A cheap tailor, a second trombone, a little maid from school and Parliament Hill in Ottawa ...

Mix them all, and you have The Mikado…Revisited, Toronto Operetta Theatre’s season opener for 2025-2026.  One of the greatest musicals of all time, Gilbert and Sullivan’s masterpiece was a hit from the first night, March 14, 1885, at the Savoy Theatre in London, and has been seen ‘round the world since then.  

TOT’s new production debuts on Friday, October 24, at 7:30 pm with matinees following on Saturday, October 25, and Sunday, October 26, both at 3 pm.  

The show is filled with fun characters who laugh, love and sing at the slightest provocation.

Our cheap tailor is Ko-Ko, suddenly raised to the rank of Lord High Executioner.  The ever-popular Gregory Finney takes on the iconic role of the hapless hatchet man who wants nothing more than to marry Yum-Yum, one of the Little Maids from School.  Madeline Cooper, in real life, Yum-Yum has her eye on a wand’ring minstrel with a trombone, played by tenor Marcus Tranquilli.  Throw in a daughter-in-law elect, a pompous bureaucrat, mix with fake executions, fake suicides and quickie weddings for a resolution at curtain time and two couples live happily ever after.

“Gilbert and Sullivan’s world needs singer/actors of extraordinary talent, and I’m pleased we’ve been able to assemble a cast with a gift for both,” said Silva-Marin. TOT champions totally Canadian artists and Mikado…Revisited features both emerging and established singers, including Gregory Finney, Karen Bojti, Madeline Cooper, Máiri Demings, Marcus Tranquilli, Stuart Graham, Emma Puscalau and Handaya Rusli.  “Gilbert’s lyrics and dialogue spared no one - politicians, romantics or the social elite - while all are bound up by Sullivan in melodies that have burned themselves into the consciousness of operetta fans the world over. Our brilliant cast will charm and delight with hits such as ‘A Wand’ring Minstrel I’, ‘I’ve got a little list’, ‘The Moon and I’, ‘Three Little Maids from School’ and ‘Here’s a Howdy Do’”

But what would happen if…  This time around, Silva-Marin transforms Gilbert’s parody and places the action firmly in and around the halls of Parliament – our Canadian Parliament! - seeing no need to disguise Gilbert’s satirical targets using the veil of geographical camouflage.   “The more things change, the more they stay the same,” but purists beware!  There may be a tip of the all-cap hat to the PMO, ICE, EDI, MAGA, METROLINX and TARIFFs thrown in for good measure. Theatre is best when it allows us to see ourselves reflected, and where better than in the halls of Parliament, where our leaders attempt, many times with unintended comedy, to provide ‘Peace, Order and Good Government!’

Visit www.torontooperetta.com.