The Guardian 29/5/95 Robin Thornber

A vital catch.

I’m not a great fan of the dormitory humour of Gilbert and Sullivan’s comic operettas but I was won over by the fresh approach, the vitality and fun of this New Vic production. What, I wonder, would any surviving stuffed-shirt purist of the D’Oyly Cart style make of it?

In 1885 Japan had only recently been opened to the west and Gilbert used this fashionably exotic location to distance his satire of this craven corruption of English institutions. Director Chris Monks brings it back home by setting the show on a cricket pitch.

It’s a wacky notion, reminiscent of Alan Plater’s charging the chairman of the Marylebone Cricket Club of all the sins of the English establishment in Simon Says…, and it’s wittily sustained in Lis Evans’ set and costume designs, stretching to the decoration of bar and foyer as a clubhouse…

But it’s the energy and dedication of an enthusiastic company that soaks you in the spirit of the prank with winning performances from Nigel Richards as wandering minstrel Nanki-Poo, Shelly Willets as Princess Yum Yum, Alan McMahon as Ko-Ko, Claude Close as umpiring Pooh-Bah, Craig Pinder as the Mikado and Carol Noakes valiantly sending up a kabuki Cruella de Ville as Katisha.”

This production of The Mikado was selected Pick of the Week alongside Fiona Shaw’s Richard II for the duration of its’ run.

The Times 24/5/95

Bowled over by The Mikado

The opening night audience was absolutely bowled over by the New Victoria Theatre Stoke’s production of The Mikado, set on a cricket pitch. Chris Monk’s brilliantly innovative interpretation of the G & S masterpiece, sustained a collective broad grin on the faces of the enraptured spectators, from the opening ball until close of play.

The grins widened frequently to creased laughter as the show scored hit after comic hit.

Nigel Richards is a wonderfully cheeky Nanki-Poo, as he strives to win the hand of Yum Yum – deliciously played by Shelly Willets.

The pair would no doubt have delighted Gilbert himself, who always insisted on actors who can sing rather than singers who can act. Mr. Richards and Miss Willets can do both – beautifully…

This is unquestionably the funniest version of any G & S you are ever likely to see. Possibly the funniest anything you are likely to see. Don’t be caught out reading this one.