A few pictures of our indomitable male chorus as well. You can see how they are curved out in an arc to address the full theatre. For those of you who are not familiar with the theatre, it has audience on three sides (see the last photo). That makes for some challenging staging situations, but makes for a much more vital and three dimensional experience.
So here is a Mikado Fun Fact (I need to get me a little TM for that). Did you know that as a child Gilbert was kidnapped? While travelling in Italy his nanny was convinced by some shady types that Gilbert's father wanted them to take custody of the young Englishman. A ransom was quickly paid, and order was restored, but it certainly shows something about Gilbert's repeated use of the themes of orphans, wards, and silly nurses who make big boo-boos. Katisha is related to them not in that way specifically, but merely as one of many women of a certain age that Gilbert likes to make fun of. One wonders if a modern writer could get away with some of the objectification of women that we let slip by in Gilbert's lyrics. (Schoolgirls we, 18 and under? Hmmmmm... Of course, if Bob Dole can appear in a Pepsi commercial ogling Brittany Spears, I guess we haven't changed all that much.)
Katisha is an interesting figure in many ways. Is her marriage a punishment or a happy accident? I tend to think the latter. Somehow, through the magic of romantic comedy, Ko-Ko and Katisha have found each other and will live happily ever after. Personally I love nothing better than the moment when the Grinch's heart grows three sizes, or the Winter Warlock melts, or Darth Vader throws the Emperor down that shaft, or Jimmy Stewart wishes a Merry Christmas to the Emporium. Gotta love redemption.
These days especially.Tomorrow is a day I've been looking forward to all week--our piano dress. We finally get to see all these fabulous costumes on stage. Oh, yes. Hopefully I won't be so entranced by them I forget to take pictures.
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