Dayton Opera presents ‘The Mikado’

How to go

What: Dayton Opera presents "The Mikado"

When: 8 p.m. Friday, May 14, 8 p.m. Saturday, May 15, 3 p.m. Sunday, May 16

Where: Schuster Center, Second and Main streets, Dayton

Cost: $19 to $96

More info: (937) 228-3630 or visit www.daytonopera.org

While Dayton Opera supporters and staff are looking forward to its landmark 50th anniversary next season, the company is not quite finished putting finishing touches on its 49th season. That will come when W.S Gilbert and Arthur Sullivan’s hysterical comic opera “The Mikado” plays May 14-16 at the Schuster Center.

Set in the mythical Japanese town of Titipu “The Mikado” received rave reviews at its premiere at the Savoy Theatre in London in March of 1885. It ran for 672 performances.

Dayton Opera has staged the operetta once before in 1990. Tom Bankston, Dayton Opera’s general and artistic director, said it was time for audiences to experience “The Mikado” again.

“The setting (of the opera) in and of itself is humorous,” Bankston said. “With it’s fictitious Japanese names concocted by Gilbert and Sullivan like the town of Titipu and the colorfully funny character names like Nanki-Poo, Yum-Yum and Pitt.

“Using all these charming characters, who have very little to do with Japan, Gilbert and Sullivan mocked in a hilarious fashion the social milieu and mores of 19th century England in a way that has continued to tickle the funny bone of audiences even in the 21st century.”

Members of the Dayton Philharmonic Orchestra will provide the music for “The Mikado.” The singers and actors are members of the New York Gilbert and Sullivan Players under the artistic direction of Albert Bergeret.

“With a packaged touring company like the Gilbert and Sullivan Players, we don’t have to assemble the many different elements that you pull together when you are producing a production,” Bankston explained. “However, all of the marketing and backstage elements are all still there.”

As always, Dayton Opera will capture the ambiance of its production with a pre-performance event, “A Taste of True Japan” in the Wintergarden of Schuster Center.

“Dayton Opera’s pre-performance event is fast becoming the place to be prior to every opera performance,” said marketing director Chuck Duritsch.

‘It’s an opportunity to grab a quick, delicious and inexpensive bite to eat and something to drink before the opera.”

Contact this reporter at (937) 225-2167 or kmoss@DaytonDailyNews.com.