Hot Mikado sizzles then fizzles
Reviewed by Joe Blenkle/Sacramento Stage & Theatre

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Ross Lehman, a nominee for London's Olivier Award, stars as Ko-Ko, the Lord High Executioner, in the jazzy HOT MIKADO, a Broadway Series production at the Community Center Theater, Nov. 10-15, 1998.

    HOT MIKADO is probably an acquired taste. The Broadway Series production that came to Sacramento's Community Center Theater was one of those shows that while enjoyable, never really set well with the audience.
    Opening night saw some people laughing hysterically. Others sat quietly, not quite sure what to make of the whole thing. Another reviewer sitting next to me brought a book to read (he'd seen the show before and found the book more entertaining).
    It's hard to know how to even describe HOT MIKADO other than a jazzy comedy in a Japanese setting.
    The positives: The set, though simple, was really eye catching. It's color scheme was a pleasure to look at and it didn't overwhelm you or detract from the characters in the musical.

CAST:   Katisha - Chandra Currelley   Yum-Yum - Karole Foreman   The Mikado - Joey Hollingsworth   Pish-Tush - Todd Hunter   Pitti-Sing - Audrey Klinger   Ko-ko - Ross Lehman   Peep-Bo - AnnMarie Martin   Nanki-Poo - Andrew Ragone   Pooh-Bah - La Paree W. Young THE GENTLEMEN AND LADIES OF JAPAN   Bing Bong - Leo Alvarez   Tye Dye - Tyra Bombaci   Ring Ding - Chris Castillo   Ding Dong - Gary D. Ferguson   Ping Pong - David Klatt   Mye Tye - Margorie Mann   King Kong - Art Palmer   Shy Eye - Gia Solari-Welch   Sing Song - Matt Zarley

    The costuming was also quite fabulous. Colorful Zoot suits with Japanese symbols on them adorned the "Gentlemen of Japan," but it was this concept that added to the confusion of the show. Somehow an old Chicago Jazz setting and Japanese architecture don't mix well on the same stage.     The negatives: Other than the above mentioned confusion, the plot wasn't really very thick. Looking past the oriental adornment and jazz, all you had was a simple love story of a guy who loved a girl who was marrying someone else. And the running joke of reminding the audience that, "we are Japanese," wore thin quickly.
    Back in the plus column, whether by accident or design, Ross Lehman as Ko-ko stole the show. The audience couldn't get enough of him and he only got better as the show progressed.
    Joey Hollingsworth also did an outstanding job as The Mikado and may be best remembered for his 15 years on "Mr. Rogers Neighborhood."
    The names in the show were fun too - Yum-Yum, Pish-Tush, Pitti-Sing, Peep-Bo, Bing Bong, Ring Bing, Ping Pong and King Kong to name only a few.
    HOT MIKADO plays at the Community Center Theater through November 15, 1998. Tickets are priced at $10-$60 and are available by calling (916) 557-1999, (916) 264-5181, or (916) 923-BASS.
    Next up for the Broadway Series is STOMP, playing Dec. 29, 1998 - January 3, 1999, at the Community Center Theater.

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