The Mikado: A Wand'ring Minstrel, I

Featuring Derek Metzger from the Gilbert & Sullivan classic The Mikado.

[@songsmith31a]

Vigorous and invigorating performances of this timeless G&S song, with some interesting adornments from elsewhere in this wonderful genre. Most enjoyable.

[@samwardsamward]

derek metzger is so versatile, first the Major General in Pirates of Penzance, then Nanki Poo in this, then Patsy in Spamalot!

[@JoshFreilich]

I noticed them all! "I have a song to sing, o" from YEOMAN, "When first my old, old love I knew" from TRIAL, "If you go in, you're sure to win" from IOLANTHE, and, my favorite, "Dance a cachucha" from GONDOLIERS!!

[@dzfz2100]

Don't forget "Take a pair of sparkling eyes" from the Goldoliers!

[@fionaedwards4720]

I bought this DVD years ago, along with pirates and pinafore. I've watched them that many times I'm surprised I haven't worn them out. they are all brilliant.Derek Metzger is brilliant in this didn't recognise him at first with being in pirates as the major general, just shows how brilliant he is ☺

[@SmoothMoonWalker]

A wand'ring minstrel I, a thing of shreds and....Next!...PATCHES!

[@LivingCrusader]

The Producers

[@Sheilamaizi]

I think they are wonderful!!!! How they incorporate the humor and add different songs from different operas is refreshing and shows the depth of originality. The singing is good too.

[@carolethecatlover]

Congratulations on being a senior cit on the net! In Utube. Wonderful!

[@CecilHoshino]

To this day, I can't get past 0:46, without thinking... "threads and--" "NEXT!" "patches..." "THANK YOU!"

[@thomashogan16]

You know that line is from Hamlet? It is.

[@borzoix4]

I got the whole performance and its pricessly funny!

[@RoseCollins]

Ah ! I saw this back in the day, every single intonation is perfect (as I have watched the video and DVD later on as well, singing along...) Wonderful

[@merledoughty5787]

This is the most brilliant of all of the G&S productions imho loved the comedy in this, Mikado everyone bows still brilliant in 2020, I have this on VHS not a good recording an DVD beautiful, when the production came to New Zealand we had NZ performers as in HMS Pinafore all very good i saw these shows here magic and so funny. I have always loved G& S from a teen all the very serious operettas although great these are clever for our day and sit well when they came out for the age we live in

[@DragonOfMusic1]

This is awesome! Even if it strayed from the original, the addition of music from other GnS shows makes it MORE entertaining for GnS nerds, I think, not less so.

[@magdahearne497]

Wish I'd seen this...it looks a hoor 💖

[@Tennie42]

i love you for posting these!

[@charlesgruber7157]

I am a Gilbert & Sullivan fan.

[@oboewizard]

Of the clips from this production - I must say I liked this one the best. For one thing there were no cuts, and no major text changes. Nanki-Poo is great and sings beautifully and the weird re-orchestration (which I generally hate) is not as odious here as it is in some of the other songs. I didn't really mind the addition of all the clips form other G&S at the end. It was fun to try to recognize them quickly!

[@Dhbrydon]

As a traditionist were Gilber and Sullivan are concerned I like to see them done traditionally BUT this is Fantastic , Wonderful , Great, As a boy soprano I played all the leading female roles. loved the olio of other G.S operas that were included.

[@DownhillAllTheWay]

Fantastic performance. Terrific voices - altogether, very enjoyable. What a pity about the video quality, though.

[@michalstympatek]

Jacques Lapidus!

[@TrayofCreamCakes]

im playing nanki poo in our school show

[@BlueThunder1988]

Don't forget 'Take a pair of sparkling eyes' from Gondoliers.

[@verdew8181]

Somehow this works!

[@JustClaude13]

These stage shows never seem to array the workers in full fundoshi gear. And I'm not sure how he carries that piano around from town to town. Isaac Asimov once said that G&S really only works if you play it dead straight. The characters can't think it's funny, or it kills the humor. Within limits, this hasn't strayed to far from that ideal. And he does have a wonderful voice.

[@magdahearne497]

*hoot

[@gavpowell1981]

What I know about classical music could fit in a matchbox, sadly, so I wouldn't know he was ripping anyone off, I just know that, Phantom aside, it's been light and fluffy ;) Mitch Benn has a wonderful LW parody on youtube somewhere...

[@SAHanson]

It's not, it's a medley of Yeoman,Trial, Iolanthe and Gondoliers (x2)

[@Plawranc]

@jollywigs You see, this is the problem, when G & S wrote this it was built for the humor of their particular audience. As theatre progresses the audience and naturally the humor changes, while all the original humor is there there are plenty of stereotypes and sight gags and new humour strewn amongst the songs. It makes people laugh while it remains mostly faithful to the original. G & S is not classical theatre, it is cheap entertainment of the late 1800's.

[@bubble8829]

Simon Gallaher may have been the better singer, but Derek Metzer is such a brilliant actor with great timing.

[@Dhbrydon]

clownus, apparently you do not understand past tense, I did sing as a tenor for many years, I am now 81 and can assure you I was never operated on , I do , however remember those far of days as a boy soprano with a great deal of pleasure

[@VRNProductions]

@gavpowell1981 Well, considering he's not a lyricist, I don't think he can be compared to Gilbert. And Jesus Christ Superstar and Evita beg to differ, though they are the exceptions to the rule.

[@Plawranc]

@jollywigs Gilbert and Sullivan were not artists, they were comdeic writers and entertainers. It is adaptions like this that keep their works alive and if they were alive today they would do exactly this. So shame on you, you would rather GnS died than live?

[@SwissArmyCheese]

The way you phrased it was not "Oh in those days I played a boy soprano" It was a past tense, but a past tense that without knowing you makes it seem like you're speaking recently. So no need to be snarky with me.

[@SwissArmyCheese]

Boy soprano? How old are you? Sometimes boy soprano's grow out of that and just become a Tenor 1.

[@gavpowell1981]

@ijones39 I don't think LLoyd-Webber has anything like the skill to compose anything with the wit of WS Gilbert or music as charming as Arthur Sullivan's - he writes very lightweight stuff for the benefit of tourists.

[@Huaimek861]

Sadly we live in different times , Ivor Novello , Noel Coward and so many more .

[@mensamoo]

hmmm, no orchestra and mimed singing. what do we think?

[@SwissArmyCheese]

He can't.