this behind-the-scenes documentary is now a period piece