I've got a Little List in 2018 from The Mikado

Performed by Luke Belle with the Gilbert and Sullivan Opera Victoria
Conducted by Timothy John Wilson, Directed by Andrew McGrail
Written by WS Gilbert and Arthur Sullivan
Additional lyrics by Timothy John Wilson, Sam Hargreaves and Luke Belle
Purchase the DVD at gsov.org.au/shop/dvds/the-mikado-2018

[@dovasvariakojis6934]

I love hearing parodies of this song. The Mikado will always be my favorite opera.

[@ausomeaspie]

Mine too!

[@shrubby-ov4yw]

The song is a parody in and of itself. There are simply different versions. Thats the point

[@CJFCarlsson]

@@shrubby-ov4yw That is what I have been told. The singer, if he is capable, is allowed to add his own list. It is tradition.

[@shrubby-ov4yw]

@@CJFCarlsson it applies to most G&S performances i think. Derek Metzger famously referring to "ill be singing this song until Australia's a republic" in "i am a very model" whereas Gerry Connolly did his 10min long ramble routine of Sir Johannes Bjelke-Petersen. I think it lends opportunity for improvisation if the cast are equipped to do so.

[@miriambertram2448]

I've always seen this as a remarkable way that Gilbert and Sullivan gave us to make fun if our current Society

[@stuartwalton-wr7mx]

People who don't let u get off the train first but they want to be on the train really badly. There on my list

[@linus1703]

Or people who get on the tram and stand in front of the door so nobody can get in or out.

[@jlam5737]

Luke's performance is wonderful - I've watched this more times than I can count!

[@trumpetim7860]

Oh wow, the views on this video certainly went up!

[@Twinbz2010]

Well done Luke!

[@strategicgamingwithaacorns2874]

"And the all-white actors who on playing Japanese insist," LOL.

[@Red_Devil_2011]

Not LOL. Just normalized hatred of White people. There's nothing wrong with White people putting on a play in a foreign setting. Do you shame the Japanese every time they make art with a Western setting? No?

[@jeffwolcott7815]

I love the 'white actors playing Japanese' part!

[@redmondthealien7840]

Well, it was written as a satire of the British political system during the victorian era. The japanise setting was just to avoid them getting in trouble like they did with pinafore.

[@daelen.cclark]

@@redmondthealien7840 Still, it’s better to change casting to reflect the changing times.

[@ccommack]

"The Mikado" has as much to do with Japan, as "My Girlfriend Who Lives In Canada" has to do with either long-distance relationships, or Canadian women.

[@Horatius333]

Get a life.

[@albertweir5070]

very clever well done

[@trumpetim7860]

Thanks mate, had a lot of fun writing this!

[@kyjuan89]

Stewie Griffin brought me here

[@Eternus_transmogrifus49]

Same!

[@peterdavies2960]

Ko-Ko looks remarkably like Jeff Bezos in this 😂

[@kingtim118]

I'm sure Luke would love to hear that lol

[@zacharyclark5617]

That one woman laughing too annoying like she needs attention. I'd put her on my list.

[@ann-catherinemorner7499]

This song will surely be sung at Ragnarök. Look the original up before you laugh. Just to be sure you laugh at the right time... See you there. 🤭

[@The_jesters_house]

Melbourne

[@Hb1290Logos]

Shorten? Really? When ScoMo had literally just done exactly that to Turnbull at the time?

[@kingtim118]

Show was on in July, ScoMo went in in August.

[@Hb1290Logos]

@@kingtim118 Ah, so I guess it's a case of irony in hindsight then.

[@nathanalvarado289]

Should have kept the Japanese theme

[@liamshaughnessy6246]

Ha ha lol!😀😃😅😂

[@stevenmathers6661]

He has a strange accent - Where's he from?

[@kingtim118]

Country town of Albury in Australia on the border of VIC and NSW (think half way between Melbourne and Sydney)

[@VeryEvilGM]

Family Guy says hi.

[@trumpetim7860]

Tempted to borrow on of Stewie's lines, but didn't want Fox chasing me!

[@jasonhurd4379]

Mikado without a hint of faux-Japanese kitsch. What the hell is the point?

[@trumpetim7860]

With the New York G&S recently having to cancel their Mikado due to PC backlash, the director decided to make this a play within a play, starting with a prologue where D'Oyly Carte informs Gilbert and Sullivan (played by the conductor) that he wants a new opera. What you're watching is the gentlemen of the chorus dressed as if they were rehearsing the number. Proper costumes start to appear in the second act. You can find more info at gsov.org.au/season-2018/the-mikado/

[@jesss6952]

Hasn't aged well - just look at the names of the main characters, so insensitive and racist it's not even funny in 2021. I love this version, come to New Zealand when possible!!

[@trumpetim7860]

Thanks! We really appreciate it! If you're super keen, you can purchase the DVD at gsov.org.au/shop/dvds/the-mikado-2018

[@chadsmith8966]

Fun story: early twenty century there was revival of Mikado that was canceled due to the crown prince of Japan visiting the UK and they did not want to cause offense. Now here’s the kicker. He heard about the revival and wanted to see it. So the cast and crew had to scramble to put together a showing. When asked what he thought of opera, the prince was quoted saying “pleasantly disappointed”.

[@axelpatrickb.pingol3228]

I mean, the faux-Japanese kitsch was just a cover for the two to transmit British craziness of the time...

[@thePersonoyt]

I thought the original was the one on family guy

[@christine6234]

I haven’t seen the family guy version but I doubt it’s the original, most references being from a different era. It’s standard to change the list to suit the time and the culture. Eg Australian performances commonly include Americans on the list and Americans include Australians.

[@Dh106mk1]

Originally it's from the mikado of the 1800s

[@thegreatone-australia1851]

Would prefer if they stuck to the original lyrics - they are timeless and what make G and S so magnificent in my opinion.

[@kingtim118]

Gilbert often changed lyrics as the years went on. Lines like "We've got a carriage" and "they've often been convicted" from Gondoliers were only added years after the premiere, but are standard now. Sullivan did the same with his music. He added the bassoon semiquaver run in "Three little maids" after the premiere. People quickly pointed that out when hearing it in the movie "Topsy Turvy" I made sure to still leave parts of the original lyrics still in.

[@zainab58]

What, exactly, is “timeless” about, say, “the n***** serenader, and the others of his race”?

[@Nosregni]

“The idiot who praises, with enthusiastic tone, All centuries but this, and every country but his own.” It’s not often that we something as ironic as this. It means you’re on the list. Now isn’t that a twist!

[@rst7243]

Awkward

[@Kagebushin01]

The they/them pronouns users, I've got them on the list