ROSEBOWLADJUDICATION

NAMEOFCOMPANY

CURTAINUPTHEATRESCHOOL

NAMEOFPRODUCTION

HOTMIKADO

VENUE

JulianSladeTheatre,Bath

DATE

Thursday,7April2016

ADJUDICATOR

BarbaraSmith
PRESENTATION

SETincludingSTAGEFURNITUREandPROPS
AsimpleandeffectiveOpenSetwithacycsituatedbehindtraditionalJapaneseScreens
withawellpaintedFlatinfrontrepresentingtheentrancetoClubTitipuandwith
OrchestraplacedinfrontoftheFlat.SRaBarandSLaredpaintedtraditionalJapanese
Bridge.SuspendedabovethestageSRandSLlargewhiteFanswhichcaughtthe
lightingcolourchangesandseveralsmallerFansandsmallsuspendedJapaneseScreens,
againeffectivelyenhancingtheJapaneseflavour.Thisopenstageprovidedanexcellent
areaforthemovementandgroupingofthelargeCastandanyelevationswouldhave
beenahindranceratherthananaidtogroupingsonthesmallstage.PropsasAxe,Fans,
Scrolls,allwellpresentedandincaricaturisedJapanesestyle.
AneffectiveSetwhichsuitedboththematerialandthelimitsofthevenue.
STAGEMANAGEMENT
TherewasnoStrikingorSettingrequiredandalllightingandsoundcuingappearedtobe
promptlyeffectedtotheappropriateoperator.

LIGHTING,EFFECTS,&SOUND
Lightingwasverybright,colourfulandeffective,againenhancingtheatmosphereand
vitalityofthejazzymaterial,andthechangingcoloursonthecycandonthesuspended
whiteFansexcellentlyheightenedthemanylightingchanges.Gooduseof
Orange/AmberandYellowcycgaveasunnyatmospheretoWandringMinstrel,andto
ThreeLittleMaidsfineuseofRedsandOrangeandagainplusBluecycforLetthe
ThrongOurJoyAdvance.TheuseofRoboGobofortheFinaleofAct1andHourof
GladnessmadeafittingatmosphericclimaxtotheAct.Act:forSunandIagood
OrangecycthenturningtoBlue,andSpotSRonYumYumandlaterfineRoboSpotsat
thefinaleoftheMikadoSong.
Theseareafewofmyobservationstoreflecttheeverchanginglightingeffectswhich
trulyaddedanenhancedvisualeffectwiththepresentation.
SoundwasagainwellcontrolledwithpersonalmicsatagoodlevelandbothBandand
Singerswellbalancedwithexcellentsoundcontrol.
Averyfinetechnicalinput.
COSTUME,WIGS&MAKEUP
GentlemenZootSuitsandfedorahatssuppliedbyStageStyleCostumeswereperfectin
bothstyle,exaggeratedfitandcolour,andtheLadiescostumesmadebythecompany
wereagaininfinestyleandbrightmaterialtosuittheatmosphereofcarefreeAmerican
1940swithhintsofJapaneseinfluence.Theuseoftheblouses,skirtsandsasheswith
chopsticksandflowersinthehairfortheLadieswasperfect,andthechoiceofblack,
pinstripesuitwasperfectforBooBahasLordHighEverythingElse,andtheslippery
PishTushinstriped,redsuitagainreflectingthecharacterexcellently,andatfirstasmart
redthreepiecesuitandfedorahatforNankiPoo.FinechecksuitforKoKoandthe
glasseswithaplasterrepair,theverysleekhairstylewithprecisealmostcentreparting,
wassuperbforfurthercharacterisinghim.GymslipsandlongwhitesocksfortheThree
LittleMaids,brandishingcocktailglassesandKatishaintightfittingblackoutfitwith
redbasque,highboots,longdarkhair,andbrandishingherwhipmadeasuperbvisual
impact.
Act2:WhiteoutfitsforYumYumandNankiPooandYumYumwithaJapanesestyle
silverandwhitecostume,andthenlaterbacktobefore,KoKonowinapurplecheck
suit,andtheLadiesintopsandskirtsbutwithsomemoreJapanesestyledmaterials.
BothPittSingandPeepBowithmoretraditionaloutfitsforthewedding,andKatisha
appearinginalong,vampish,redsatineveningdress.TheMikadoinafinewhite
threepiecesuitandwhitefedoralookedeveryinchaMafiaGodfather.Therewerehints
ofstylisedeyemakeupsfortheLadiesbutIwaspleasednoexaggeratedattemptatbeing
Oriental.

Thiswasafineinputwhichagainenhancedthevisualimpactofthepresentation,and
withallcostumesappearingwellfittedandpresented.CongratulationstotheWardrobe
Teamonanexcellentinput.
MUSIC
ORCHESTRA
ThesixpieceOrchestramadeanexcellentinstrumentalcombinationforthisMusicaland
Iwasimpressedwiththeswing,Bigbandsoundthatwasproduceditwasperfectfor
the1940sClubatmosphereneededtobackthematerial.ThroughoutIwasimpressed
withthestrongdirectionoftheMDandalsothebalanceofsoundbackingthesinging
input.Fromtheopeningnumber,WeAreGentlemenofJapanthestrongdrumming
andbrassinputprovidedafinesoundandbackedwithkeysandbassmadeastrong
openingimpact.Finefluteinputinto,LittleListandinputfrombassandkeyboard,and
strongdrummingandbrassinputfor,LettheThrongOurJoyAdvanceandalovely
Bigbandsound.TheswingrhythmwasexcellentthroughoutandinAct2the
KeyboardbackingforYumYum,SunandIwasveryatmospheric.Strongdrumming
fortheentranceoftheMikado.
Againanotherexcellentinputwithfinesenseofstyleandcreatinganatmosphereofthe
1940sandprojectingmusicalstylesfromJazztoGospel,Blues,RockandSwingitwas
veryimpressiveandstronglyconducted.
SINGING
ThiswasafineinputfromaveryyoungCompanyandtheyoungMenaretobe
congratulatedwithstrongvocalprojection,despitesomevoicesnothavingyetsettledtoa
confidentpitch.TheSoloistsalldeliveredwithafinedictionandclarityandwithgreat
understandingforthewittylyricsofthesongs,andtheEnsemblebackingthroughoutwas
verystronganddeliveredagainwithstrongdictionandclarity.AlltheAmericanaccents
werestrongbothwithdialogueandsong.
NankiPoocharacterised,WanderingMinstrelverywellandwithfinedictionandbody
languageandthefollowing,AndtheDrumsWillCrashwithPoohBahwellpitchedand
verywellcharacterised.GoodsoloinputfromEnsemblein,BeholdtheLordHigh
ExecutionerandwithexcellentcharacterisationfromKoKo,andhisinputinthe
following,IveGotaLittleListwaswithsuperbtimingfromsongintodialogue,fine
dictionandhumourwellpointed,andlovelyfinalfall.ThreeLittleMaidsdeliveredin
fineAndrewsSistersstyleharmonyandwellpitchedfinalnotes.Agoodduetfrom
YumYumandNakiPooand,althoughNankiPooinsecureonuppernotes,verywell
characterisedandYumYumwithgoodpitchandlovelytopnotes.TheTrioin,IAmso
Proudwithwelltimedpartsingingandsuperuseofthefans,andthenfinePatterinput
andallwithanexcellentsenseofcomedydelivery.GoodsoundfromEnsembleandfine
singinginputfromPittiSingwithalovelycadenzapiece.KatishaandHourof
Gladness,afinecontraltovocalqualitywithresonanceandbringingtothisTorchSong
3

amesmerisingqualityofanguish,seemingtoreachtothedepthofhersoul.FineGospel
stylefortheFinaleofAct1.
Act2:Theopening,BraidtheRavenHairwithPishTushwasdeliveredwithgoodrich
vocaltoneandstrongensembleinputwithlovelyfinalnote,andalsoasolopiecefrom
YumYum,SunandI,givenasweetsopranoinput,wellcharacterisedwithuseofher
fanandstylisedgestures.Wellcontrolled,fourpartharmonyfor,SwingaMerry
Madrigalacapelloandexcellentchangesoftempo.Thefollowing,HeresaHowdy
Dooagainwellcharacterisedandharmonyofthetrio,andthenthe,MikadoSong
stronglyprojectedinalmostmanicgangsterlikestyle.Katishaand,AloneandYet
Alivewithastrongbluesresonanceanddepthofpassionwassuperandverymoving,
andthefollowing,TitWillowfromKoKodeliveredwithawellcharacterisedvocal
wobble,bodylanguageandmovement.BeautyintheBellow,afineduetwithKo
KoandKatisha,excellentlycharacterisedbyboth.TheFinaleofAct2,withwelltimed
andpitchedsoloinputsandprojectionfromtheensemble.AnexcellentSingOff
WedonotwanttoletyougoandneitherdidI!
ThiswasacommendablesinginginputfromsuchayoungCompanyCongratulations!
DIRECTION
TheDirectionwasstrongineveryaspectandthecoordinationofbothtechnicalinput
andonstageperformancewassecureandwellstylised.Thefocusandenergyofthe
Companywasfirstclassandthesenseofjoyemanatingfromthestagewasprofound.
ThedirectionhadfullyrespectedthemusicalstylesandtheatmosphereofAmerican
Clubsofthe1940sandtheAmericanaccentswereverygoodinbothdialogueandsong.
MyperennialconcernwithYouthProductionsiswiththeovercrowdingoftheensemble
onstage,andthisIrealisecannotbeavoidedwithlargescaleYouthProductionsandis
difficulttoresolvewithoutdifferentgroupsofperformerscomingonandoffthestage.It
doesmeanthatwithalargeensemblethedanceroutinescannotbeaschallengingasif
withsmallernumbersofdiscreetperformers.However,theethosofcastingalldespite
stagegroupingandmovement,isonethatIhighlycommend.
Thepace,cuingandtimingthroughoutwasexcellentandthecharacterisationswereall
beautifullyprojectedwithbothactingandsingingskills.Thereleaseofcomedyand
stagebusinesswasagainverygoodIlikedthesmartentranceofYumYumandNanki
Pooonscooters,andthroughoutallhadanimpressiveunderstandingofthewittytext.
Awellconceivedandfirstclassinputwithallelementsfirmlyinexcellentstyleand
presentation

MOVEMENT&DANCE
CHOREOGRAPHYincludingDANCESKILLS&GROUPING
Ihavementionedabovethechallengeofworkingwithalargeensembleandonasmall
stagewhereitisdifficulttochoreographforageneralability,buttheroutinesdevised
4

werewellwithinthescopeoftheensemble.Theopeningroutinewasstylisedand
elementsofjiveandwithgoodgroupingpatternsformed,andthefollowingroutine
performedwithafineenergyandagoodfinal,frozengrouping.Goodmarchingstyle
routinefor,BeholdtheLordHighExecutionerandgoodsoloinputforKoKowithafall
intotheensemble.ThreeLittleMaidswithaverywellstylisedAndrewSisters
movementroutine,andlateraverywellcharacterisedmovementroutinefortheTrioin,
IAmsoProudwithanimpressivechoreographeduseoffans.FineJiveinputfor
Ensemblein,LettheThrongOurJoyAdvanceandgoodswingroutinewithstronghand
movementsintheGospelstylemovementforHourofGladness.
Act2:Effectivecircleformationfor,BraidtheRavenHair,andlaterasynchronised
bowingdownincanonfortheentranceoftheMikado,fineenergiseddanceroutine,anda
goodfinalgrouping.Wellchoreographedmovementsfor,HeresaHowdydoandlater
afinemovementroutineforKoKoandKatisha,withhimfallingintoandliftedinher
arms.Awellenergisedjiveroutineandhandmovements,groupingsandpairingsforthe
finalnumber,andfrozenpictureattheend.
AsecureandwellfocusedinputwithpopularperioddancestylesandwithaJapanese
flavourusinghandsandfans.IwasdelightedtonotethattheentireCompanyhadbeen
performingtheirdanceskillsinthemanyroutines.
ACTING
NANKIPOOAstrongfirstentranceandusingafineAmericanaccent,hisencounter
andrelatingwithPishTushdeliveredwithenergisedandfinereactionstonewsandthe
useofbodylanguage.AwelldeliveredinputandrelatingwithYumYumonfinally
meetingher.Anexcellentpieceofstagebusinesswiththeropeandanotherfinepiece
withreactiontoKatishaandherroughingup.Lovelyentranceonscooterandfinallya
finereunionwithYumYum.Therewasanexcellentsenseofcomedyplayandtiming
throughout,withbothdialogueandsong,finedictionandunderstandingofthewittytext.
Theyoungactordidnotfalterwithsomeweaksingingpitchduetovoicenotyetsettled,
buthejustcarriedonregardlessanddeliveredwithstrongprojectionandincharacter.
Afineperformance.
YUMYUMAveryvivaciousinputandastrongstagepresencewithenergyanda
wellprojectedanimationmarkedthisperformance.LovelystealingkisswithNankiPoo
andrelatingtohimwithjoy.Throughou,texcellentallroundperformanceskillsandan
impressiveinputinto,BraidtheRavenHairwithbeautifullystylisedgesturesanduseof
theFan.Alovelyperformanceprojectingastrongmindedandspiritedcharacter.
KOKOAwonderfullynerdishcharacterisation!Hiscowardice,hiscringing,his
deviousness,allexcellentlyprojectedwithbothvoiceandmovement.Iwasimpressed
withthebodylanguageofslightlyhunchedshoulders,pigeontoes,helplesslimphands
andsupernervousgestures,suchashitchinghisspectaclesfurtheruphisnose.Afirst
classsenseofcomedytiming,particularlywiththeprojectionofhisShakespearean
quotesatoddtimes.AlovelydeceitatbeingupsetforNankiPooandlaterhiscomedy
5

inputinto,TitWillowandfrightofKatisha.Afirstclasscharacterisationfroma
performerwithallroundstrongperformanceskillsandstagepresence.
KATISHAFromthemomentshewalkedonstageshetookcommandoftheaction
withhercharacterisationasadominatrix,wieldingherwhipwithastrongaggression.
Supermovementsandagainexcellent,allroundperformanceskillsandheremotional
inputintohersongswassuperb.LovelythreateningsurveillanceofallfromtheBridgeat
theendofAct1.FinebusinessandrelatingtoKoKo.Acharacterisationoffirstclass
qualityfromanaccomplishedyoungperformer.
POOHBAHHisprideinhismanyroleswellprojectedandanimpressivechangeof
bodylanguageandvoiceforhisdifferentOffices.Finecuing,timingandpacingofthe
dialogueandinputinto,IAmsoProudexcellentlyrelatingtotheothertwo.Another
verystronglyprojectedcharacterisationincorporatingallhismanychangesofrole.
PITTISINGAverystrongcharacterwasportrayedwithastrongstagepresenceand
assumingawellprojecteddominanceoverhersisters.Alovelypiecestandingupto
Katishawithfinesingingskills,andlateraveryfineinputinto,SwingaMerry
MadrigalThroughoutfinegesturesandcommandingpresencemarkedthisverywell
projectedperformance.
PISHTUSHThisexcellent,opportunistcharacterwasprojectedwithagoodBronx
accentandbodylanguagewithaswagger.Hiseagernesstobeonthewinningsidewas
wellplayedfirstwithYumYumandNankiPooandthenlaterwithrelatingwiththe
Mikado.ThiscoolestManinallJapanwasverywellconceivedandprojectedwith
againfine,allroundperformanceskills.
PEEPBOTheyoungestofthethreesistersandacharacterisationdepictingafollower
ofhermoredominantsisters.Herinputwaswelltimedandwithgoodmovementskills
andstylisationandgivingastrongsupport.
MIKADOIappreciatedtheGangsterGodfathertypecharacterthatwasprojectedwith
hisstrongBronxaccent,andIlikedhisalmostmanicinputwithbothdialogueand
movement.Hisdanceroutinewithhisladywasimpressivewiththeenergyandyeta
seemingcarelessness.Hissuddenswitchesofmood,sarcasm,andmocksadnesswere
excellentlyplayed,addingafurtherelementtohisgangsterimage.Anexcellent
characterwasprojected.
THEENSEMBLEAnexcellentinputandthefocusandenergyputintobothaction
andreactionwasfirstclass.Animpressivestylisationwithboth1940sandJapanese
influence.

OVERALLACHIEVEMENT

Averyfineinputinallaspectswithalltheelementsoftheproductionwellcoordinated
anddirected.Asmentionedabove,Iwasimpressedwiththefocusandenergyofthe
Companyandalsowiththefinedictionandvocalskills.Thestrengthswerefirmlywith
theSingingandActingskillsandagainIwasimpressedwithunderstandingand
appreciationofthetextwithitscomedyandwitandalsowiththeexcellentpaceof
delivery.Iftherewasaweaknessitwaswiththedanceinput,notbecauseoflackof
ability,butbecausethesheernumberoftheensembleonthestagedidinhibitadirect
focusonarangeofdancestyles.
ThisMikadoreallywasHOT!
Thankyouverymuchforyourkindhospitalityandalsoreservingacarspace.IhopeI
shallbeaskedagaininthenearfuturetoanotherpresentationfromCurtainUpTheatre
School.