Opera Australia's lavish production of The Mikado succeeds in doing justice to the colourful whimsy and pointed fakery of Gilbert & Sullivans classic Mitchell Butels Ko-Ko is nerdy, brashbut ultimately loveable and manages to carry the show with the help of Kanen Breens old-boy charm as Nanky-Poo. Butels physical performance and vocal style recall his leading role as Princeton in Avenue QTaryn Febigs Yum-Yum is sweet but never steals the sceneWarwick Fyfe gives a plump, brooding and understated performance as befits the Lord High Everything Else, while Jacqueline Darks jilted lover Katisha switches disconcertingly from demonic to diva in a way that is most entertaining. Richard Alexanders brief but memorable turn as the Mikado captures all the ersatz empathy and ruthless disinterest of the ruling class that Gilbert no doubt hoped to insinuate. (Australian Stage).