Hot Mikado
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- This article is about the 1986 musical. For the 1939 musical, see The Hot Mikado (1939 production).
Hot Mikado is a musical comedy, based on Gilbert and Sullivan's The Mikado, adapted by David H. Bell (book and lyrics) and Rob Bowman (orchestrations and arrangements). After researching the 1939 Broadway musical, The Hot Mikado, Bell and Bowman created a new adaptation, Hot Mikado, which ran from March 18–July 27, 1986 [1] at Ford's Theatre in Washington, DC. Bell directed and choreographed the production.
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[edit] Subsequent Productions
Bell directed several other professional productions after 1986. The 1995 Washington DC production received Helen Hayes Awards for (1) Outstanding Director -- Resident Musical -- David H. Bell; and (2) Outstanding Lead Actor -- Resident Musical -- Ross Lehman (Ko-Ko). Productions were also nominated for the following awards: (1) 2005 Los Angeles Drama Critics Award: Best Production; (2) 2004 Los Angeles Ovation Award: Best Musical; and (3) 1995 Helen Hayes Award: Outstanding Resident Musical. [2]
In January 2006, the medical musical theatre society of King's College London presented a production of the show, which was given a modern-asian look and was staged at the Greenwood Theatre at London Bridge (where the first edition of the BBC1 show Question Time was filmed).
A number of community groups and high schools have performed the show in the United States and Britain. In 2006, the piece was produced at the Pocono Playhouse, New Hope, PA (US) and at the Westchester Broadway Theatre, in Elmsford, NY (US), and it is scheduled to be produced in May 2007 by the Off-Monroe Players, Rochester, NY. The performing rights are available from Music Theater International.[3]
[edit] Production details
The plot of Hot Mikado does not stray far from the Gilbert and Sullivan original. [4]
The musical has the same witty tone as the original, with many of the songs bearing the same name and melody. For example, the song "I Am So Proud" has the same melody for the verses, changing only towards the end, where it folds into a more jazzy round. It is set in Japan in the 1940s, with suggested settings and costuming combining Japanese design with American 1940's design. The set uses Japanese architecture, executed in the textures of The Cotton Club (neon, brass mahogany). The costumes include zoot suits, snoods, wedgies and felt hats, executed in the colorful silk kimono textures of Japan.
The score uses 1940's popular musical harmonies and arrangements and a wide range of styles, including hot gospel, blues, rock, Cab Calloway swing, and torch songs. The 'Three Little Maids' sing in Andrews Sisters' style. The dances called for include the Lindy Hop, tap-dancing, the jitterbug and other 1940's dances. [5]
The orchestrations call for Acoustic Bass, Electric Bass, Drums, Timpani, Duck Call, Glockenspiel, Large Gong, Mark Tree, Triangle, Wood Block, Flute, Clarinet, Alto Saxophone, Cowbell, Trombone, Flugelhorn, Tambourine, and Trumpet.
[edit] Roles
- THE MIKADO, baritone The big "cat" of Japan
- NANKI-POO, tenor The son of Mikado
- YUM-YUM, soprano The ward of Titipu's Lord High Executioner
- PITTI-SING, mezzo-soprano Yum-Yum's Sister
- PEEP-BO, soprano Yum-Yum's Sister
- PISH-TUSH, tenor The "coolest" Gentleman of Japan
- KO-KO, tenor Lord High Executioner
- POOH-BAH, bass Lord High "everything else"
- KATISHA, contralto Nanki-Poo's spurned suitor
- Also 6 GENTLEMEN OF JAPAN and 3 LADIES OF JAPAN
According to the publisher's website, casting is intended to be inter-racial, with the MIKADO, KATISHA and POOH-BAH apecifically singing in African-America musical styles. [6] While The Mikado has encountered some controversy regarding language in its libretto that has come to be considered racist, Hot Mikado was sometimes criticized for the inclusion of white actors scat singing.
[edit] Musical Numbers
Act One
- Overture
- We Are Gentlemen of Japan (the Gentlemen)
- Wand'ring Minstrel (Nanki-Poo, the Gentlemen)
- And the Drums Will Crash (Pooh-Bah, ensemble)
- Behold the Lord High Executioner (Ko-Ko, the Gentlemen)
- I've Got a Little List (Ko-Ko, the Gentlemen)
- Three Little Maids (Yum-Yum, Peep-Bo, Pitti-Sing)
- This Is What I'll Never Do (Yum-Yum, Nanki-Poo)
- I Am So Proud (Pooh-Bah, Pish-Tush, Ko-Ko)
- Let the Throng Our Joy Advance (Nanki-Poo, Yum-Yum, ensemble)
- Katisha's Entrance (Katisha)
- For He's Gonna Marry Yum-Yum (Pitti-Sing, ensemble)
- Hour of Gladness (Katisha)
- Finale/Act One (ensemble)
Act Two
- Entr'acte
- Braid the Raven Hair (Pish-Tush, ensemble)
- Sun and I (Yum-Yum)
- Swing a Merry Madrigal (Nanki-Poo, Pitti-Sing, Yum-Yum, Pish-Tush)
- Here's a Howdy-Do (Nanki-Poo, Yum-Yum, Ko-Ko)
- Mikado Song (The Mikado, ensemble)
- Alone and Yet Alive (Katisha)
- Tit-Willow (Ko-Ko)
- Beauty in the Bellow (Ko-Ko, Katisha)
- Finale (ensemble)
- Playout
