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If you do one thing this week (08/12/12): The Mikado, Coliseum, London WC2

Miller delivers a delightful revival you can always rely on

Michael Glover
Saturday 08 December 2012 01:00 GMT
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Little did we realise, when Jonathan Miller unveiled his Art Deco Mikado in 1986, that the production would run as long as it has, or that it would be so influential: many shows have paid homage to the heady blend of direction, design, costumes and choreography achieved by Miller, Stefanos Lazaridis, Sue Blane and Anthony Van Laast.

It's a banker for ENO, and the plot just gets more topical. "Lord High Everything Else" Pooh-Bah will sell state secrets for a small consideration; Lord High Executioner Ko-Ko's little list neatly nails specific targets; and the crazy logic of Nanki-Poo's plight – to get his girl he must agree to be beheaded – has timeless appeal. The show was always strongly cast. The wonder is that Richard Angas, who first fleshed out Miller's benign, Al Capone-style emperor, is still playing him inimitably today. There are no weak links in this revival, with the ironical interplay between sight-gags and music a constant delight.

(020 7845 9300) in rep to 31 Jan

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