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The Mikado (1967): Starring Phillip Potter, Valerie Masterson, John Reed, Donald Adams, Christine Palmer, Kenneth Sandford, Peggy Ann Jones, Thomas Lawlor, Pauline Wales, George Cook...Director Stuar Burge From 1967, this Mikado appeared on British television. It hit American television shortly afterward. The production values are not high, but the singing is outstanding and this little beauty of an operetta has garnered a cult classic fan base. The singers are in superb shape, especially Donald Adams as the pompous Mikado, Christene Palmer as a bitchy and temperamental but funny Katisha, the gorgeous Valerie Masterson is a charming and super feminine Yum-Yum, and Phillip Potter a matinée idol Prince Nanki-Poo. Truthfully, they live their roles and become the characters that Gilbert and Sullivan envisioned so perfectly, encompassing every nuance. The only quibble and or flaw is that perhaps they were acting them as if they were 60's British characters. Still, There is no greater cast.

The release of the 1966 D'Oyly Carte Opera production of The Mikado on DVD in 2003-2004 was a capital idea. Gilbert and Sullivan fans have been waiting years for the classic film to appear on DVD. VAI (Video Artists International) offers many fine and rare operas on film. Gilbert and Sullivans' light operas were the signature of the D'Oyly Carte Opera and in the 60's this cast was the leading performers of the genre. Tenor Phillip Potter portrays Nanki Poo, the son of the Mikado disguised as a wondering minstrel. His performance is top-notch and Valerie Masterson, the soprano singing the part of Yum-Yum is his perfect counterpart. Together, they make beautiful music as in their duets. The comic actor John Reed sings Ko-Ko the Lord High Executioner. A short, playful and silly man, he's far from the expected strong and fearsome image of a Lord High Executioner. Christene Palmer is Katisha. Her commanding presence, dramatic mezzo soprano voice and imperious nature make her the perfect Katisha. She's got some powerful scenes, such as the Act I Finale in which she interrupts the Wedding of Yum Yum and Nanki Poo and threatens to reveal his true identity, operatically dramatic in her cries "My Wrongs With Vengeance Shall Be Crowned !". Donald Adams plays The Mikado Emperor. He's at his silliest in the aria "My Object All Sublime" in which he lets out a high pitched shriek as he describes his fascination for torture and execution. The authenticity of the mood and setting, a Japan of fable and art, is gloriously manifested in the scenery, which gives off a Japanese "Floating World" look and the props, bridges, lakes, tea houses, aesthetically classical in space and shape. And those costumes ! Exquisite and very Oriental with colorful patterns on the silk. And the use of fans was almost over-the-top, the characters closing and opening their fans in Japanese poses, but still it works effectively. All the great numbers that made this opera famous are here- "Three Little Maids from School" and Ko-Ko's List Song. Coincidentally, this was the same production that inspired the crazed Zodiac Serial Killer who was fond of twisting the Lord High Executioner's image. He even re-wrote the lyrics to Ko-Ko's List Song. This is the best version of The Mikado ever made. It's worth the price and has value because of its camp classic appeal.

While musicals are not meant to be thought-provoking or cerebral, the ridiculous nature of "The Mikado" was more than I could handle. There was very little in this film I enjoyed: the music was stale and uninteresting, the acting was rather bland, and the humor missed it's mark. It's a shame too; the plot had so much potential. However, it was completely squandered, as was the quality of this miserable film.