This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2012, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
Before they were called musicals, they were first called operettas. At least, when we're going as far back as Gilbert & Sullivan's 1885 work, "The Mikado." Just call it a two-act operetta, or call it whatever you please.
The first issue to keep in mind is that, despite its authentic title, the work has nothing to do with authentic Japanese culture. Instead, it captures the British mind-set toward foreign and exotic cultures. That makes the production far more British than Japanese, so the costumes are window-dressing in the truest sense. It also captures more or less perfectly the story of a young man, Nanki-Poo, who disregards his father's advice to find his own true love, found in a young woman named Yum-Yum, away from the boredom of a royal court.
Brigham Young University School of Music's production, directed by Utah Valley University voice faculty member Isaac Hurtado, stars Joseph Olson as Nanki-Poo.
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'The Mikado'
When • June 6-9, 7:30 p.m.
Where • Brigham Young University de Jong Concert Hall, Campus Drive and 1200 North, Provo
Tickets • $6-$10. Call 801-422-4322 or visit byuarts.com/tickets for more information.