CAMBRIDGE UNIVERSITY GILBERT AND SULLIVAN SOCIETY
THE MUMFORD THEATRE
29TH FEBRUARY - 3RD MARCH 2012 XX
Director’s Notes
There’s no doubt that Titipu is not your typical town – dancing gentlemen adorn the pavements, and a suicidal thespian tenor is loved both by a ravishing young schoolgirl and an angry, aged and hideous woman. To top it all off, flirting is a capital offence. Welcome to the strangest place on earth. And that’s the starting premise for my Mikado – it is, in fact, such a quirky and timeless piece of theatre that to place it wholeheartedly into any particular period or location feels wrong. Jonathan Miller’s infamous ENO production, set in the 1920s, I feel loses some of the spectacle and vibrancy of the original Japanese setting, whereas most performances that aim to be all out Japanese strain at the bounds of tacky. I have tried to strike the balance between these two sorts of productions, and I hope it provides the best possible setting for the show, giving it more life, more heart, and crucially more comedy than ever before. Inspirations have been wide ranging and tremendously important to both the artistic side of the show. One Man, Two Guvnors, the National’s hit comedy currently on in London, provided some early character formations for both Nanki-Poo and Ko-Ko, as well as the inspiration for Pooh-Bah’s exit in the Act 1 finale. Kate Sagovsky, of RSC 2011 fame, inspired a movement workshop which I conducted with the cast, which has helped enormously when developing scenes once the basic blocking was in place. However, by far the greatest influence on the show has been anything I have ever found funny or entertaining – so if you’ve ever made me laugh, you too are on stage tonight. Hope you’ve learnt your lines… But anyway, you’re here to see the show, not read about its director’s rambling musings, so I’ll let you get on with that happy task. Have a great evening! Freddie Tapner, Director
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CAST Ko-Ko (Lord High Executioner) Nanki-Poo (Son of the Mikado) Pooh-Bah (Lord High Everything Else) Pish-Tush (A Noble Lord) The Mikado of Japan Yum-Yum Pitti-Sing Peep-Bo Katisha Chorus YANQING CHENG FRANCES PUGH HARRIET SYKES STEPH WILLIS
JOACHIM CASSEL MATTHEW FRIETT JONATHAN PADLEY ALED WALKER NATHAN BROWN GEORGINA SKINNER HELEN OXENHAM LAUREN STOKELD FAITH BARKER DAVID BOOER JAMIE FERGUSSON TOM LOVERING ROB MAY-MILLER RICHARD MIFSUD DYLAN MORRIS
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Synopsis One year ago, Nanki-Poo, son of the Mikado of Japan, fled to escape marriage to the elderly Katisha. Disguised as a traveling musician, he fell wildly in love with Yum-Yum. But she was betrothed to her guardian, and Nanki-Poo left Titipu in despair…
ACT I
A chorus of nobles are joined by Nanki-Poo, who is disguised as a wandering musician and is looking for Yum-Yum. They learn that he had seen the girl a year ago, whilst a member of the town band, and had fallen in love. But with Yum-Yum’s betrothed and guardian, Ko-Ko, condemned to death for flirting, the minstrel has hurried back to try to claim her. Unfortunately, he finds Ko-Ko far from dead: he is now on bail. And Lord High Executioner.Worse,Yum-Yum and KoKo are to be married that very day. Yum-Yum and her sisters, Pitti-Sing and Peep-Bo, appear with their schoolfellows. Yum-Yum catches sight of Nanki-Poo, and he reveals that he is the son of the Mikado. Since their cause is hopeless,Yum-Yum leaves Nanki-Poo, who then tries to kill himself. Meanwhile, Ko-Ko has received a letter from the Mikado, who threatens to abolish the post of Lord High Executioner and reduce Titipu to the rank of a village unless a beheading takes place within a month. Ko-Ko points out that suicide is a capital offence, and offers to do the job professionally. Nanki-Poo agrees in exchange for one month of married life with Yum-Yum before his execution. Katisha, the woman he was betrothed to at court, storms in and threatens to reveal his true identity. But the town dwellers are
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not to be deterred and side with the two young lovers.
ACT II
Yum-Yum is being prepared for her wedding. However, under the Mikado’s law the widow of a beheaded man must be buried alive: should Nanki-Poo condemn Yum-Yum to this hideous death or instead to a miserable marriage to Ko-Ko? So, the marriage is off, and Nanki-Poo determines to do away with himself that afternoon unless Ko-Ko will kill him at once. But it turns out that Lord High Executioner KoKo is too soft-hearted to kill anything. To make matters worse, the Mikado is the town and will arrive in ten minutes. In desperation, Ko-Ko arranges to fake Nanki-Poo’s execution. The Mikado arrives with Katisha who makes much of being his daughter-in-law elect. When Ko-Ko presents his certificate of execution, the Mikado realises that he has supposedly just beheaded the heir to the throne of Japan. Ko-Ko and Pooh-Bah beg Nanki-Poo to return, alive, to his father. But Nanki-Poo and Yum-Yum are married and fear Katisha. Unless Ko-Ko will agree to marry the old hag, Nanki-Poo threatens to leave on his honeymoon at once. Meanwhile, Katisha is mourning the death of Nanki-Poo. Ko-Ko slowly wins over the formidable lady with flattering lies and a sad, lovelorn song. The powerful Katisha asks the Mikado for everyone to be pardoned. The Mikado, a bit bewildered by it all, nonetheless pronounces that ‘Nothing could possibly be more satisfactory!’.
ACT I
ACT II 12. “Braid the raven hair” Pitti-Sing and Girls
2. “A Wand’ring Minstrel I” Nanki-Poo, Men
13. “The sun whose rays are all ablaze” Yum-Yum
3. “Our Great Mikado, virtuous man” Pish-Tush, Men
14. “Brightly dawns our wedding day” Yum-Yum, Pitti-Sing, Nanki-Poo
4. “Young man, despair” Pooh-Bah, Nanki-Poo, Pish-Tush “And have I journey’d for a month” Pooh-Bah, Nanki-Poo
15. “Here’s a how-de-do” Yum-Yum, Nanki-Poo, Ko-Ko
Musical Numbers
1. “If you want to know who we are” Chorus of Men
5. “Behold the Lord High Executioner” Ko-Ko and Men “As some day it may happen” Ko-Ko and Men
16. “From every kind of man obedience” Mikado, Katisha, Chorus 17. “A more humane Mikado” Mikado, Chorus
6. “Comes a train of little ladies” Girls
18. “The criminal cried as he dropped him down” Ko-Ko, Pitti-Sing, Pooh-Bah, Chorus
7. “Three little maids from school” Yum-Yum, Peep-Bo, Pitti-Sing, Girls
19. “See how the Fates their gifts allot” Mikado, Pitti-Sing, Pooh-Bah, Ko-Ko, Katisha
8. “So please you, Sir, we much regret” Yum-Yum, Peep-Bo, Pitti-Sing, Pooh-Bah, Girls
20. “The flowers that bloom in the spring” Nanki-Poo, Ko-Ko,Yum-Yum, Pitti-Sing, Pooh-Bah
9. “Were you not to Ko-Ko plighted” Yum-Yum, Nanki-Poo
21. “Alone, and yet alive” Katisha
10. “I am so proud” Pooh-Bah, Ko-Ko, Pish-Tush
22. “On a tree by a river” Ko-Ko
11. “Finale Act I” Ensemble
23. “Beauty in the bellow of the blast” Katisha, Ko-Ko 24. “Finale Act II” Ensemble
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Faith Barker Katisha
Nathan Brown The Mikado
Joachim Cassel Ko-Ko
Matthew Friett Nanki-Poo
Faith is a first year student and choral scholar at St Catharine’s College. She made a very interesting start in Cambridge theatre with a chorus role in last term’s CUMTS production of Jerry Springer: the Opera. Before coming to Cambridge she was the lead singer in a band which released an original album. Faith is really excited to have her first principal role and has really enjoyed working with the cast and crew of The Mikado.
What’s this? A Mathmo from Trinity playing one of Gilbert and Sullivan’s most wonderfully deranged characters? Second year Nathan Brown is making his Cambridge debut as the charismatic Mikado, after dabbling at school with Oscar Wilde’s Lord Darlington and Anton Chekhov’s Baron Tuzenbach. His first principal role in a musical, he says the role has “grown” on him somewhat! Let’s hope he doesn’t just stare at his feet!
Joachim recently graduated with a Maths degree in from Robinson College. While at Cambridge, he played Polyphemus (Acis & Galatea), Laban Tall (Far From The Madding Crowd), Dr Horrible (Dr Horrible’s Sing-Along Blog), Colonel Calverly (Patience), and Private Willis (Iolanthe). When not on stage, he sings with Sidney Sussex College Chapel Choir, the National Youth Choir, and performs recitals around Cambridge. When not singing, he enjoys dancing, cycling and chopping onions, but rarely at the same time.
Matthew makes his Gilbert and Sullivan and Cambridge Drama debut in The Mikado. He is currently undergoing Teacher Training and a Masters in Education at Homerton College. Alongside Musical Theatre, he has a particular affinity for Shakespeare and Nonsense Poetry, and is fluent in UK Sign Language. Past roles include The Artful Dodger in Oliver!, Jesus in Godspell and Benjamin Seven Brides for Seven Brothers. He will also be making up songs and dances on the spot this March in CUMTS Improvised Musical.
Meet the 6
Cast...
Jonathan Padley Pohh-Bah
Helen Oxen Pitti-Sing
Georgina Skinner Yum-Yum
Lauren Stokeld Peep-Bo
Jonathan has taken fifteen principal and named roles since 2009, including The Cowardly Lion in The Wizard of Oz (ADC Theatre), Dick Deadeye in HMS Pinafore (Cambridge Arts Theatre), and the Mikado in The Mikado (Minack Theatre). Most recently, he played the Lord Chancellor in the Gilbert & Sullivan Society’s 50th Anniversary performance of Iolanthe at Buxton Opera House, as part of the International Gilbert & Sullivan Festival. He now works at Churchill College.
Helen is a second year PhD student reading medieval history at King’s. This is her 7th show with the G&S society, having appeared (twice) in The Gondoliers, The Grand Duke and The Yeomen of the Guard, as well as The Pirates of Penzance (Minack Theatre). She is gradually coming to realise that she will always be cast as ‘the smiley one’, whether daughter, peasant girl, fairy, or little maid. Helen sings in as many choirs as she can manage, occasionally escaping Cambridge to visit pretty stately homes and go for long walks.
Georgina is in her first year at Anglia Ruskin University, studying Performing Arts and Spanish. She has previously performed in two G&S Operas: as Mabel in The Pirates of Penzance, and Phyllis in Iolanthe. Other previous roles include July in Annie and Maria in The Sound of Music. Georgina has also sung with the choir of St Clements Church at London’s Southwark Cathedral; in 2010 she sang at the Thanet Christmas lights switch on in Kent. Georgina has won several prizes, and hopes to pursue a career in theatre and opera.
Lauren is a second year French and German student at Jesus College. She has been involved with every show since Michaelmas 2010, as either cast or production team member (golly!). As well as playing a drunken Fairy Queen and climbing over the rocky Minack stage in Cornwall, one of her G&S Society highlights was co-directing The Yeomen of the Guard last term with the lovely Lizzie Blackmore, the producer of The Mikado. The committee has also just survived a year of having Lauren as Chair.
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Aled Walker Pish-Tush
David Booer Chorus
Yanqing Cheng Chorus
Jamie Fergusson Chorus
Aled is a second year mathematician at Trinity College and a Farmer Singer at Magdalene College. He discovered G&S at University, and his credits with the society include Strephon (Iolanthe, Buxton Opera House), Boatswain (HMS Pinafore - on Punts) and Lord Mountararat (Iolanthe, Robinson Auditorium). He has recently completed a year as Secretary of the society. Aled was also the Musical Director of MMPS’s production of Cabaret and an Orchestrator for the Footlights Pantomime 2011.
David is a first year mathematician at Selwyn College. He has a great interest in music, and especially singing: he sings in Selwyn choir and has featured in many musicals while at school, including playing The Defendant in Gilbert and Sullivan’s Trial by Jury. David likes cricket, Bob Marley, and being right an unbelievably high percentage of the time.
Yanqing is a second year mathematician at Trinity College. She has previously performed with the society in HMS Pinafore - on Punts and Iolanthe (Buxton Opera House). Her other Cambridge stage credits include South Pacific (Churchill College) and Jerry Springer: the Opera (ADC Theatre). Yanqing has also been a member of the Cambridge University Show Choir. When not on stage or doing maths, Yanqing likes to play the guitar, arrange vocal music and eat fried eggs.
Jamie Fergusson is in his second year at Cambridge, reading Natural Sciences (the Chemical variety as much as possible, although unfortunately some Physics has managed to sneak in!). His hobbies include glaring menacingly at cyclists going the wrong way down one way streets, and spending 4 hours a week turning a small amount of white/ yellow powder into an even smaller amount of another powder that is purple/green/blue/pink, or a mixture of all of these.
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Tom Lovering Chorus
Robert May-Miller Chorus
Richard Mifsud Chorus
Dylan Morris Chorus
Tom has been studying Maths at Trinity College for some impressively large number of years (perhaps four?). It looks, however, like Cambridge will finally be rid of him this year as he sets his sights on doing his doctorate in exotic faraway places... like Oxford. His previous G&S appearances include Dick Deadeye in last Summer’s HMS Pinafore - on Punts, Private Willis in the 2010 production of Iolanthe, and a chorus policeman in The Pirates of Penzance. He currently sings with Selwyn College choir.
Rob is a second year medic at Emmanuel College. Rob has performed in several musicals with the Basingstoke Amateur Operatic Society, including one G&S The Gondoliers - but he is very excited to be in his first show at Cambridge. Rob would like to apologise preemptively to any patients who could have used him paying more attention this term.
Richard ‘Miflet’ Mifsud is a fourth year natural scientist at Christ’s College. He is delighted to be involved in his 14th show with the society, following The Pirates of Penzance, The Grand Duke and A Little Night Music. He has a particularly fine hat collection, leading to him being called “Papa Smurf” and the exclamation “Good heavens, that man is wearing a chicken on his head!” He is also accidently co -directing a show this term called Dragon?!, which features a five person dragon complete with wings!
Dylan is studying for an MPhil in Political Thought and Intellectual History at Clare College. He has appeared as Sir Richard Cholmondeley in CU G&S’s The Yeomen of the Guard, and he sings in the St. Catharine’s College Choir. As an undergraduate at Yale University, he performed with Yale’s G&S Society, Opera Theatre, and principal student choir. A native of another Cambridge (Massachusetts, USA), he apologises to anyone in the UK whom he has inadvertently scandalized; in the US, “pants” means “trousers.”
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Faith Barker Katisha
Frances Pugh Chorus
Harriet Sykes Chorus
Steph Willis Chorus
Frances is currently in her second year at Murray Edwards College, where she is studying History. A regular performer in orchestras and pit-bands on the French horn, she played for the CU Show Choir: Debut Spectacular, Some Enchanted Evening: One Night at the Musicals and Westside Story at the ADC. This term, she has decided to dramatically switch allegiances and join the cast of a show, and is making her Cambridge stage debut in The Mikado.
Harriet is a first year Linguistics student at Gonville and Caius College. Her previous credits include Jerry Springer: The Opera, Les Miserables (Eponine), West Side Story and The Sound of Music. Harriet has sung several solos in different choral works, including Faure’s Requiem and Jenkins’ Mass For Peace. Harriet has really enjoyed being in The Mikado, and thankfully can now triumphantly add ‘assorted fan skills’ to her CV.
Stephanie is a first year engineer at Pembroke College. She has previously been in several in school productions, including Les Miserables, Greece, A Christmas Carol and Stepping Out. As well as this recent (and very welcome) run in with Cambridge theatre, Stephanie plays hockey for the Cambridge University 3rd team and is part of The Eco-House Initiative - a student society which is working on the design on temporary housing in Latin America.
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Freddie Tapner has been involved in theatre as long as he can remember. After being tricked into doing a solo in the school nativity at the age of five, he has never lost his love of the stage. His move to directing comes after roles in, among others, A Few Good Men (Dan Kaffee), South Pacific (Luther Billis), Richard III (Clarence), Iolanthe (Strephon) and most recently The Pirates of Penzance (Sergeant of Police) at the Minack Theatre in Cornwall. Having directed Art to great critical acclaim last term, he feels extremely privileged to be bringing such an iconic show back to Cambridge in the form of The Mikado. He has loved every second of rehearsals, from taunting the cast with ridiculous ideas to educating them in the art of ‘silly drama games’, but feels that his longing for the stage may call him back up onto the boards themselves before too long…
Sophie Fennerty Musical Director Sophie is a third year musician at Murray Edwards. Having never been involved before, she felt that now was the time to make her entrance into the Cambridge theatre scene, and ambitiously started as Musical Director for the G&S main show. Challenge accepted, she’s loved every minute. She also sings in Magdalene Chapel Choir conducts the Orchestra on the Hill, and plays in the University Ceildh Band. Lizzie Blackmore Producer Lizzie is a second year history student at Trinity Hall. The Mikado is her second foray into producing, following last summer’s HMS Pinafore - On Punts. She is also a keen
director, having worked on The Yeomen of the Guard last autumn, and enjoys performing, with credits including Far From the Madding Crowd, Jeff Carpenter’s Dido and Aeneas, and Iolanthe. She was recently appointed Chair of the G&S Committee for 2012/13. Fiona Berreby Assistant Director
designer for the Cambridge American Stage Tour of Anthony and Cleopatra this summer. Alistair Canon Assistant MD Alistair is a second year medic at Clare College. Having decided that medicine didn’t demand nearly enough of his time, he has thrown himself into theatre. He’s very excited about The Mikado and is also looking forward to working on The Observatory Pinafore later this term. When not shouting specious phrases at genuine musicians, he can often be found singing, or on the odd occasion, in the library.
Fiona is reading Art History at Pembroke College. This is her first time doing anything director related! She has been involved in set design for An Enemy of the People (ADC) and the production of HMS Pinafore (Cambridge Arts Theatre). She also did decor for the Lucinda Spearman Pembroke May Ball Assistant Producer last year. She excited Lucinda is a first year to be the production linguist at Newnham College. This term, she produced the
sell-out Moments, after Stage Managing last term for Highlight, producing Celebration with BATS and organising publicity for The Lonesome West. When she’s not involved with drama, Lucinda enjoys playing the viola and the violin in various orchestras. Danielle Phillips Choreographer Danielle studied Music at Jesus College until 2009, and is now a freelance singer, singing teacher and musical director. In June 2011, she co-choreographed the CUMTS May Week production of High Society, and in November she choreographed the G&S The Yeomen of the Guard. Her performing credits include: Iolanthe in Iolanthe (Buxton Opera House) and Edith in The Pirates of Penzance. Danielle has
... the
Production Team... 11
been accepted onto the Musical Theatre Studio Programme at the Advanced Performers Studio in London, commencing in March 2012.
ample opportunity for creativity and looks set to be a very exciting performance! Gillean Denny Set Designer
Gillean is completing Rebecca Ann Hughes a PhD at Cambridge Costume Designer in Architecture. She Bee Hughes is in second designs for theatrical year studying art productions on both history at Newnham. sides of the Atlantic! In order to fill her Her credits include The copious amounts of Pirates of Penzance and free time she has taken The Gondoliers at the on the role of costume Minack Theatre, and designer of The the Footlights Panto Mikado. Some of her Treasure Island at the previous excursions ADC. Exciting projects the summer into the world of for dressing up include include Anything But ADC shows such and The Death of as Arcadia by Tom Dr. Kelly. Stoppard, and Ibsen’s An Enemy of the People. Law Parkin Just last week she was Stage Manager one of the costume Law is small and wears a team for the fantastic lot of black, making her Die Fledermaus. The an ideal techie. She has Mikado has provided
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worked in numerous production roles at the ADC in her two years in Cambridge and is excited to be working at the Mumford for the first time.
not behind a mixing desk Graeme enjoys sampling a variety of single malt whiskies.
Graeme Sneddon Sound Designer
Emily is her first year at Newnham College studying English. After Stage Managing The Yeomen of the Guard, she was super keen for more G&S action. Amongst other creative roles, she has produced The Talented Mr Ripley with BATS and The 24 Hour Plays at the ADC. When not in a theatre or a library, Emily enjoys painting, writing, drinking tea, and working on her baking blog.
Graeme is in third year, and is reading Biological Natural Sciences at Homerton College. Previous credits include: Assistant Sound Designer for Pirates of Penzance (Minack Theatre), Sound Designer for Jerry Springer: the Opera and Highlight (ADC Theatre), Deputy Stage Manager for Far From the Madding Crowd (West Road Concert Hall) and Technical Director, Lighting Designer and Sound Designer for Moments (Larkum Studio). When
Emily Newton DSM & Programme Designer
Matt MacGregor Principle Répétiteur Matt (DipLCM) is a first year music student at Selwyn. Before coming to Cambridge he worked both as an accompanist and répétiteur, as well as Musical Director for a wide rage of musical ensembles and productions. Matt likes learning languages and can speak German. Samuel McDermott Lighting Designer & Assistant Sound Designer Samuel McDermott is a First Year Natural Scientist at Trinity Hall. Many different aspects of theatre interest him,
1st Violin 2nd Violin
He work last term as Lighting Engineer and Sound Operator for the Fresher’s Show Tartuffe. Sam also plays Piano and Trumpet for musical theatre productions and other bands. Declan Corr Production Photographer
internationally renowned Choirs of Jesus College. Also an instrumentalist, Declan has been involved as a répétiteur in The Mikado and is playing bassoon in the orchestra. Phyllida Bleumel Publicity Designer
Declan is a second year, reading Medicine at Sarah Ward Jesus College holding a Technical Choral Scholarship.This Director will be his fourth project with the G&S Society, having previously been involved on stage, in the pit and as part of the creative team. As a photographer, Declan has worked on producing publicity material for the
Emma Gait Eleanor Nicholson Sophie Horrocks Viola Rachel Fletcher Harley Jones Cello Dan Grace Pip Ash Moira Cox Double Bass Danielle Ainsworth Oboe Katherine Elliot Clarinet David Hotchkiss Sarah Driver Declan Corr Bassoon
Flute
Helen Etheridge Pippa Moss
Trumpet
Benjamin Norris Elis Reed
French Horn
Thomas Anthony Andy Savill Alexander Nottingham
Trombone
... and the
Orchestra 13
ABOUT THE
CAMBRIDGE UNIVERSITY GILBERT AND SULLIVAN SOCIETY ‘They sing choruses in public. That’s mad enough, I think.’ Fresh from its 50th anniversary celebrations, Cambridge University Gilbert and Sullivan Society is one of the biggest and most well-established arts groups in the city. Staging at least three shows per year, the group has a long history of putting on both Gilbert and Sullivan shows and works by other writers, and every summer takes a professional-scale production down to the Minack Theatre, Cornwall. If you are interested in getting involved, or would like to be added to our mailing list for future productions, do not hesitate to contact our secretary, Dylan Morris, on dm569@cam.ac.uk. Alternatively, you can visit our website at: http://cambridge.gands.org.uk/
WITH THANKS TO: The G&S Society Committee Richard Purkiss Leigh Stephenson Verity Bransom Laurie Marks Craig Slade The Mumford Front of House and Backstage team