Three Little Maids From School Are We

We had another little "gathering of the clans" last night, for the latest production by Sacha Regan, the all-male Mikado at the fantabulosa Wilton's Music Hall.

We thoroughly enjoyed last year's production HMS Pinafore, and so there was a huge buzz of anticipation of what was in store. We certainly were not disappointed!

Let's hear the views of the reviewers, which echo my own...

Theatre Weekly:

This particular Gilbert and Sullivan classic has become problematic for anyone wanting to revive it, Sasha Regan swerves all of this by setting it in England and thus satirising the establishment even more blatantly than the original did with its heavy Oriental styles.

There’s a lone tent on stage with a backdrop of trees, and we find ourselves in the midst of a boys camping trip – a private school or Scout troupe perhaps. Some neat changes to the opening number, If you want to know who we are helps set the scene. As night falls the dressing up box comes out and the familiar tale begins to unfold.

We’re still in a city called Titipu, but any reference to geography is removed and the names of the characters are anglicised; the lowly tailor elevated to Lord High Executioner [Ko-Ko] becomes Mr Cocoa, the wandering minstrel with royal roots [Nanki-Poo] becomes Bertie Hugh and the man taking on every office of state [Pooh-Bah] is now Albert Barr.

Everything Theatre:

Camp indeed it is, and exploding with fun! Gorgeously exaggerated characterisation and Ryan Dawson Laight’s fastidious design work fit superbly alongside the Music Hall’s historic splendour. Every detail of costume, every prop, is linked thematically and humorously, with costumes made from picnic blankets or enamel dishes, and tents moving around left right and centre, providing opportunity for some marvellous hilarity and slapstick. The action is inventively arrayed across multiple levels, making best use of this unique venue, and it’s all sparklingly delightful.

Gay Times:

... we are introduced to Bertie Hugh (Declan Egan)... who falls for Miss Violet Plumb [Yum-Yum] (Sam Kipling). Alas, both are engaged to wed others [he, by a mistake of etiquette, to Miss Kitty Shaw, and she to Mr Cocoa] – over the ensuing two hours we watch their stories unfold to see if they can attain their happily ever after. As we’ve come to expect from Sasha Regan’s all-male company, it’s a high-camp, comedic affair, but not tastelessly so. The entire show is played as if these were school children acting out their roles; there’s a warm and easy camaraderie between these actors which is a joy to watch.

Once-a-Week Theatre:

There’s so much detail, and so much of it leads to laughs. Lewis Kennedy’s Geordie Mikado [The King} and David McKechnie’s Harold Steptoe-inspired Mr Cocoa are accomplished performers who are a delight to watch closely. Christopher Hewitt has a brilliant turn as Kitty Shaw [Katisha] complete with a bicycle. As for getting Hewitt to sing while pumping a deflated wheel… what a great idea!

Everything Theatre:

But all are in danger of being upstaged by the amazing Richard Russell Edwards as Hebe Flo [Peep-Bo] and Owen Clayton as Bluebell Tring [Pitti-Sing], who tirelessly and repeatedly create surprising, riotously funny moments. With Kipling, they are simply fabulous in Three Little Maids, and they should have a sequel just to themselves.

Theatre Weekly:

With all of the glorious singing happening on stage, it’s easy to forget that the cast are accompanied by a lone piano, played by musical director Anto Buckley, who succeeds in making it sound as though he were a full company of musicians.

These all-male productions certainly breathe new life into the originals, but this seems especially true with The Mikado, which is a clever, funny and downright enjoyable reinterpretation of an operetta that could easily have been consigned to the history books.

We were enthralled by the whole thing! The vocals, the interplay between the players, the sheer audacity of the reinterpretation of Gilbert and Sullivan's classic characters (and lyrics), the handsome cast, the campery - everything about this show was perfectly executed.

I'd go and see it again - and that's not an accolade I'd give to many shows!

Sasha Regan’s All-Male The Mikado is at Wilton's Music Hall until 1st July 2023. Book now!