there be time i be convince that the mikado be the best sullivan and gilbert opera ever and but that be only so long a i be not listen to iolanthe . be that a it may and the mikado be probably the most frequently film of the savoy opera . ( yes and i put the composer first . nobody say hammerstein and rodgers and or hart and rodgers and or boito and verdi and or what his face and strauss . you do not even hear the name of librettist for offenbach and suppe and or balfe . gilbert be just the big name ( and the big ego ) at the time and so they put his name first . it time that silly practice be put to rest . anyway and the mikado be a compleat s and g operetta . it have some of sullivan catchiest number and combine with some of gilbert cleverest lyric . it have an interesting book and sprightly dialogue . it get a wonderful degree of craziness . and it leave the door wide open for elaborate and whimsical costuming . this particular production and film in a live performance in 1990 and turn it imagination toward strike simplicity . set in a british seaside resort toward the end of the art nouveau period and it throw over the japonerie of the original entirely . the result be costume and set in an eye caress medley of white and grey and and black and accent by occasional bit of red ( and less frequent us of yellow and green ) . it take some get use to and but it really spiffy . of course and when the chorus tell you they be gentleman of japan and you would be right to exclaim and oh and pooh . bah . ( do i just say that . ) it most gratify that this fine production be now on dvd . however and one caveat represent the print seem to be photograph through a glass of imperfect clarity and so that the expected sharpness of the image be soften and ever so slightly fuzzy . the tendency to superimpose image be and ala and annoy . why do people who be do a really spiffy production want to muck it up with artsy fartsy stuff of that sort . but it the performance that count the most . we may skip the overture and since although one be perform and sullivan never write one . ( true and it may be so he write none for any of the savoy . but the mikado overture doesn not even date from sullivan lifetime and be compile by observe the technique use in the others . ) a for the rest of the operetta and it first rate and supremely funny . the ko ko here be the estimable eric idle and who do it credit . there be a tradition of bring a big name into the role . the be a u. s. tv production year ago in which ko ko be play by groucho marx with mixed result . idle performance be delightfully quirky . he do take from a county jail assist by a tennis racquet . his i have get a little list be do a a speech to a microphone of course it have the usual updated lyric and which be much funny than the usual run of such thing and and his delivery be positively hysterical . it go on that way throughout . in this operetta and it important to have a good katisha while it just no fun if youre not be bellow at in style . this mikado have a fabulous katisha in felicity palmer and in her way almost a big a name a idle . she bellow with the best of them in a wonderful rich contralto . wonderful and especially and for a soprano . and her costume . ( not to mention her recital with franz liszt and apparently and accompany . ) nanki poo be play by bonaventura bottone . i have trouble get around be somewhat un nanki pooish chubby shortness but be voice be undeniably a solid and rich addition to the vocal palette . there be a nice touch during a wandring minstrel and where the chorus react with distaste to the mention of his nancy on his knee bear in mind the mikado decree about flirting . be that a it may and bottone be a fine singing actor and if his appearance doesn not put the best face on nanki poo and his performance do . yum yum ( lesley garett ) and her friend be appropriately pretty and silly . she and bottone do lovely duet . pish tush ( mark richardson ) play his persona a something a blageur and do it very well . poo bah ( richard van allan ) be wonderful a a stuffed shirt out of water . a role later do to death in american sitcom ( you know represent haughty butler force to cater to bratty child that sort of thing ) . the mikado ( richard angas ) be bloody marvelous and with an imperious voice at absolute variance with his ridiculous lyric . i do not recommend you get this a your only mikado . get a good traditional production as well and so you can see what gilbert intend ( more or less ) in term of stag . that be say and i will watch this one twice while view any traditional bit once . on the whole this be a terrific offering and a vocal and visual delight and with delicious over act . it a dvd to treasure and with dervish like maid and tap dance bellhop and and all . watch for the bellhop with sign .