The Mikado Project's Comment Board

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GQN

May 16, 2007 8:19 PM

Congratulations on a great run! Have a blast at the closing weekend! Wish I could be there!!!
Speed RacerPhil Young

May 8, 2007 3:47 PM

I am so proud of our show look at this review!!!!

Cast has a blast with 'Mikado'
F. Kathleen Foley, Charlotte Stoudt, Philip Brandes, David C. Nichols
April 27, 2007

"The Mikado Project," Doris Baizley and Ken Narasaki's world premiere musical, presented by Lodestone Theatre Ensemble at GTC Burbank, makes serious points about cultural stereotypes and the endemic racism of certain classics, in this case "The Mikado." However, the play's political context is sugar-coated subtext to what is, first and foremost, solid entertainment of a charmingly wacky stripe.

The action takes us backstage at a small Asian American theater company that is running out of cash and may be forced to close. Artistic director Lance (humorous Allen C. Liu), a dedicated fussbudget who lives for his theater, hopes that a radically contemporized production of Gilbert and Sullivan's "colonialist" classic will revive his company's fortunes.

It's a slight but serviceable concept that yields a plethora of barbed parody lyrics and plenty of fun that this cheekily ebullient cast is obviously happy to share. Director Chil Kong keeps the proceedings convincingly spontaneous, lending a warm and inclusive air to the production.

Don't let the apparent offhandedness fool you. Under the casualness lies an impressive stringency, both in Kong's staging and in Dennis Yen's musical direction. The winning cast includes Kennedy Kabasares, Blythe Matsui, Erin Quill, Julia Cho and Feodor Chin. Ronald M. Banks, memorable for his eponymous turn in East West Players' recent production of "Sweeney Todd," is a particular standout, an accomplished actor-singer whose casually funny manner is a pleasant surprise, particularly in light of his bitterly virtuosic previous portrayal.

— F. Kathleen Foley
Alissa

Apr 25, 2007 12:12 AM

I LOVED this show! Quick, funny, heartfelt- bring this shizz to Broadway! :)
j u l i a

Apr 21, 2007 9:44 PM

"She borrows light that through the night mankind may all acclaim her."
Old Skool Mistress

Apr 13, 2007 7:20 AM

Great work- everyone! Really funny and a lot of fun. Highly recommended- knock 'em dead!
KenKen Narasaki

Apr 13, 2007 5:57 AM

I love these actors with a white-hot passion that is slowly but surely consuming my very vitals...these actors RAWK!
Kennedy

Mar 21, 2007 11:05 PM

When in doubt, chaînés out.
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