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Mediocre revival opens the troupe's four-production City Center season

BY MICHAEL SOMMERS

NEWJERSEYNEWSROOM.COM

OFF BROADWAY REVIEW

The New York Gilbert & Sullivan Players' revival of "The Mikado" is obviously a labor of love for artistic director Albert Bergeret and his company. It's equally a labor of love for audiences to witness.

First-rate productions of the great Victorian team's comic operas are rare these days — the most notable was New York City Opera's bright 2005 rendering of "Patience" with Michael Ball as Bunthorne — so those of us who really love their stuff must make do with NYGaSP's lesser efforts.

Opening Friday night with "The Mikado" at City Center (where as a kid I was first smitten by a touring D'Oyly Carte troupe back in the early 1960s), NYGaSP's engagement through next weekend includes "H.M.S. Pinafore," "The Pirates of Penzance" and an all-new production of "Ruddigore."

Expect an orthodox staging of the 125-year-old operetta, complete with the customary updating of the "Little List" and "My Object All Sublime" lyrics (texting, Botox, Sarah Palin, Tiger Woods, Undie-bomber) and a smattering of traditional Savoy gestures and fan-snapping gags. Sluggishly conducted by Bergeret, a 25-member orchestra sounded a bit sour in the strings but otherwise rendered the score adequately.

Performing against a patched backdrop in a motley collection of Japanese drag, the leads were serviceable but lacked sparkle. Keith Jurosko was a dignified Mikado and a grimacing Louis Dall'Ava waddled about grandly as the Lord High Everything Else. Tending even more than his colleagues to indicate punch lines in advance, David Macaluso usually seemed more frantic than antic as Ko-Ko. A matronly Yum-Yum, smarmy Nanki-Poo and underpowered Katisha shall go nameless.

In spite of the plodding quality of the staging and performances, the inherent magic of Gilbert's text and Sullivan's music intermittently managed to shine through. Perhaps the finest sequence was a blessedly simple delivery of the "Brightly Dawns Our Wedding Day" madrigal.

For years I have attended NYGaSP's productions always hoping for the best but ultimately finding the results a disappointment. Knowing this, I must confess to being sorely tempted by the opportunity to see their new "Ruddigore" that bows on Friday. This witty lampoon of gothic melodramas, complete with a fabulous ghostly chorale, is being mounted with Edward Gorey-inspired visuals and ... oh, dear, like someone who's sworn off a faithless love only to succumb once more, there I go again.

"The Mikado" will be repeated on Jan. 16 in the NYGaSP season continuing through Jan. 17 at City Center, 131 W. 55th St., New York. Call (212) 581-1212 or visit www.nycitycenter.org.

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