"THE MIKADO"

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23339, 6 May 1939, Page 16

"THE MIKADO"

COMIC OPERA FOR CIVIC The first of the famous Savoy operas to be brought to the screen, " The Mikado," by Sir William Gilbert and Sir Arthur Sullivan, is the next attraction for the Civic Theatre. Several popular singing stars are included in the cast, but the majority of the players are drawn from the original d'Oyly Carte Opera Company, including the entire chorus. Kenny Baker, a popular American radio singer, plays Nanki-Poo, Jean Colin is cast as YuniYum, while Sydney Granville, Martyn Green and Gregory Stroud have other prominent roles. All the great moments of the stage version arc rendered even more dramatically on the screen, especially. the scenes of the arrival of the Mikado of 'Japan in the town of Titipu, and the entrance of Ka'tisha, the Mikado's grim and elderly "daughter-in-law elect." Comedy is supplied by the quaint little Lord High Executioner, Ko-Ko, and the stately Pooh-Bah. Lord High Everything Else. All the dialogue is that of Gilbert, nothing fresh being added, so that the film follows faithfully the stage Bresentation which has beconie famous iroughout the world. Sir Arthur Sullivan's immortal, melodies are played : by the famous London Symphony Orchestra. All the delicate shades olt the Eastern costumes and scenery that make the stage version such a colourful spectacle are admirably transferred to the screen by a new and beautiful technicolonr process. "The Mikado" is an English production made with the permission and full to-operation of Mr. d'Oyly Carte.