‘Mikado’ – Theatre at the Tabard review

Image: Fed Zanni as Ko Ko, JJ Lam as Pitti Sing, Tilly Goodwin as Yum Yum and Nicholas Curry as Nanki Poo

This inventive revival brings colour and laughter to the Tabard

The Theatre at the Tabard has a fine tradition of inventive Gilbert and Sullivan revivals, going back to a youthful Ruddigore in 2011. Their latest in-house production is of one of the duo’s best loved comic operettas, The Mikado. If you know the show, you will know that it is set in a fictionalised Japan that never existed, that the story is quite daft, and the characters all have very silly names. If you didn’t know all that, then it’s best we get it out of the way at the start.

Director Keith Strachan has conjured up a sparkling and musically outstanding ensemble and the result is a richly colourful, vibrant box of delights, enormously entertaining from start to finish.

To begin with the music. Hidden away at the side of the stage is Musical Director Annemarie Lewis Thomas whose keyboard playing keeps things on track with a lightness of touch, she is joined by Erica Flint, whose jaunty flute feels just right. Flint is one of two actor-musicians, the other being the fresh faced and tank topped romantic lead Nicholas Curry as Nanki Poo, all laid-back loucheness (‘A wand’ring minstrel I…’) and innocent charm, prone to producing a trumpet and adding a bit of brass to good effect.

Image: Tilly Goodwin, JJ Lam, Millie Fryer-Hornsby as Peep Bo and Erica Flint 

John Griffiths in a dual role starts off as the bewildered and slightly pompous Pish Tush, then appears as the Mikado himself after the interval, all swagger and yet more pomp, his red velvet cape swirling regally for all its worth.

Martin George as Pooh Bah is the very essence of a ‘haughty and exclusive’ official, corruptible and self-important, a man ‘born sneering’. He is matched by an intense and wild-eyed Fed Zanni as Ko Ko, also known as the Lord High Executioner, fighting for the affections of Tilly Goodwin’s Yum Yum whilst decked out in a thick pinstripe suit and spats.

JJ Lam as Pitti Sing and Sophie Jugé as Katisha have strong solo musical moments, the latter having great fun as the Mikado’s putative daughter-in-law, wielding a riding crop rather alarmingly and getting a bit over-wrought at Ko Ko’s heartfelt lament (‘Willow, Tit-Willow…’). Finally, as Peep Bo, Millie Fryer-Hornsby is in fine voice and, with Sophie Jugé, provides the nimble choreography.

This is very much an ensemble piece and Strachan balances the elements brilliantly; the pace is beautifully judged, and the articulation of Gilbert’s often complex lyrics is given the proper emphasis.

Image: John Griffiths as The Mikado and Sophie Juge as Katisha 

It is also kept right up to the moment with welcome additions in particular to the Lord High Executioner’s list of those who are destined for a sticky end; his ‘little list’ of ‘offenders who will never be missed’ include climate change deniers, ‘that Twitter guy’ and most of our recent prime ministers, its my guess that the crowd pleasing list will get a cheer or two from the Chiswick audience as the run goes on.

It all looks fabulous too. The set is airy and open, a tiled floor is surrounded by a stone balustrade and backed by a cloudy sky. Eliza Podesta’s inventive and colourful costumes hit just the right tone and Sandra Szaron’s summer-toned lighting adds vibrancy and cleverly focusses attention at key moments.

This is a smashing show, I can’t think of a better way to welcome in the summer.

The Mikado runs to 24 May.

Book tickets: Mikado

Simon Thomsett has worked in the professional theatre for a number of years. He started out as a stage manager and technician then became a venue director and producer, notably at the Hackney Empire, Fairfield Halls and most recently the New Victoria Theatre in Woking.

He now works as a consultant and on some small scale producing projects. He is a Chiswick resident and a passionate advocate for great theatre.