"The Mikado" at City Center
"The Mikado" at City Center
#0"The Mikado" at City Center
Posted: 1/11/06 at 3:13am
I went because I adore Gilbert and Sullivan, and ALWAYS jump at the rare chance to see this brilliant show of theirs.
Unfortunately, this current production by the NY Gilbert and Sullivan Society is an absolute abomination.
Singing cues were missed, acting was terrible, direction literally non-existent, TERRIBLE slap-stick. It was just dreadful.
They also re-wrote major sections of songs and inserted new "updated" lyrics, with references to Paris Hilton, Mayor Bloomberg, Mitsubishi, Toyota, and a handfull of other inappropriate and unfunny things.
My boyfriend and I were absolutely FURIOUS - we walked out about 20 minutes into Act Two. As the Gilbert and Sullivan Society, you'd think it would be their main objective to preserve these classic works and make generation after generation fall in love with them. Why they would butcher anything this terribly is beyond me, and I'm planning to write them a very irate letter.
Okay, the show is public domain - I guess it's not illegal to change lyrics - BUT SING THE SCORE CORRECTLY!!!! Cues were missed, lines were jumped, people messed up. At $86 a ticket, that is completely unacceptable.
So just a warning - do not see this. Do not see anything the Gilbert and Sullivan society puts on - after experiencing this, they can't be trusted to put on a good production at all.
"If you are going to do something, do it well. And leave something witchy."
-Charlie Manson
exedore
Broadway Legend Joined: 4/20/05
#1re: 'The Mikado' at City Center
Posted: 1/11/06 at 8:42am
I can't comment on the rest of the show, but it's actually in the script that "I have a little list" be updated in production so that the jokes are current.
Personally, the only Mikado I've ever seen that's truly impressed me is the ENO version. How I long to see it again.
Madame X
Broadway Legend Joined: 7/13/03
#2re: 'The Mikado' at City Center
Posted: 1/11/06 at 9:56am
Is it true there are Paris Hilton jokes in there now?
btw - what is the run time?
"Some of us have it worse, you know, Dana. Some of us are dating lesbian men. Okay? C'mon."
Updated On: 1/11/06 at 09:56 AM
#3re: 'The Mikado' at City Center
Posted: 1/11/06 at 12:23pm
I don't care if it's in the script, it was appalling.
Yes, Paris Hilton is really in the show.
"If you are going to do something, do it well. And leave something witchy."
-Charlie Manson
twogaab2
Broadway Star Joined: 5/19/03
#4re: 'The Mikado' at City Center
Posted: 1/11/06 at 1:46pmPoint of clarification here, topical references are taditional in Gilbert and Sullivan, BUT ONLY, after the song is compleated with its original lyrics. I.E. it is used this way, only as an encore verse.
TWOGAAB
"A Class Act" will never die!
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