White Rock Theatre, Hastings, 3 December 2013

Co-opera have set their travelling Mikado in an opium den in 1901. This neat side-step allows for the absence of any chorus and the deft movement between characters for the cast of nine. In the event this all worked rather well and musically was of an impressively high standard.

The set was little more than a mish-mash of pieces for necessary props, and added little to the narrative, but lighting was always effective and made emotional sense of events as they unfolded.

Tristan Stocks and Llio Evans made an attractive pair as Nanki-Poo and Yum-Yum, her singing of The sun whose rays being probably the best solo item of the evening. Sandra Porter’s Katisha, drawing heavily on Anthony Sher’s approach to Richard III, was fascinating and eventually remarkably sympathetic.

But it was the characterisation of Ko-Ko which commanded attention. Like a depressed Dr Who, David Jones’ tailor is ill at ease with the world around him, carrying a giant pair of scissors with which to carry out his executions. His singing of Tit Willow was exemplary and his ability to combine pathos with humour raised the whole evening to a different level.

The pit band were excellent, and John Andrews had no difficulty keeping the score moving fleetly. Sullivan’s nuances made their mark in a way often missed in larger scale performances.

This was a one night stand for the company, and the audience was rather thin. A pity, for this venture was well worth supporting and I trust we will see them again. BH