The Mikado - The list

[@Jabberwok28]

Eric Idle was the musical heart of Monty Python, along with Neil Innes (RIP). I had the good fortune of getting to meet and chat with him after a performance, during which he announced he was finishing work on Spamalot. It was an awesome evening.

[@Nina5144]

Unlike this dreadful adaption of a great comic opera. Terrible costumes

[@stellarkin1232]

i remember seeing him as god when i attended spamalot, was really fitting

[@SupercatTheBazingalinga]

@@Nina5144Did you actually watch the whole of this adaptation?

[@skovner]

I understand adaptations of "the list" is a tradition, and I have to say this is one of the best.

[@JelMain]

Today being the US Presidential election...

[@timothyhopper4956]

"Australians of all kinds." Of course we'd not be missed - that's why you sailed us all the way out here in the first place. 🤣

[@minui8758]

It’s a reference to the Penal colony. Australian = a horse thief or highwayman or the son of a horse thief or highwayman. Transportation was still in living memory when it was written so Australian was a synonym for a malefactor

[@minui8758]

And suddenly I’m remembering that this is a 1980’s rewrite. I guess you make too much noise at cocktail parties

[@KaragozTheLow]

eric has this ability to play both posh self-important dry frats and naughty cheeky pervs that make him perfect for koko. also his slight tempo fluctuations give some much character to this performance. by far my favorite koko

[@711yada]

I called into a radio show on Vancouver BC once for a chance to talk with Eric Idle. I was the first caller and made him laugh a good gut laugh. I can die happy now. 😂

[@dfsafadsDW]

Damn what did you say? 😂

[@711yada]

@@dfsafadsDW I told him that i take Monty Python to every job interview that i go to. He asked how i did that and i said "While I'm shaking their hand, i look at them dead in the eye, and with my best Australian accent, say 'Mind if I call you Bruce?'... " I was hoping that either he or the dj would ask what i do for a living so i could reply "Well, I'm still looking .." but the dj went off on some lame story he had about interviews... Lol. Never the less, I garnered a true belly laugh from Eric, so i was happy. Later that year my location sound instructor has the MP sound recordist lecture to our class. I was the only student who knew who he was or had listened to the albums. When he finished he asked for questions and i shot my hand up as high as it can go,.. he laughed because of course, i was the only one with a question.. so i looked him in the eye and said, "Is it true that on Matching Tie and Hankerchief, that there are t w o tracks on each side of the album???" With a twinkle in his eye, he replied, "Actually, there are three..." Ah ha!!! ...Then he had to explain to the children (😂) how albums work and that depending on where one sets the needle down, you could engage one of three nested tracks with completely different dialogue. So much fun. 🤪🎯💯

[@ElizabethMcCormick-s2n]

@@711yada You lucky duck!

[@711yada]

@@ElizabethMcCormick-s2n definitely one of the highlights of my life!!

[@kateaustin4254]

Possibly the campest production of the Mikado I'd ever seen. Loved it.

[@jameshorn270]

Hated it. To take Gilbert's detailed study of Japanese art and turn it into a 1920's British seaside resort says a lot about the production designer's ego than his non-existent taste. Further, the addition of TV specific special effects, notably the beheaded characters in Cheap and Chippy Chopper was totally unneeded.

[@CUSTERM16A2]

The production stinks of Free Masonry and Bohemian nihilism.

[@OFS_Razgriz]

The self-own about dressing up like women for comedy (which was a very common Monty Python bit) is what elevates this rendition.

[@dingorex]

Transvestites, say it, use it, be a man.

[@karlkarlos3545]

"He is not the messiah, He's a very naughty boy!"

[@caronstout354]

They were called "pepperpots" back in the days of Monty Python...

[@alabamaal225]

The setting of "The Mikado", as first performed in 1885, was a happy and prosperous Japan, though a much anglicized one. In the mid-1880s Japan was first emerging onto the world stage. Consequently, there was a prominent fad, particularly in London, for all things Japanese, though most Britons had little real knowledge of Japan. The intent of Gilbert and Sullivan, particularly Gilbert, was to satirized English society by presenting it in another setting. That the setting was Japan was somewhat of a happenstance; the setting of "The Mikado" would have been appropriate in almost any class-stratified country ruled by a monarch.

[@skovner]

I read somewhere that the British government stopped performances of The Mikado so not to insult the Japanese ambassador. The theater put on a private performance. The Japanese ambassador enjoyed it, but was insulted that the government thought he woult be insulted.

[@albertpeterson5585]

...saw this production in London; brilliant; this Edwardian update to the original Victoran setting was fun; the Neville Chamberlain moment at the end of the aria was priceless.

[@daniellelessard7548]

Edwardian? More like the reign of George V.

[@duaneschirmer2892]

This is my favorite part of this production of The Mikado, but the whole thing is great and worth a watch.

[@dickyt1318]

I agree but the dvd of the production is inordinately expensive.

[@Daphnis_ate_Chloe]

@@dickyt1318 the whole thing is available for free on KZbin. Thank the maker!

[@Renvere]

Eric Idle is perfect in this role 😂😂😂

[@angelacooper2661]

Eric Idle also sang the theme song to One Foot in the Grave!

[@Mato1970]

One of the best Monty Python songs that Monty Python never did.

[@mitchellminer9597]

Amazing! The group singing "Defer" is one of my favorite bits. Thanks for including it.

[@ElizabethMcCormick-s2n]

Eric is, as always, AWESOME!

[@dfghdfghuytiu8207]

My favorite production

[@citythink]

Amazing. I think I heard this... way back on radio. Great to see!

[@jimbose]

I always thought Eric Idle as one of those old comedians, myself being born in 1991, however as I get older I realize more and more Idle and the Pythons are part of a comic tradition that is purely timeless, something to be enjoyed by generations to come, to surprise and challenge, and it seems evident they will continue to do so.

[@murraywilliamson8074]

Best Mikado I’ve seen.

[@thebaba29]

4:48 for the little list

[@juliusbarber3873]

Make that 4:30

[@rawyld]

So this is the one that change "The list" lyrics got changed thanks to Eric Idle to make it more funnier and more moderate to poke fun at.

[@judithstrachan9399]

There’s a tradition of updating a few items in the list. I think the only time I saw it live, it included “the striking unionist”.

[@jamesbull890]

Can remember going to see this back in the days when you could drive into London without paying exorbitant fees. Also still have the VHS cassette that I bought there.

[@cathybrown6267]

oh how apt and to the point at this time!!!

[@freerangefool3121]

Thank you so much

[@daphnelewin]

You’ve got them all on the list😅

[@maxinejacobson4006]

Brilliant.

[@merledoughty5787]

of course the Mikado is a poke at the English way of life if I am correct.

[@kyanhowe8777]

Sorta, I can see why you can think that. It takes place in Japan after the Meiji Restoration

[@rolandacevans]

Juan Howe, no he's right. It was a send up.

[@ThatTurboOwl]

@@kyanhowe8777 it was, like almost all of G & S's work an excuse to mock British society of the time in directly, they hid it in a hilariously inaccurate interpretation of the Japanese

[@pattynjan1]

@@kyanhowe8777 same same ,both islanders obssesed with social conventions. 😁

[@elizabethdarley8646]

@@kyanhowe8777 and Japan and all things Japanese were oh so fashionable in the 1800s. Think of van Gogh.

[@THETexzilla]

Anyone else catch the Chamberlain at the end with holding up the paper?

[@seancooper6415]

I got it when I was 16 and saw this on PBS Great Performances! But I was always precocious.

[@kelvinwatson4142]

A few notes on the list were missed.

[@Jeff-gj7ko]

The never would be missed!

[@nigelmattravers5913]

Brilliant

[@Qwerty2_6649]

So, I'm Curious as to what The Crowd is singing at 0:00 and 1:15, is it a separate song entirely or?

[@TRZ99]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/enmZaoV5fqdjmM0 it's behold the lord high executioner

[@srothbardt]

I say! Did they change the words a bit?

[@MichaelOnines]

The "list" song has traditionally been changed with each production to poke fun at contemporary individuals or social faux pas. For some productions it is justone or two verses rather than this complete replacement, but it is part of the tradition.

[@srothbardt]

@@MichaelOnines Right. Thanks!

[@thegrillmaster2259]

Family guy did a skit about this. From the episode where Stewie takes over the world.

[@derricgreene]

Funny that Eric Idle dressed as women and spoke in far too high a voice numerous times for a skit.

[@figjam59]

Isn't that part of the joke?

[@davidchalk8883]

That was a kick against Hinge and Bracket

[@piotrberman6363]

This is similar to "unreliable narrator": nothing in the plot indicates that what Ko-ko says is valid, except by chance.

[@ThatsandsGuy]

Imagine the trumpet at the start was the Entrance of your lawful Wedded wife

[@dfsafadsDW]

Australians of all kinds? Come on mate, bit harsh ay?

[@castelodeossos3947]

Expect very many nowadays are offended, that's the zeitgeist. No doubt this opera has been cancelled and all copies burned on the bonfire of Woke righteousness.

[@bloodyhell8201]

@@castelodeossos3947 You were watching it on a public platform. I am watching it on a public platform right now. Let me say that again - Public.

[@christine6234]

I reckon most Aussies would love it. I know I did.

[@GregJamesMusic]

Four of the dislikes must have been from the Bruces.

[@dfsafadsDW]

@@christine6234 im taking the piss ._.

[@theobolt250]

Very confused here now. Eric Idle ánd Terry Jones! Sure this isn't a Monty Python adaptation? 😜😁

[@lordprimus2410]

I thought I saw stephen Fry

[@connerh492]

what's someone with a minecraft icon doing watching victorian british comic opera

[@Nina5144]

Was he one of the dancing waiters?

[@juliusbarber3873]

*_4:35_*

[@danielbautista9062]

Sir not quite brave Robin.

[@TimJackson-eq6iy]

Why? Gilbert and Saylivan Makardo was rightly set in Japan. Just because you can change it, doesn't mean you should.

[@xalrath]

it was also written about Britain, though, so, well. you know how it is.

[@davidlucey1311]

What year?

[@concars1234]

1987

[@NoahSpurrier]

I liked the staging, but the music was lost.

[@Geese-farting-in-the-wind]

Bizarre having the chorus sat with their backs to the audience.

[@rogerbarton1790]

Eric Idle was amazing in the role. The gentlemen's makeup gives me nightmares though. There is another production of this, using the same set, brought into the 1920s IIRC.

[@brucealanwilson4121]

G&S inserted a LOT of social & political commentary into their scripts. Much of it goes over our heads now.

[@Munchausen45]

1:51

[@billswifejo]

I think the A I struggled with the transcript🤣🤣🤣

[@masterofallthelakesintown2472]

People in power and extremist politicians be like:

[@davidbaxter4910]

Boris Becker!!!?

[@ottopippenger1590]

New lyrics are unfunny, and remarkably, more rather than less retrograde than Gilbert and Sullivan. All the pythons are tedious, middlebrow, proud centrist bigots, and the sad thing is that somehow being past their prime and dementia riddled now, they weren’t really any funnier in the 70s.

[@FranzKafkaRockOpera]

It genuinely is one of the worst examples of the tradition of updating the Mikado lyrics. Were they so strapped for inspiration that "women who kiss and tell" had to appear twice with minute variations?

[@dominickeefe2454]

In short, everybody.

[@coursaire2628]

4:30 you're welcome

[@jackal59]

Did they rehearse? Could Idle not hear the music? It's far too slow, and he's out of time with the music.

[@ARCtheCartoonMaster]

Well, you're not gonna like the Groucho Marx cover, then.

[@ameliacone2465]

Mr. Idle is clearly not a trained vocalist (although a solid songwriter,) but his charisma more than makes up for it IMHO:) Also, if I'm not mistaken, the pro's simulated disdain for him is incorporated in the production. Point well taken however!

[@JelMain]

@@ameliacone2465 It was exactly such a production got the NYT into singing ready for ALW, I taught them to sing! My instructor was Sir Geraint Evans' lady wife Brenda, in the launderette.

[@Ardjano234]

Stalin approves this

[@abesapien9930]

He never would be missed

[@johnpickford4222]

And Lenin, Trotsky and Putin

[@CUSTERM16A2]

They'd none of them be missed.

[@eldermillennial8330]

So, the Noh Mask is pulled OFF, eh?😂

[@concars1234]

Huge and floppy ... writs

[@thegreatone-australia1851]

In a word - abysmal.

[@jamescarson6823]

I've played that role and this is just.....no. Makes no sense to have those lyrics. When people try to cleverly update this song, they miss the point that Koko knows he's not smart enough for the job and is desperately trying to find a way to not be killed because of it.

[@bloodyhell8201]

explain

[@jamessergeant2136]

Koko is in the job because he was next to be executed, so if he is the Lord High Executioner he can’t execute himself, and therefore can’t execute anyone else either (so the citizens of Titipu can continue to flirt without fear of punishment). In this song, he explains that if he is forced to identify a victim, there are plenty of ‘enemies of society’ who could be chosen. The targets are meant to be ridiculous, but widely recognised as irritating (e.g. people who eat peppermints, in the original) so it is fun for modern productions to identify whatever is fashionable at the time.

[@HHM706]

Sadiq Khan, Yasmin Alibai Brown, Prince Harry, Megan Markle, Boris Johnson, Chris Hancock, Angela Rayner, Keir Starmer, Owen Jones, Gary Lineker,Diane Abbot,Chris Whitty, Lenny Henry, David Olosunga. I’ve got them on my list, they’d none of them be missed! 😂’

[@MichaelOnines]

Directly naming them is gauche. Need to reference them in a clever way that makes it obvious without just up and naming them.

[@HHM706]

@@MichaelOnines sorry Mr Gilbert I didn’t have the time to come up with some witty lyrics, the names of the guilty will have to do.

[@MichaelOnines]

@@HHM706 Then post it on a Game of Thrones clip of Arya naming off all the people she wants dead.

[@VeryEvilGM]

Family Guy says hi.

[@DiederikAms]

Is he talking about Trump’s list?

[@brennenfoerst3908]

Stewie did it better. (I’m kidding).

[@pauldockree9915]

Here we go. The Little List. Adapted. Golfers! Trump!

[@CUSTERM16A2]

Depart ye accursed into everlasting fire prepared for the Devil and his followers.

[@Resologist]

I HAD WATCHED AND ENJOYED ONE OF YOUR VIDEOS! NOW, KZbin IS SPAMMING ME TO WATCH MORE AND MORE OF YOUR VIDEOS, WHEN I HAVE INDICATED THAT I AM "NOT INTERESTED"! AS LONG AS THEY SPAM ME TO WATCH YOUR VIDEOS, YOUR VIDEO GETS A DISLIKE AND REPORTED AS SPAM!!! THEIR GOOF, SO LET THEM KNOW THAT IT'S NOT NICE TO: SPAM, SPAM, SPAM, SPAM, SPAM, SPAM, AND MORE SPAM!!!

[@MotownFan1962]

🎶Lovely Spaaaam! Wonderful Spaaaaam! 🎶

[@judithstrachan9399]

Spam a lot?

[@tuxtommy69]

I absolutely detest this version of "The Mikado". The staging is horrrid .. what a waste of Eric Idle's enormous talent!

[@Tocsin-Bang]

To my mind the worst production of The Mikado I have ever watched, and I've seen lierally hundreds both, school, amateur and professional productions.

[@Nina5144]

It’s absolutely dreadful isn’t it - The Mikado set in Japan. The costumes are awful the dreadful fey and camp dancing is just a joke. Much prefer the original costume and makeup.

[@complexlittlepirate3589]

It's fantastic and funny. I'm glad Jonathan Miller didn't listen to the naysayers otherwise I wouldn't have this to enjoy! Hope you enjoy your hundreds of other productions that are no doubt also great, I'm delighted by this one 🙂

[@brianletter3545]

@@complexlittlepirate3589 Yes, Jonathon Miller, the guy who wanted to tell Cecelia Bartoli how to sing . .

[@Peh-heeeeeggy-Hill]

@@Nina5144 The Mikado is set in Japan but it's a satire of Victorian English politics. So this is still a satire of British politics. Yellowface isn't necessary

[@brianletter3545]

Not to my taste. Gilbert had a far better sense of humour than shown here.

[@rosemaryheadford7077]

Don't know why they can't leave it alone and keep the Japanese costumes

[@johnpickford4222]

Just what the fuck does the setting have to do with the original story. I understand updating it but now the comedy of manners makes no sense-this must be missed, yes this must be missed.

[@Nina5144]

It’s just awful isn’t it.

[@scot4u]

why mees about with origanality ffs

[@virginiafry9854]

He can’t sing!

[@robertjohnsontaylor3187]

Not really necessary

[@Nina5144]

Terrible adaptation of the great Mikado.

[@stuartehrlich4499]

this UN-Japenese version of Mikado is LAME