03 Feb 2008

The Mikado

http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/stage/opera/article3283787.ece

Neil Fisher at the Geilgud Theatre [Times Online, 1 February 2008]

Alistair McGowan must have impersonated plenty of royals in his time, but has he ever ascended to the Chrysanthemum Throne?

Now the West End debut of the Carl Rosa Company, in town for a season of Gilbert & Sullivan, has given him his chance, and the result is a celeb cameo in the very best sense. Part Prince Charles - he gives us a quick blast of the Windsor wheeze - part Wooster, with a little bit of Paxman thrown in for good measure, McGowan's Mikado (pictured) is a capricious, conspiratorial and completely English creation. A shame we don't get more of it.