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| Mikado Dress Rehearsal Photos (click on thumbnails below to see a bigger picture) Photos by Tabitha Smith |
From Rita Moran in Time-Out
The opportunity to perform its show in the new Oxnard High School auditorium
gives Comedy Tonight a fine modern stage with up-to-date technology with
which to work. The access was facilitated by actor and technical director Bob
Decker, an English and drama teacher at the school who is often seen on local
stages.
Another leg up is an association with Linda Bredemann as costumer.
Bredemann ran the Moorpark Melodrama theater for years and built up a
serious costume collection during that time. So, Comedy Tonight folks are
very well-clad, and carry large, matching Japanese fans as props. The
conspicuous fans are snapped open and shut with military precision
throughout the show, to notable comic effect.
Conspicuous members of the cast have extensive or at least some experience
in the melodrama mode, and it shows. Vega not only directs the show, with the
help of assistant director and stage manager Howard Leader, but also turns
those well-honed, larger-than-life skills from the melodrama stage to good
effect in his role as Pooh-Bah, the Lord High Everything Else in the mythical
Japanese town of Titipu. Bringing some of the same background plus vast local
stage experience is Damian Gravino as Ko-Ko, Lord High Executioner. Both
men incorporate some of the brazen melodrama come-ons, with Gravino even
gesturing at one point for more applause so that he and his cohorts can return
to center stage and repeat a patter song at tongue-twisting pace. There's no
question they are effective, even while stepping out of the typically more
subtle G&S; style.
There are a number of good voices in a cast full of mostly young and
middle-age actor-singers, among them Patricia Lathrop-McPherson as the
delectable Yum-Yum, Kenny Larson as the central figure Nanki-Poo and Bailey
Fator as the avenging Katisha who was "promised" to Nanki-Poo before he hit
the road to escape her clutches.
Music director Jessica Helms, providing accompaniment from her piano, gets
commendable precision from the soloists, ensembles and chorus. The music is
well-served. Most of the essential characters also have properly precise
diction, which helps a lot when they're singing some of the fastest-delivery
lyrics in theatrical history. One who really stands out vocally, and with imperial
diction, is John Logues as The Mikado.
The opportunity to perform its show in the new Oxnard High School auditorium
gives Comedy Tonight a fine modern stage with up-to-date technology with
which to work. The access was facilitated by actor and technical director Bob
Decker, an English and drama teacher at the school who is often seen on local
stages.
Another leg up is an association with Linda Bredemann as costumer.
Bredemann ran the Moorpark Melodrama theater for years and built up a
serious costume collection during that time. So, Comedy Tonight folks are
very well-clad, and carry large, matching Japanese fans as props. The
conspicuous fans are snapped open and shut with military precision
throughout the show, to notable comic effect.
Conspicuous members of the cast have extensive or at least some experience
in the melodrama mode, and it shows. Vega not only directs the show, with the
help of assistant director and stage manager Howard Leader, but also turns
those well-honed, larger-than-life skills from the melodrama stage to good
effect in his role as Pooh-Bah, the Lord High Everything Else in the mythical
Japanese town of Titipu. Bringing some of the same background plus vast local
stage experience is Damian Gravino as Ko-Ko, Lord High Executioner. Both
men incorporate some of the brazen melodrama come-ons, with Gravino even
gesturing at one point for more applause so that he and his cohorts can return
to center stage and repeat a patter song at tongue-twisting pace. There's no
question they are effective, even while stepping out of the typically more
subtle G&S; style.
There are a number of good voices in a cast full of mostly young and
middle-age actor-singers, among them Patricia Lathrop-McPherson as the
delectable Yum-Yum, Kenny Larson as the central figure Nanki-Poo and Bailey
Fator as the avenging Katisha who was "promised" to Nanki-Poo before he hit
the road to escape her clutches.
Music director Jessica Helms, providing accompaniment from her piano, gets
commendable precision from the soloists, ensembles and chorus. The music is
well-served. Most of the essential characters also have properly precise
diction, which helps a lot when they're singing some of the fastest-delivery
lyrics in theatrical history. One who really stands out vocally, and with imperial
diction, is John Logues as The Mikado.
From Dave N.
I took my kids to the Sunday
performance of The Mikado.
We loved it, and the kids can't
wait to see this fall's Pirates.
The singing was beautiful. The
Katisha's voice was so lovely
and pure, I am convinced that
young lady has a long
professional career ahead of her.
The quartet in the second half
was so expertly sung, I thought
I was listening to Grand Opera
- absolutely beautiful! Thank
you - see you in September!
I took my kids to the Sunday
performance of The Mikado.
We loved it, and the kids can't
wait to see this fall's Pirates.
The singing was beautiful. The
Katisha's voice was so lovely
and pure, I am convinced that
young lady has a long
professional career ahead of her.
The quartet in the second half
was so expertly sung, I thought
I was listening to Grand Opera
- absolutely beautiful! Thank
you - see you in September!
From Christa H.
We saw The Mikado's today
and enjoyed it very much. I
would like to see future
performances and would like to
be on your e-mail list.
From Todd Everett,
former LA Times reviewer:
Terrific production; I had a great
time.
Nice to see you, Damian and
Bob Decker (albeit briefly); and
the rest of the cast onstage. I
wish Kenny Larson had been
around when I was!
Thanks again for inviting me.
We saw The Mikado's today
and enjoyed it very much. I
would like to see future
performances and would like to
be on your e-mail list.
From Todd Everett,
former LA Times reviewer:
Terrific production; I had a great
time.
Nice to see you, Damian and
Bob Decker (albeit briefly); and
the rest of the cast onstage. I
wish Kenny Larson had been
around when I was!
Thanks again for inviting me.
From Roger S.
Wonderfully Cast!
T
Wonderfully Cast!
T
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