Publication: Arkansas Democrat-Gazette; Date: Jun 12, 2007; Section:Style; Page Number:29
REVIEW Music
Mikado performers are a delight
BY ERIC E. HARRISON ARKANSAS DEMOCRAT-GAZETTE
HOT SPRINGS — A more enjoyable Mikado never did in the Spa City exist, and not just because this was the Hot Springs Music Festival’s first venture into Gilbert & Sullivan.
Artistic director and conductor Richard Rosenberg assembled a quality concert performance with a top-notch collection of singer-actors, a fine chorus and a serviceable young orchestra Sunday night at the Hot Springs Youth Center, aka the old high school field house.
Keith Jurosko of the New York Gilbert & Sullivan Players made a triumphant return to Hot Springs after his success as the evil magician in Cole Porter’s Aladdin last summer.
He was entirely in his element, as Ko-Ko, the Lord High Executioner of the Japanese town of Titipu, and also as director (creating some charming bits of limited staging) and script doctor (infusing some topical and/or local references into W.S. Gilbert’s 120-year-old libretto). A pair of paper Japanese kissing fish provided a little bit of mood enhancement as a sort of quasiproscenium arch.
Victor Khodadad was a vibrant Nanki-Poo, the emperor’s son disguised as a wandering minstrel to capture the love of soprano Daleen Davidson’s excellent Yum-Yum. Denise Edds was delightful as Yum-Yum’s second banana, Pitti-Sing.
Joe Carl White was hilarious stepping up into the role of officious official Pooh-Bah, while Scott L. Beasley did a fine job as a late replacement as sidekick Pish-Tush. William Fulton gave a nicely whimsical performance in the title role. Top honors, however, go to Diane Kesling, who was superbly over the top as the harridan Katishaw.
The chorus “of schoolgirls, nobles, guards and coolies” was in good voice and diction. The orchestra, mostly young players (without “mentors” in the string section), seemed a little lackluster in the overture (only the bass drummer seemed to show much snap) but otherwise executed Sir Arthur Sullivan’s score well.
It may sound heretical, but at a performing length of more than two hours and 45 minutes (including a half-hour intermission), a couple of judicious cuts in the libretto might have been in order.
The festival continues through Saturday at various venues around Hot Springs. For additional information, call (501) 623-4763.
