Everyone is so nervous about having charges of cultural appropriation leveled against them these days that I imagine “The Mikado” must be a sensitive subject beyond the insular sphere of Savoyards. You know, like Italians at their Heritage Day celebrations who remain willfully oblivious to Cristofero Colombo controversies. At least, to my knowledge, “The Mikado” hasn’t led to the kind of self-abasement producers routinely inflict on themselves whenever they want to stage “Madama Butterfly.” Anyone with half a brain understands “The Mikado” is not about the Japanese anyway, but rather a veil of rice paper behind which English society and institutions are savagely lampooned. According to Gilbert, “‘The Mikado’ was never a story about Japan but about the failings of the British government.” Yes, there are stereotypes, but they are of a sort that are so far over the top, with characters named Nanki-Poo and Yum-Yum, as to neutralize any idea of serious offense intended.
The opera is not without its issues, of course. It is a product of its time (first produced in 1885). So it could raise some eyebrows, or even a few hackles in the 21st century. But mature and educated people understand how to put things in context, without being driven to obscure or obliterate history. I mention all this not to offer an apologia for one of Gilbert & Sullivan’s most popular works, nor to defend the practice of Western actors in “yellow face,” but rather because, in the course of a coincidental exchange with a friend of mine last week, during which many G&S videos were swapped, I happened across this 1967 film version with members of the D’Oyly Carte Opera Company, including acclaimed G&S interpreters John Reed, Donald Adams, Valerie Masterson, etc. D’Oyly Carte was the foremost producer of G&S operettas from the beginning of the Gilbert and Sullivan partnership, in the 1870s, into the 1980s. You can choose to ignore, if you like, but I intend to watch. Happy birthday, Sir Arthur Sullivan!
BONUSES!
Groucho Marx as Ko-Ko
Kukla, Fran and Ollie’s “Mikado”
Eric Idle updates the list
