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The Mikado

by Gilbert and Sullivan. Adapted by Essgee Entertainments Pty



Musical Comedy: 'The Mikado' Essgees's Australian version
Brisbane hasn't seen a sillier, or funnier, musical at the Lyric
since Mel Brooks' The Producers.
Jason Whittaker, Australian Stage
 
"An unfolding caravan of delights"
Sydney Morning Herald.
 

Please Note : This musical is only available from us to customers in UK and Europe.
If you are outside this area, please go to David Spicer Productions

Also : For contractual reasons we do not sell the DVD of the 1994 Australian Production.
These can be obtained easily from Essgee Entertainment


To many people the story told in 'The Mikado' really needs no long-winded explanation (but if you need the synopsis please click here). The Mikado is universally acknowledged as Gilbert and Sullivan's masterpiece - not so much a national, as an international British treasure, and, in 1865 at the Savoy Theatre, London, the curtain went up for the first time on 'a new Japanese opera in two acts by WS Gilbert and Sir Arthur Sullivan'. Perenially popular since that historic premiere, The Mikado now being out of copyright, is played hundreds of time a year often in versions individually modified by the group performing it.

There are also two commercial versions which are copyrighted - the 'Hot Mikado' version played in modernised costumes with the Sullivan score reorchestrated along a variety of musical styles including swing, jazz, blues, gospel, together (with a touch of Andrews Sisters), and this one, the high-energy Australian version, played in traditional costume.

Here some of Sullivan's music has been 'jazzed up' slightly (notably some of the chorus numbers), but the most beautiful and lyrical numbers remain untouched. The most striking alteration is the ability to reduce, if required, the female chorus down to three, and a huge 'megamix' style finale.

EssGee Entertainment's adaptation of 'The Mikado' takes the gentle humour of Gilbert's original words and introduces, additional more modern elements to maintain the interest of a contemporary audience. A number of the principals have some very funny lines to deliver, often during business which verges on pantomime.

The end product is true to the spirit of G&S, and unlike the 'Hot Mikado', it is played in traditional costume, but it is still much more accessible for today's theatregoer.

Essgee Entertainment has thoroughly updated three of these Victorian operetta (HMS Pinafore, The Mikado and The Pirates Of Penzance) allowing today's theatregoer a fresh look at these classics. Almost all the original songs and tunes are included though and despite the 'pop feel' of many of the chorus numbers the most beautiful solos are untouched. The end product is true to the spirit of Gilbert and Sullivan, but much more accessible for today’s audiences.

This is pure musical theatre with some pantomime elements ...
... it is NOT an operetta for the G&S purist!

Simon Gallaher's Essgee Entertainment has brought Gilbert and Sullivan into the twenty-first century through modern orchestrations, tighter funnier scripts, a fabulous 'megamix' finale, and the unique funky female chorus in three part harmony.

Musical Comedy: 'The Mikado' Essgees's Australian version
Musical Comedy: 'The Mikado' Essgees's Australian version
Musical Comedy: 'The Mikado' Essgees's Australian version
Musical Comedy: 'The Mikado' Essgees's Australian version

Characters

Principals (4m, 5f)
  Nanki-Poo - a wandering minstrel (m)
  Pooh-Bah - Lord High Everything Else (m)
  Ko-Ko - Lord High Executioner of Titipu (m)
  Yum-Yum - Ward of Ko-Ko (f)
  Pitti Sing, Peep Bo and Yo-Ko - Yum-Yum's sisters, also wards of Ko-Ko
  Katisha - a mature lady
  The Mikado of Japan (m)
 
Support (1m/f)
  Pooh-Bah's servant (m/f)
  Chorus of : Gentlemen of Japan; More 'sisters' of Yum-Yum

Songs

  1) Overture Orchestra
  2) If You Want to Know Who We Are Pish Tush & Ensemble
  3) A Wand'ring Minstrel, I Nanki-Poo & Ensemble
  4) Our Great Mikado Pooh-Bah & Ensemble
  5) Young Man, Despair Pooh-Bah, Nanki-Poo & Ensemble
  6) And I Have Journeyed For A Month Nanki-Poo & Pooh-Bah
  7) Behold The Lord High Executioner Ko-Ko & Ensemble
  8) As Some Day It May Happen Ko-Ko & Ensemble

  9) Three Little Maids From School Are We

Pitti-Sing, Peep-Bo & Yo-Ko
10) So Please You, Sir, We Much Regret Yum-Yum, Pooh-Bah & Maids
11) Were You Not To Ko-Ko Plighted Yum-Yum & Nanki-Poo
12) I Am So Proud Pooh-Bah, Ko-Ko & Maids
13) Finale (Act 1) Katisha & Company
  With Aspect Stern And Gloomy Stride Pooh-Bah, Ko-Ko & Chorus
  The Threatened Cloud Has Passed Away Nanki-Poo, Yum-Yum & Chorus
  Your Revels Cease! Katisha & Chorus
  For He's Going To Marry Yum-Yum Pitti-Sing, Peep-Bo, Yo-Ko & Chorus
  The Hour Of Gladness Katisha, Nanki-Poo, Yum-Yum & Chorus
  Ye Torrents Roar! Katisha, Nanki-Poo, Yum-Yum & Chorus
~~ Interval ~~  
13) Braid The Raven Hair Pitti-Sing, Peep-Bo, Yo-Ko & Yum-Yum
14) The Sun Whose Rays Are All Ablaze Yum-Yum
15) Here's A How-De-Do Yum-Yum, Nanki-Poo, Ko-Ko & Pooh-Bah
16) Mi-Ya Sa-Ma Mikado, Katisha, Maids & Ensemble
17) A More Humane Mikado Mikado, Maids & Ensemble
18) The Criminal Cried As He Dropped Him Down Ko-Ko, Maids, Pooh-Bah & Ensemble
19) The Flowers That Bloom In The Spring Nanki-Poo, Ko-Ko, Yum-Yum, Maids & Pooh-Bah
20) Alone and Yet Alive Katisha
21) Tit-Willow Ko-Ko
22) There Is Beauty In The Bellow Of The Blast Katisha & Ko-Ko
23) For He's Gone And Married Yum-Yum Company
24) Finale 1885 Company
25) Megamix Finale Company
   
 

Information for Production Administrators

Here's a list of all the supporting material available and some other information you might need. Pricing for the production materials is supplied automatically with a Perusal Set. Royalty pricing can only be provided as a formal quotation.

Available now (see below) ...
 
 
Perusal Set
These are available to bona-fide producing organisations only to request free of charge. The set contains ...
 
  • Printed Libretto (Cast Version, see below)
  • Printed Piano/Vocal Score
  • Full Production Video (of the original professional production)
Available after Perusal ...
 
Libretti/Vocal Scores

Available to purchase in this form ...

  • Rehearsal Master Set on a Data CD

    This contains the script and piano vocal score for your cast and crew provided as A4 pdf files. We also provide: i) an expanded version of the script for your Director giving all the additional stage directions needed to recreate the stage 'business' used in the original professional production; and ii) a free copy of the DVD of the original Australian production to use as an aid in preparing and rehearsing your production.

    No problem about possible loss of deposit, as the scripts and vocal scores are yours to print out and mark up as required. The price includes a multiple copying licence allowing you to make multiple prints of the pdf's on the Data CD for your production company to organise and provide to your cast or crew. Alternatively you can give (or sell) the cast files to your cast and crew for them to print, bind and use.

To order this, create an account with us, then go to the 'Ordering for Musicals' page.

Please note that we do not sell individual printed copies of libretti, nor do we hire sets of printed rehearsal libretti or vocal scores.

Available after Rights Obtained ...
 
Backing Tracks
Not available.
Orchestrations
These are available for a 6 piece band as below, for hire to production companies only, who hold a valid, unexpired, licence to perform.
 
  • Keyboard 1
  • Keyboard 2
  • Keyboard 3
  • Percussion 1 (Drum Kit)
  • Percussion 2 (Timps and Glock, Xylo etc)
  • Electric Bass Guitar
Please Note:
1) There is no MD's full score.
2) The entire set of six scores are handwritten and are copies of those that were used in the 1996 Australian Tour. They are not easy to read, they have numerous cuts applied and they have many annotations added by the original members of the band. We have set a very low rental price to reflect this.
Royalty Type
Royalties for this title are 'variable fee, post paid', and will be calculated on a percentage of your box office income once your production has finished. See our pricing policy for details. We work on a quotation system for royalties, based on information you supply to us. Complete a printed application form or, create account with us, and use the online version.
Video Licence
We have secured the rights to video productions of this title from Essgee Entertainments Pty, and we manage them on their behalf. Once a 'Licence To Perform' has been granted, and then on payment of a fee, we will be able to issue a 'Licence To Record'. There are some strings attached to this, but these are far outweighed by the benefits.
 
  • Record one or more live performances and mix down to a single video
  • Give or sell copies to your cast and crew
  • Sell copies to your audiences (take advance bookings on the night)

Please Note : This musical is only available from us to customers in UK and Europe.
If you are outside this area, please go to David Spicer Productions

Also : For contractual reasons we do not sell the DVD of the 1994 Australian Production.
These can be obtained easily from Essgee Entertainment


  • Perusal Set
    £0.00 Perusal Set
    PLEASE NOTE : We operate a FREE Perusal Service, but our Perusal Sets are ONLY available to customers who are representatives of a production company, school, church, or amateur group. If you qualify, the set will be...
  • Royalty Quotation Form (FL)
    Royalty Quotation Form (FL)
    The rights to perform and record for all the titles in our catalogue are managed by Stagescripts Ltd. You should not assume that a licence to perform will always be granted. Please request a quotation at the earliest...
  • Rehearsal Master Set
    £0.00 Rehearsal Master Set
    Rehearsal Master Sets (RMS) are available to purchase, once your production has been licensed. You will need the 5 digit licence reference number (see above). They are available as a Dropbox download or on a USB Stick. If...