ROS - Hot Mikado 2007

Stockport Plaza, 27th - 31st March 2007

Our 2007 show was the fabulous Hot Mikado. ROS first performed this fabulous reworking of the G&S classic at the Royal Northern College in Manchester in 1998, and we felt it was time to bring it home to Stockport! The show closed on March 31st after a fantastic run - even the fire alarm just before the Thursday night performance wasn't enough to dampen the spirits of either cast or audience!

Fresh from the success of Honk at the Romiley Forum, the production team of Director Rod Goddard, Musical Director Claire Sweeney and choreographer Mike Ward put on another excellent show!

The following review appeared in the Stockport Times during the week of the show:

From the opening number by the colourfully zoot-suited Gentleman of Japan, it was clear that we could look forward to a night of lively dance and song. Hot Mikado is an amusing if improbable account of matrimonial entanglements originally set in Japan but now scored in the American style of the 1940’s. The leading couple, Rob Haslam (Nanki Poo) and his sometime fiancée Yum Yum played by Lucy Page, led the company through the various entanglements with great panache leading several of the ensemble numbers with strong voices and great personal charm. Godfrey Roylance (Pooh Bah) impressed with his musical portrayal of The Lord High Everything Else.
John Meachen (Ko Ko) as the Lord High Executioner displayed his comic talents to the full in his number with the men, ‘I’ve Got A Little List’, soon to be joined by the commanding figure of Katisha, daughter of the Mikado, played by Nicola Mead. Her strong voice led several of the Blues number in the show, no more so than the ensemble number ‘Joy, Joy, Joy’.
An undoubted highlight of the first half was the well known trio ‘Three Little Maids’ here translated into a take off of the Andrews Sisters delightfully portrayed by Louise Meachen as Peep Bo and Nicola Redman as Pitti Sing with Lucy Page (Yum Yum).
The opening after the interval, featured the company number ‘Braid the Raven Hair’ which gave the opportunity for Mike McCaw (Pish Tush) to shine as he led the chorus through this number as Yum Yum prepares for her wedding.
It is not until the second half that we are introduced to The Mikado himself (Roger Nuttall). He makes a dramatic entrance attired in a sparkling white and silver outfit and amazes company and audience alike leading the whole group in his tap dancing routine ‘Let The Punishment Fit The Crime’.
As the society said farewell to their audience in their final song (We Do Not Want to Let You Go) we could look back on a toe-tapping well dressed colourful show celebrating the 75 years of the Society.
The Choreography was in the hands of Mike Ward, Claire Sweeney wielded the Conductor’s baton and Rod Goddard was in charge as Director of the whole production.


Ko Ko and Pitti Sing	Nanki Poo and Yum Yum	Pooh Bah and Peep Bo

East meets West head-on in this hilarious 1940's-style updating of the perennial Gilbert and Sullivan classic. With the music transmuted into blues, Cab Calloway swing, hot gospel, scorching torch songs and 'Three Little Maids' turned into an Andrew Sisters' show-stopper, this zoot-suited, tap-dancing colourful show is certain to provide the ideal evening out for the whole family.