32 of 33 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Pure Gilbert & Sullivan ..... pure delight!, November 2, 2000
This review is from: Gilbert & Sullivan - The Mikado (1966 D'Oyly Carte) [VHS] (VHS Tape)
I have been a lover of the light operas of Gilbert & Sullivan for many years, and this filmed stage production of the best of those light operas is as close as one could come to being there and yet not be there! This production stars the D'Oyly Carte Light Opera Company towards the end of their greatest years but still starring some of the greatest members of that Company's history! John Reed as "Ko-Ko", the hapless Lord High Executioner, is a joy to both see and listen to; Kenneth Sandford as the Lord High Everything Else "Pooh-Bah" is perfect in the role that might have been made for him; Donald Adams is the ultimate Mikado, especially in his signature song "My Object All Sublime"; Philip Potter is a marvelous "Nanki-Poo"; and Valerie Masterson is as charming, demure and beautiful a "Yum-Yum" as one could wish, especially in performing "The Sun Whose Rays", one of the most beautiful songs Gilbert & Sllivan ever wrote. The sets and costumes for this filmed stage production are as historically accurate as a purist could ever wish for, and not a single line of dialogue is changed, altered, or updated (another joy for G&S purists).
If you're just starting to learn about Gilbert & Sullivan, this is the very (indeed ONLY!!!) video to start off with. A must for any lover of G&S, of light opera, of true theatre, or for a truly classic video collection!
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19 of 19 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
"The Mikado" - 1966, D'Oyly Carte, May 12, 2001
This review is from: Gilbert & Sullivan - The Mikado (1966 D'Oyly Carte) [VHS] (VHS Tape)
I have a hard time saying anything negative about the 1966 version I just saw...yes, it does cut the "Knightsbridge" reference (otherwise known as the "wherever" line...) or its equivalent, and the whole "song of the sea" section of "Wandering Minstrel" seems to have bit the dust, as well. But I think that was it, as far as omissions...oh, yes, they left out the second verse of the madrigal.
I don't understand the omissions at all. What's the problem with saying "London," or "Cleveland," or "Pensacola?" What's the problem with 4 extra minutes of film? Whatever.
The color was a little toned down and the music was occasionally "tinny" to my ear. But the performances and makeup that I've heard disparaged elsewhere did NOT affect my enjoyment of the proceedings one whit.
The voices were great, and I absolutely LOVED Reed. I would say Pish-Tush seemed a little...I don't know...plastic? His voice was good, but it's almost like his look seemed more like he'd been filmed in the 30's. Don't ask me why I say that. I suppose he just reminded me of someone.
Anyway, having seen the Canadian, over-the-top version and the series from PBS wherein Clive Revill played Ko-Ko, I can only say I MUCH prefer this 1966 version. It's like a time-warp and, given that most of us living can't really judge whether or not the company was in decline, or as good as it was in 1932 or 1886, this seems so much more a TREASURE.
Pitti-Sing had, for me, the oddest resemblance to Anna Quayle (sic); just a random thought. The comic schtick and close-ups never bothered me. I played "The Mikado" in 1986 and am about to play "Ko-Ko" in a month down the road. It's great to get a feel for "the real thing," although I don't intend to cannibalize the various tapes like the recent Nashville production did. Whoosh.
I loved Reed's threat to commit seppuku, whereupon the "knife" was revealed as a fan. I think our spin on it may be my jumping into our river (a real goldfish pond) which, of course, will be about 6 inches deep. Should get a laugh.
By the way, back to the close-ups that I also saw belittled elsewhere...how the hell do these people EXPECT a play to be filmed? I want to see what the individuals AND groups were doing...I thought it was perhaps a little overdone - yet still effective - on "I Am So Proud."
In short, I'm going to watch it again when I wake up tomorrow (or, technically, later today).
Somewhere I saw a review in which some guy said he used this tape to introduce his kids to G&S and they hardly made it through 40 minutes. What did he expect out of kids, anyway? What kind of comment IS that? Unless they're rocket scientists at age 6, just introduce them to the music and wean them ONTO G&S. They'll be glad you did. I wouldn't have enjoyed it either...as a kid. But I love it now.
As is evidenced by my willingness to don that hot kimono for several hours at a whack.
So, anyway, get the tape and prepare to enjoy yourself. If that Canadian Pooh-Bah was too much for you, and if William Conrad's inability to move seemed distracting...well, you're in for a middle-of-the-energy-road treat...from THE G&S company.
And the rest of you stop looking gift horses in the mouth. Or, for that matter, anywhere ELSE.
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15 of 16 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Excellent Video Production of a Stage Version, November 8, 2001
This review is from: Gilbert & Sullivan - The Mikado (1966 D'Oyly Carte) [VHS] (VHS Tape)
This is an excellent video of a very straightforward, conservative, and traditional staging of the Mikado. It does not have any of the lack of confidence that some video productions seem to have in trying to make a stage production seem to be anything more than it ought to be; it is as if the camera is very unobtrusively moving around in a traditional stage production. This is a good way of doing things; there are no "stupid camera tricks" that interfere with the performance.
The characters in it are well played; Pooh Bah and Koko are especially fine performances.
Some more recent video productions have been "over the top", relying on unusual staging (like setting it in 1930's England); this video is a good baseline version of the opera by which others can be judged as there is no fooling around with it; just the opera delivered as it was more or less intended.
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