The Mikado (With Eric Idle/A&E)

 

Picture: C+     Sound: C+     Extras: C     Main Program: B

 

 

Mike Leigh’s Topsy Turvy may have won awards, but it got annoying very quickly.  It was about how Gilbert & Sullivan got their act together to do one more work before breaking up for good.  That turned out to be The Mikado, presented here by A&E Home Video in its 1987 TV version from Thames TV with Eric Idle of Monty Python fame.  Like the previous version we looked at in Acorn Media’s own Gilbert & Sullivan Master Collection, reviewed elsewhere on this site.

 

This became G&S’ biggest hit and transplants the location of the story in this case from Japan to England of the 1920s, which actually works very well and shows the strengths of the original work in an unexpected light.  Running over two hours and with the option of watching it in two parts, with The English National Opera.  If anything, it breaks the monotony of the original work and without being politically correct, any potential Japanese stereotyping is negated by the change of cast.  This is a one of a kind version beautifully done and the comic timing when needed is on the mark.  Be sure to catch it, because it is a real gem.

 

The full frame 1.33 x 1 image was taped in the professional analog PAL format and like the Acorn Media version on their G&S DVD box set, this was taped with higher than usual video white with the “New Romantic” look of British Music Videos of the time.  The Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo is fine for a 1987 production, though it shows its age and has no real surround information.   Extras include text biographies of the cast, DVD-ROM libretto that you can download and vintage behind the scenes/making of program that lasts over a half hour.

 

 

-   Nicholas Sheffo