Milwaukee Post
Issue link: https://www.ifoldsflip.com/i/885501
October 6, 2017 • Milwaukee County Post • 17 'Hot Mikado' stirs up Gilbert and Sullivan By JULIE MCHALE Post Theater Critic MILWAUKEE — As one enters the theater, one notes the contrast of styles on stage (designer Sarah Bradner). On one side, a jazzy nightclub combo is set up with grand piano and vari- ous instruments. On the other side and on the back- drop, shades of Japanese design and culture grab our attention. This show combines Gilbert and Sullivan's most popular operetta, "The Mikado," with funky styles of the 1940s – jazz, blues, big band, swing, and gospel in an unending blend of fast-moving action and music. "Hot Mikado" is a 1986 adaptation by David H. Bell of the classic 1885 original, and what a trans- formation it is. Hold your breath, here we go. The cast of 11 talented singers and dancers plus the five accompanying musicians often fill the stage. Choreographer Garry Q. Lewis did a great job of managing the large cast. Overall, director Austene Van was master- ful in coordinating all the components of this snazzy production. The story involves a love triangle and a goofy law involving the behead- ing of anyone for the crime of flirting. Of course, nothing is to be taken too seriously. This is a comedic satire, after all. Gilbert and Sullivan loved to poke gentle fun at the follies of the human race, especially Brits. Nanki-Poo (Michael Penick), who arrives dis- guised as a wandering minstrel but is really the Mikado's son, is in love with Yum-Yum (Rana Roman), but she is engaged to marry Ko-Ko (Chris Klopatek), the city executioner. Ko-Ko is in a bit of a bind – he is sup- posed to find someone to execute or he will be beheaded, so he makes a deal with Nanki-Poo. He tells him he can marry Yum-Yum if he is willing to be executed in 30 days. After all, he's a salaried employee. Nanki-Poo agrees, much to Yum- Yum's chagrin. Meanwhile, Katisha bursts upon the scene, claiming to be engaged to Nanki-Poo. She vows vengeance when she sees him about to marry Yum- Yum. Jamecia Bennett as Katisha stops the show with her amazing voice and powerful presence. Wow! This is a woman not to be messed with. Pooh-Bah (Ryan Cappleman) adds some amusement with his multi- ple roles all wrapped into one, and Chris Klopatek is a perfect fit for the naïve executioner. When he and Katisha hook up together, a hilarious match-up, that strange pairing helps all things end up happily, which, of course, a come- dy is obliged to do. The remainder of the cast — Pish-Tush (Kevin James Sievert), Pitti-Sing (Alexis Roston), Peep-Bo (Christie Burgess) and The Mikado (Peter Sipla) all fulfill their roles nicely, as do the ensemble — James Carrington, Shawn Holmes, Sean Jackson, Car men Risi and Ava Thomann. The orchestra under the direction of Michael (Ding) Lorenz is also quite impressive. For a couple of hours of crazy, creative entertain- ment, don't miss "Hot Mikado." ENTERTAINMENT By TOM JOZWIK Post Film Critic Actors in "Stronger," the true story of a spectator who lost both legs in the 2013 Boston Marathon bombing, spew language considerably stronger than necessary in an early bar- room scene. This leads the viewer to think of Bostonians in gen- eral, and of the Bostonians connected with central character Jeff Bauman in particular, as cretins. (This is unfortunate. I've known several Bostonians, none of whom even vaguely resem- bled a cretin.) Understandably the foul- mouthedness isn't nonstop through "Stronger's" near- ly two hours, but too many scenes seem to be depicting an inane contest of who can swear the loudest. Women, particularly the hero's mother, are definitely not excluded. As for the hero Bauman, he's played by Jake Gyllenhaal, nearly 10 years older than the real Jeff, on whose identically titled book "Stronger" is based. (Bauman also co-wrote "Stronger's" screenplay.) Gyllenhaal might pass for several seasons younger than he actually is, but his playing a twenty-something is something of a stretch. Then again, Gyllenhaal's a fine actor and seemingly does everything a director could ask of him here. As Jeff's salty-tongued and smothering mother Patty, whose great solace is alcohol and whose idol is Oprah Winfrey ("If Oprah's your lifeline, you've got a lot of deeper issues," a rela- tive chides Patty at one point), two-time Oscar nom- inee Miranda Richardson turns in a remarkable per- formance in a movie which has no bad ones. Maybe "Stronger" will mark the English actress' third nom and the third time will be the charm. And perhaps the Academy will honor Tatiana Maslany with a nomination. Maslany is eas- ily believable as Jeff's live- in girlfriend, Erin, herself a hero of sorts for braving opposition from the Bauman family and insist- ing that the wishes of her sometimes weaker-willed (and sometimes verbally abusive) partner prevail. Maslany's part is a demand- ing one, a duke's mixture of sweetness and strength, fire and undying affection. Like Richardson and Gyllenhaal, she loses herself in the role — allowing the filmgoer to forget all about Tatiana and see only Erin. Conceptually, we audi- ence members have no trou- ble agreeing that losing two limbs would be a terrible thing. In a practical sense, just how terrible is con- veyed by the filmmakers and Gyllenhaal in scenes like the one in which Bauman falls helplessly from a toilet. At such times we especially sympathize with this former low-level Costco worker with a pas- sion for the Red Sox, yet we see at other times that he can be a jerk — in his own words, "a big, dumb kid." Bauman's embracing of pending parenthood and eventual realization that his story is bigger than him- self and capable of inspir- ing hope in others facilitate his coming of age. "Stronger" (a title that stems from the laudatory post-2013 Marathon slogan "Boston Strong") is occa- sionally a very sad story, but flesh-and-blood charac- ters and reasonably rapid pacing keep it away from the realm of the maudlin. While not without its imperfections, it's certainly one of the stronger motion pictures I've seen in 2017. Jake Gyllenhaal stars in "Stronger." Lionsgate 'Stronger' features strong language, even stronger performances "Stronger" ★★1/2 Starring: Jake Gyllenhaal, Tatiana Maslany, Miranda Richardson Director: David Gordon Green MPAA rating: R Running time: 116 minutes Showings: www.marcustheatres.com At a glance The cast in Skylight Music Theatre's production of "Hot Mikdao." Lionsgate "Hot Mikado" The play runs through Oct. 15 at the Cabot Theatre in the Broadway Theatre Center, 158 N. Broadway, Milwaukee. Call 414-291-7800 or visit skylight- musictheatre.org for times and tickets. Jazz, choreography provide new twist