The Darlington community joined forces with Sam Baltzer and Rome’s Own Musical Ensemble in a big way to present Gilbert and Sullivan’s
“The Mikado” July 27-28 at Rome City Auditorium. Five of the nine leads in the play were members of Darlington’s faculty, alumni or parents of alumni.
Jason Whitfield, Darlington’s musical theater instructor, not only starred as the cowardly Ko-Ko, but also directed the play, which featured a Japanese-inspired set and costumes. “It was a difficult balancing act for me to play a lead role as well as direct, but things worked out,” he said. “It was a very entertaining show, and I was happy to see audience members laughing out loud.”
Other leads included Darlington alumni Christine Hom (’02) as Yum Yum, Meredith Hom (’06) as Pitti Sing, Lauren Bowling (’05) as Peep Bo, and Quincy Price (’07) as Pish Tush. Becky McCord, mother of two alums, played Katisha. Additionally, Dan Bishop, Darlington fine arts department chairman, was actively involved with the production, working with choral rehearsals as well as singing in the ensemble with many other parents of alumni.
“It has been a valuable experience for our alumni to work in a community production, with a variety of new people encompassing a wider age range as well as range of prior experience,” said Linda Hom, producer and stage manager. “Just working with Harry Musselwhite (who plays The Mikado) is a valuable lesson in professionalism in theater, and Sam Baltzer is incredible. He has assembled a wonderful orchestra and was very careful to choose orchestrations that were designed for the number of players he used, rather than cutting parts from, or diminishing larger orchestrations.”
First presented in 1885, “The Mikado” is a delightful journey to Japan that existed only in the minds of Gilbert and Sullivan, where a man can be beheaded just for flirting. This topsy-turvy mix of young lovers, royalty in disguise, a slighted fiancé, conniving town officials and well-meaning but misguided conspiracies features some of Gilbert and Sullivan’s best-loved songs including “Three Little Maids from School,” “A Wandering Minstrel” and “Let the Punishment Fit the Crime.”
“I think Darlington’s participation in this production demonstrates our tremendous commitment to the arts,” said Hom. “When Sam Baltzer expressed interest in a summer musical, Darlington teachers and alumni were some of the driving forces in making it happen. Not only did teachers, alumni and parents get involved, many of the set pieces were been borrowed from Darlington. Everyone from the school community was so excited about helping bring this classic, and very funny, operetta to Rome."
