[ePub] The Mikado (Dover Thrift Editions) by William Schwenck Gilbert at Arts-Photography

Review

20 of 21 people found the following review helpful. Great rendition! Small flawsBy CustomerThe video/DVD is of a staged Canadian production. filmed from the proscenium-audience point of view with some close-ups. in full costume and makeup appropriate to the GS script and score. The score is very well sung although the songs are dubbed. you have to pay special attention to notice this. The lip-sync is very. very good and since they dont have to worry about singing perfectly "live" with the camera. they can do more acting while mouthing their parts. and it all works very well. Some wonderfully stylized performances make it fun. expecially from Pooh Bah who is the tallest actor Ive ever seen in a GS opera! Folks who are addicted to perfect-score singing will notice some deviations (not bad ones. just different) but overall its well-done and includes encores that are usually performed of the most popular numbers at high speed for an appreciative audience. I recommend this version to Mikado-lovers.3 of 3 people found the following review helpful. Dont hesitate to buy this one!By AHThis is a superb performance of The Mikado. The acting and the music are first-rate. Dont hesitate for one second to get it. Shortly after purchasing and viewing this video. I saw The Mikado performed live by the New York Gilbert and Sullivan Players. a top-notch troupe whom I have seen in action many times and always loved. I must say that the Stratford performance held its own against even these masters. and I think I actually prefered the Stratford in many ways. Objections raised in the other reviews include: 1) The scenery is too simple. I. however. found that the simplicity of the scenery actually enhanced the performance. It allowed me to concentrate more fully on that which is really important. and really good: the actors and the music. 2) There are allusions to people and events in Canadian culture that not everybody will understand. But that is true of any performance. In songs such as "Ive got a little list" and "My object all sublime". nobody will sing the original Gilbert lyrics today. which would have very little comic effect; everybody has to substitute something contemporary. In five years from now. the substitutions I heard here in New York. very funny for me. will no longer be comprehensible to most people. So dont worry about that tiny detail. The overall effect of this performance is powerful. Enjoy it!!1 of 1 people found the following review helpful. A charming productionBy Ela GreenIm not a great fan of operettas. but I saw this performance many years ago on TV . and was charmed and captivated by it. Since I remembered nothing about the production. its been a long time until I found it. but now that I did - it met all my expectations and surpassed my memories. A colourful. quick paced production. saucy and humourous. with wonderful singers-actors. While looking for it I had watched some other productions - this one is by far the best. Even if - like me - you dont really like the genre - its highly recommended.