Cedar Rapids Opera Theatre brings pizazz to ‘Mikado’ Shows at Brucemore Friday and Saturday

CEDAR RAPIDS - Mother Nature smiled Wednesday night for the final dress rehearsal of 'The Mikado.”

Let's hope she stays in a good mood the rest of the weekend so hundreds of people can pack a picnic and enjoy this delightful romp on the outdoor stage behind Brucemore mansion.

Gilbert and Sullivan jumped their thinly veiled piercing of late 19th-century politics from Great Britain to Imperial Japan, wrapping it all in humor and absurdities. Guest director Brian Luedloff from the University of Northern Colorado jumps the Cedar Rapids Opera Theatre's production into the post-World War II Japan.

This works, because Luedloff and company kept the cast in traditional kimonos, and put the young people in hints of '50s Western world wear when they are stepping outside their strict boundaries. This makes for a wonderful visual metaphor between old and new social mores.

The production showcases the opera company's talented Young Artists, who come from colleges across the Midwest and Colorado. A couple of local high school students and veteran adults round out the cast. The Young Artists - all of whom have completed or are pursuing opera performance degrees - shine in their leading roles.

The show begins slowly, however, with the opening chorus of men looking rather like deer in the headlights until they get to take a more menacing stance. They sound great, but it's obvious their training is in singing, not acting. That's not the case for the principal players in this tale of forbidden love, threatened beheadings and stolen kisses, in a region where flirting is a capital offense.

Arthur Beutel as Ko-Ko, the tailor-turned-Lord High Executioner, bathes the stage in his hilarious glow as he flits, floats and fleetly flies through his scenes. He is betrothed to Yum-Yum (Heather Youngquist), but is not at all distressed when her secret suitor, Nanki-Poo (Daniel Lopez), enters the fray, declaring he wants to marry the merry miss.

A merry mess ensues as they try to figure out who's head should roll to satisfy the ruling Mikado's decree. Things get even messier when the menacing spinster Katisha (Lauren Henderson-Turner) stakes her claim to Nanki-Poo, baring her toothless sneer and talons.

Despite the convoluted plot, it's really very easy to keep track of who's zooming who and who's head is on the chopping block. Being a comedy, nobody's head really rolls, although one of the funniest moments is when petite little Pitti-Sing (Jessica Pray) has a 'Kill Bill” slasher moment, minus the blood.

It's hard to tell who's having the most fun with this production: the actors or costume designer Janie Westendorf and stage director Luedloff, both of whom tuck wonderful bits of whimsy into the nearly slapstick humor. Luedloff successfully marries simple choreography with the utterly complex patter songs that are the hallmark of Gilbert and Sullivan but can easily vex performers.

Not this troupe. The lyrics and dialogue consistently cut a samurai swath right through the humid night air, augmented by the frog chorus from the nearby pond. A special nod must go to Tony Nickle, who does yeoman's work at the piano providing the sole accompaniment.

Music, color, slash and dash - all of the elements mesh so well. To quote one of the songs, the delight of this production is seeing 'how the Fates their gifts allot.”

'The Mikado” continues today and Saturday at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $20 at the gate. For more information, go to Brucemore.org.

Get out

'What

: Cedar Rapids Opera Theatre presents 'The Mikado”

'Where

: Brucemore outdoor stage, 2160 Linden Dr. SE, Cedar Rapids

'When

: 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday

'Tickets

: $20 gate or $15 to $18 advance, (319) 362-7375 or Brucemore.org

'Extras

: Gates open 6:30 p.m., parking on-site, bring seating, picnics, beverages

'Details

: Brucemore.org and cr-opera.org