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TERRIFIC DANCING: (L-R) Andy Lupp (Pish-Tush), Todd Kryger (Pooh-Bah), and Stephen Schellhardt (Ko-Ko) star in 'Hot Mikado,' now at the Drury Lane Theatre until Oct. 3. (Brett Beiner)
OAKBROOK TERRACE, Ill.—David Bell has brought his Hot Mikado, a clever adaptation of the classic Gilbert and Sullivan operetta, back to the Chicago area. Both directing and choreographing the swing version as he did back in the late 1980s, Bell has created a piece that has matured nicely.
Bell created his show after learning about the 1938 African-American swing Mikado version. Then, as he is inclined to do, Bell added a lot more dance, and for this production has assembled a cast that gets it! Truly gets it! The production at Drury Lane Oakbrook is superb.
Twenty-five years ago, I saw the original version at the Marriott Lincolnshire Theatre where Ross Lehman had the role of Ko-Ko, The Lord High Executioner. Lehman made his mark with this role, a role that defined him as a comic actor, and he took it all over the world.
As strong as Lehman was, Stephen Schellhardt is even better. He masters it: He makes this character more real than it was in the original version, while still bringing out the original Gilbert and Sullivan character.
The story of the Hot Mikado is about a small city in Japan under the control of The Mikado. His son, Nanki-Poo, has vanished from the city so that he can avoid marrying an older and not very attractive woman who has eyes for him. As a runaway, he becomes a minstrel and meets Yum Yum, the young, very attractive ward of Ko-Ko, who has become The Lord High Executioner.
Nanki-Poo and Yum Yum fall for each other, but under The Mikado’s laws, she must wed Ko-Ko, who then must die (by his own hand). Nanki-Poo, knowing that someone has to be beheaded, offers himself up, but only if he be allowed to marry Yum Yum and have 30 days with her.
The rest of the play deals with the ins and outs and surprises regarding how The Mikado reacts to the possible death of his son.
In addition to the brilliant Schellhardt as Ko-Ko, the beautiful Summer Smart plays Yum Yum. Ms. Smart is glorious in her handling of both the music and her character.
Yum Yum’s fellow maids from school, Pitti-Sing (the always reliable Susan Moniz, who was a member of the original Marriott cast of this show) and Peep-Bo (the charming Julia Black), are both played well. Also played well are Ko-Ko’s right-hand man Pish-Tush (Andy Lupp, who can sing and dance with the best of them and over the years has truly become a solid character performer) and Pooh-Bah, The Lord High Everything Else, played by Todd M. Kryger, who truly brings the African-American flavor of the swing days to this piece.
THE YOUNG LOVERS: (L-R) Devin DeSantis (Nanki-Poo) and Summer Naomi Smart (Yum Yum) play the couple who can't seem to get together without someone dying in 'Hot Mikado.' (Brett Beiner)
Speaking of bringing in the flavor, you will not believe the dancing of Ted Louis Levy, who takes on The Mikado with all the energy and fortitude the role calls for and wins the audience over after his first tap-dancing set.
Aurelia Williams is a wild and crazy Katisha, the lovelorn woman in the life of Nanki-Poo. She is pure dynamite! Nanki-Poo, by the way, is no slouch. Devin DeSantis is a name long associated with Drury Lane and deservedly so.
When David Bell is at the helm, there are always more dance numbers and unusual dance numbers at that—almost gymnastic ones—so the chorus performers deserve all the applause they get.
The simple, but Japanese-looking set by Marcus Stephens, the costumes by Jeremy W. Floyd (1930s African-American, with Zoot suits appearing), and the assortment of great props by Matt Cummings help to make this show as perfect as one might hope for.
Michael Mahler handled the music direction and the six-piece orchestra led by Jeremy Kahn (who becomes a part of the show, not once, but twice) really makes the music (adapted and arranged by Rob Bowman) fill this theater.
Cecil Averett’s sound design allows us to hear the music and the words of each song as well as those of the actors. Typically, the sound mix for a musical is not ideal, and we miss either the words or the music along the way. But not in this case—it is perfect.
In fact, one might say that lightning has struck twice for David Bell. His first original production of “Hot Mikado” has been playing around the world for many years. But this production is even stronger. This is not just quality theater, this is a memory that will stay with you for many years to come!
Hot Mikado
Drury Lane Theater – Oakbrook Terrace
100 Drury Lane, Oakbrook Terrace, Ill.
Tickets: 630-530-0111, Ticketmaster at 1-800-745-3000, or www.drurylaneoakbrook.com
Running time: 2 hours, 30 min.
Closes: Oct. 3
Alan Bresloff writes about theater in and around the Chicago area.
