One presumes it is no easy task to reimagine a classic from a time long gone for an audience of today. Preserving its original form could horrify modern sensibilities; washing the script in political correctness would strip it of its essence. What does one do?
Forbear Theatre does a refreshing job of giving comic operetta The Mikado a new look. With a few tweaks, it dusts off the exoticism and stereotypes of the original, while preserving the wit and the tension, the topsy-turviness that the creators intended.
Deviating from the original setting of Japan, this new iteration takes place in the fantasy land of Pa’gæn, populated with woodland creatures, elves, and mages. The names are no longer Far-Eastern either. Rather, according to the director’s note, they are derived from Old Norse, Old English, and Gaelic.
That is how we have Æthel-Rún, the wandering minstrel who arrives in the land of Tirwudu in search of the love of his life, Mna-y’um. From there on, it is one delightfully twisted situation after another. When flirting becomes a crime punishable by death, the people of Tirwudu counter it by raising a man convicted for said offence – Klók-Cow, played with equal measures of comedy and dignity by William Remmers – to the rank of Lord High Executioner. To carry out the capital punishment, Klók-Cow would have to behead himself, which in turn would be suicide, which again is a crime. Playing an enthusiastic sidekick is P’fugl-Fa (David Jones), the Lord High Everything Else, a nobleman who can trace his lineage right back to his protoplasmic ancestor.
Such are the absurdities that the merry people are dealing with, when out strides Kathleen Brenner to steal the show. Playing a very feline Köttilska, the Mikado’s daughter-in-law elect, Brenner’s voice and stage presence are captivating. Following soon enough is another show stopper, the Mikado of Pa’gæn himself. Played by Dan Cavendish, the Mikado has only a short time on stage, but the maniacal yet jovial ruler leaves a lasting impression. With menacing eyes and a hearty laugh, he inspires awe and fear among his subjects with a mere glance.
Director and choreographer Rachel Middle (who also plays the role of Mna-y’um) has given an old story a beautiful new home. The setting of a fantasy land of elves and animals proves to be an excellent alternative in which to explore its themes of death, beauty, and love without resorting to stereotypes.
The Mikado plays at Drayton Arms Theatre until 24th May and tickets are available here: https://thedraytonarmstheatre.co.uk/the-mikado
Reviewer: Savitha Venugopal
Reviewed: 20th May 2025
North West End UK Rating: