THEATRE: 'The Mikado'
By BOB BUTLER Kansan Arts and Reviews Editor
KU's speech and drama department could stand to learn a few things from John and Sandra Jones.
This husband and wife team formed the Mount Oread Gilbert and Sullivan Company from scratch, staffed it with volunteer students and moved them onto Strong Auditorium's tiny stage for "The Mikado," the most enjoyable two hours of entertainment Lawrence theater-goers are likely to see this year.
Gilbert and Sullivan operas never get old; under the Jones' direction they get even better. The miserable conditions offered by Strong Auditorium must have provided drawbacks, but this is not evident in the production. Sandra Carson Jones' choreography makes the most of the little space, perfectly matching dance routines and mannerisms with the characters involved. The orchestra, pushed off to one side because there is no pit, played beautifully despite the cramped conditions.
But it is the outstanding characterizations which keep coming back to mind. The acting honors are in a toss-up between Scott Holmes as Ko-Ko (Lord High Executioner) and David Miller as Pooh-Bah (Lord High Everything Else). These two are the perfect comic villains: Ko-Ko a Walter Mitty-type who suddenly finds himself a public executioner and Pooh-Bah a pompous snob who is proud he can trace his ancestry back to the first "globule of protoplasm."
Carolyn Weber as the heroine, Yum-Yum, is a kind of Japanese Marilyn Monroe-pretty and dumb. Kathy Kirkpatrick is the perfect female heavy as Katisha, with a fiercly painted face and the tenderness of an enraged bull elephant.
Richard Weston as Nanki-Poo, the hero, was handicapped in the first act by some excessive facial expressions and a pair of very unheroic pastel lavender tights. He came back, however, with a more restrained manner and different costume in Act II.
Steve Goodman's Mikado was delightful. Usually a grim-faced ruler, he became an amateur-hour ham during his solos.
On top of all this, the entire cast sang beautifully. I only regret Mr. Sullivan's lively music sometimes moves too fast for us to catch all Mr. Gilbert's witty words. This may be more due to acoustical problems than any fault on the part of the performers.
"The Mikado" is colorful, lively and funny. It looks as if the University Theatre finally has some competition.
RECORDS:
Cream's goodbye
By WILL HARDESTY
The Cream's last album GOODBYE on Atco, is something of a disappointment. Two-thirds of the album are songs which the group has recorded before—"I'm So Glad," "Politician," and "Sitting on Top of the World."
The three are all recorded live on GOODBYE, so it's not like you're getting the exact same stuff you have on your other Cream albums. It's just I was expecting something really spectacular so the group could exit in a burst of glory. But I guess the burst was WHEELS OF FIRE.
FOOL ON THE HILL by Sergio Mendes and Brasil '66 on A&M.
The boss bossa-nova group brings forth its fourth album. This one contains the song for which the album was named plus "Scarborough Fair" plus seven other songs—all enjoyable.
The always excellent Sergio Mendes sound strikes again.
The Moby Grape is back after a near disintegration with a better-than-average rock and roll album called MOBY GRAPE '69 on Columbia.
Mar. 6
1969 KANSAN 5
Kansan Arts Calendar
Today
Friday
8 : 30 p.m. - 'The Mikado''-Strong Hall Auditorium
7 & 9:30 p.m.-Popular Film—"The Jokers"-Dyche Auditorium
7:30 p.m.-International Film-"Lemonade Joe"-Hoch Auditorium
8 : 30 p. m. - 'The Mikado''-Strong Hall Auditorium
Saturday
2 p.m.—"The Mikado"
Strong Hall Auditorium
8 : 30 p. m. — 'The Mikado'—Strong Hall Auditorium
7 & 9:30 p.m.—Popular Film—"The Jokers"—Dyche Auditorium
Sunday
2 p.m. 'The Mikado'
Strong Hall Auditorium
3:30 p.m.—Guest Artist—John Lippencott, organist—Swarthout Recital Hall
7 & 9:30 p.m.—Popular Film—"The Jokers"—Dyche Auditorium
7 : 3 0 p. m. - ' ' The Mikado ''-Strong Hall Auditorium
What's happening?
Greg Cowan, Colorado Springs, Colo., freshman, and Terry Creach, Lake Quivera freshman, appear in "What's Happening to Jeromy, Jereomy, Jerromy?" an original play by Larry Maness, Lawrence junior, presented at 8:20 March 13, 14 and 15 at the UCCF Center, 1204 Oread.
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