INFO & AUDITIONS - THE MIKADO 2025

Name: INFO & AUDITIONS - THE MIKADO 2025
Start: 2024-10-14T18:30:00+09:30
End: 2024-10-14T19:30:00+09:30
Location: St Elizabeth of Hungary Anglican Church

Schedule

Mon Oct 14 2024 at 06:30 pm to 07:30 pm

UTC+09:30

Location

St Elizabeth of Hungary Anglican Church | Adelaide, SA

THE MIKADO – SA Light Opera 2025
INFORMATION Night for prospective Cast – Monday October 14 @ 7.30pm
At St Elizabeth Church, Oaklands Park
AUDITIONS – Monday October 28, by appointment – book times at info night or call Pam 8294 6582
Proposed Dates - April 24-27, 2025
Venue – The Tower Arts Centre
Director – Pam Tucker
Musical Director – Helen Loveday

Synopsis
Act I
A year ago, Nanki-Poo, the son of the Mikado in disguise as a musician, met Yum-Yum and fell in love with her. But Yum-Yum is betrothed to her guardian Ko-Ko. When Nanki-Poo hears that Ko-Ko has been condemned to death for flirting, he thinks that he can now marry her.
However, Ko-Ko has instead been raised to the rank of Lord High Executioner. Although Yum-Yum is thrilled to see Nanki-Poo again, they cannot marry. So, when a message from the Mikado is received commanding an immediate execution, Ko-Ko persuades Nanki-Poo to be the victim, on condition that Nanki-Poo can enjoy a month of married bliss with Yum-Yum beforehand.
All agree to this seemingly satisfactory solution when Katisha, an older woman who the Mikado has promised can marry Nanki-Poo, arrives to expose Nanki-Poo.
Act II
Ko-Ko discovers that traditionally the bride of a beheaded man must be buried alive, so Yum-Yum decides that she will maybe not marry Nanki-Poo after all. It is announced that the Mikado will visit, so Ko-Ko bribes the town dignitary Pooh-Bah to swear that Nanki-Poo has already been beheaded. He then tells Yum-Yum to go off and marry Nanki-Poo to keep him quiet.
The Mikado arrives and is keen to hear that an execution has taken place but Katisha notices Nanki-Poo’s name on the warrant of execution and tells the Mikado. He immediately sentences the culprits to death and the only way that Nanki-Poo can safely come to life again is for Katisha to be married to someone else – so Ko-Ko obliges.

The traditional CAST required – (more information available at the Info night!)
The Mikado of Japan (bass or bass-baritone)
Nanki-Poo, His Son, disguised as a wandering minstrel and in love with Yum-Yum (tenor)
Ko-Ko, The Lord High Executioner of Titipu (comic baritone)
Pooh-Bah, Lord High Everything Else (baritone)
Pish-Tush, A Noble Lord (baritone)
Go-To, A Noble Lord (bass-baritone)
Yum-Yum, A Ward of Ko-Ko, also engaged to Ko-Ko (soprano)
Pitti-Sing, A Ward of Ko-Ko (mezzo-soprano)
Peep-Bo, A Ward of Ko-Ko (soprano or mezzo-soprano)
Katisha, An Elderly lady, in love with Nanki-Poo (contralto)
Chorus of School-Girls, Nobles, Guards and Coolies

The Mikado in context…
Although set in Titipu, it is a satirical commentary on British politics
Gilbert’s operettas are well known for their witty, satirical libretto; expressing political opinion by poking fun at the British establishment.
The Mikado was set in the fictional Japanese town of Titipu, but it is a well-known fact that Gilbert intended this to be a ruse for its true setting, Britain. One of the main issues poked at in the operetta is that of capital punishment. Gilbert uses The Mikado to parody some of the ‘crimes’ that were punishable by death, in the opera it’s flirting.

Rehearsal Schedule Wednesday and Friday nights.
Rehearsals and auditions held at St Elizabeth of Hungary Church, Dwyer Rd, Oaklands Park.
More information – call the Director Pam 8294 6582