From Hot Mikado to Hollywood Pinafore, Gilbert and Sullivan operettas have been given their share of updates. Currently Theater Ten Ten is presenting a delightful production called The Singapore Mikado, whose premise is that three days after Pearl Harbor, British consul Sir Evelyn Estebrooke and his lady are presenting The Mikado at their Singapore residence as their annual holiday soirée. With talent drawn from the local English colony, this is their way of thumbing their noses at the power to the northeast.
Originally conceived by Charles Berigan and David Fuller, The Singapore Mikado doesn't change the original text, but it adds a prologue in which the officers and their ladies are introduced in uniform or evening dress and then leave to put on their costumes. An air raid coincides with the intermission. This approach cleverly explains why all of Gilbert and Sullivan's Japanese characters speak with English accents. Fuller's direction is polished, and the cast members, under the musical direction of Joel Gelpe at the piano, are comfortable with their accents and sing with exquisite diction.
As Ko-Ko, the lord high executioner who has never beheaded anyone, Greg Horton delivers a first-rate comic performance. He receives able support from baritone David Tillistrand's Pooh-Bah, "lord high everything else." As the young lovers, Nanki-Poo and Yum-Yum, tenor Martin Fox and soprano Emily Grundstad make beautiful music together and separately.
As the royals, David Arthur Bachrach is a charming Mikado and contralto Cristiane Young makes a suitably overpowering Katisha. As Malphal Singh, Sir Evelyn's native butler and his stage manager for the evening (a role not in the original), Andrew Clateman steals every scene he is in with his intensity and conviction. The stage is awash in the colorful kimonos by Viviane Galloway.
Presented by and at Theater Ten Ten
1010 Park Ave., NYC.
April 29-May 28. Mon., Fri., and Sat., 8 p.m.; Sun., 3 p.m. (Additional performance Thu., May 25, 7 p.m.).
(212) 288-3246, ext. 3.