REXBURG--Wednesday night a new rendition of Arthur Sullivan and W. S. Gilbert’s “The Mikado” debuted in the Snow Drama Theater. The production has been re-imagined by directors Richard Clifford, of the Theatre & Dance Department, and Dr. David Olsen of the Music Department.
“One aspect of Gilbert and Sullivan’s plays is that the language of certain songs is updated to include references to modern people, events, or just common occurrences that everyone will really connect with … that a modern audience will really get and enjoy,” Olsen says.
The production adapts the original opera to follow 21st century pop culture, supporting the original 19th century music to a modern atmosphere. Olsen says the adaptations were carefully included to follow Gilbert and Sullivan’s style.
The next show is Friday at 7:30 p.m. in the Snow Drama Theater. Shows will continue in the evenings excluding Sunday, Monday and Thursdays until a final afternoon matinee showing at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 10.
"It ain’t a boring old opera. Come and have fun,” Clifford says.
Tickets are $5 for students with an I-Card and BYU-Idaho employees and $8 for the general public. Tickets can be purchased online at tickets.byui.edu or at the University Bookstore.