Friday, July 8, 2011

Our Great Mikado Virtuous Man

This is not only a show I have not performed in, but one that I want to sing its adaptation in the Japanese language.  Yes, there is, in fact, a Japanese rendition of the operetta, The Mikado.

In this song, Pish-Tush, a noble lord of the town of Titipu, explains to Nanki-Poo that not long ago, the lord of Japan, the Mikado, decreed that flirting, unless married, was a crime punishable by death.  The tailor, Ko-Ko, was accused and subsequently jailed.  The other lords, knowing how fatal this could be, considering human nature, subverted the law by appointing Ko-Ko as the Lord High Executioner. Since he was next to be executed, no others could be until he had done it himself, and since Ko-Ko's not the type to do himself in, the town of Titipu was spared until the Mikado would eventually himself come to Titipu.

Thankfully, the Mikado has more than a few bass roles, which makes any prospect of joining a production all the better, since I know 'As Someday it may happen', sung by Ko-Ko and am learning 'A More Humane Mikado', sung by the Mikado himself and 'I am So Proud' sung by Ko-Ko, Pish-tush, and Poo-Bah.

1 comment:

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