Koko's Korner Photos

Believe it or not, this is one of the most famous actors ever
to play Koko at any time in history, and yet it is one of his
least known performances. You guessed it! It is no less than
the One--the Only--GROUCHO MARX !
A big Gilbert & Sullivan fan, Groucho was extremely fond of
Koko, and it was his lifelong dream to play the Lord High
Executioner of Titipu. Martyn Green adapted it to a surprisingly
workable one-hour TV version, and directed it. This was the first
version of "The Mikado" I ever saw--and as you can see, I saved
this page from a TV Guide in 1960. (I was twelve.)
And how was Groucho? Well, imagine Koko played as...Groucho!

This is a not-so-famous Koko from the New York
Gilbert & Sullivan Society, but he looks very interesting
as he reads from his infamous "little list"

And last but not least in this Rogue's Gallery is the
much more recent portrayal by ERIC IDLE as a rather
sleazy Koko, set in a 1920's hotel full of flappers
and gangsters. You'll either love it or hate it--
I'm afraid I am among the latter--but it is available
on video tape if you care to find out for yourself.

With the increased popularity of things Japanese, and Japanese pop-culture,
a much more sophisticated view of Japan has developed,
far removed from the perceptions of Gilbert & Sullivan's time.
This has, needless to say, led to "Mikado" productions turning increasingly
to such things as Kabuki, manga and anime for inspiration. The following are just a few examples.

Here we see a more-or-less Kabuki-style
production with Koko in the center, flanked
by his dubious advisors, Pooh-Bah and
Pish-Tush, as they sing what is often
called "the Chippy-Chopper trio".

And from a similar production, an impressive
--and very Kabuki-like--staging of Koko's rival,
"Nanki-Poo" (we are never told his real name)
singing his famous song, "A Wandering Minstrel I"
before a chorus of seated samurai.

This is from a most unusual college production
where Koko ends up with a petite and striking
Katisha, which probably isn't such a bad idea.
After all, despite her temper, she's a much
more interesting woman than Yum-Yum.

Again, in the spirit of a Kabuki Mikado, this great
staging of the "Chippy-Chopper Trio" is a neat and
quick reminder that Pooh-Bah and Pish-Tush are
actually samurai, in service to Koko. Koko would
roughly have achieved, then, the rank of a Daimyo. So much for Bushido!.

And last but not least, the now-famous Chichibu production, shown every December in Chichibu Japan.
Also shown in this image, along with the photo of Nanki-Poo and the chorus,
is a program book and an outdoor theater poster. Very cool!

The world of "The Mikado" is not confined to the stage.
The photo below of the samurai with the raised sword is the famous Ogami Ito of Japanese
films, also known as "Lone Wolf and Cub", who travels with his infant son. The connection?
Ogami Ito is the Shogun's executioner, and in English translations of the films, he is actually
called the Lord High Executioner.
As for the little bird, this is a Titmouse which Koko sings about near the end of the play.
It is said to make a little bird cry that sounds like "titipu".

Click here to hear "TITWILLOW".