Saratoga News

Photograph by Steve Savage

The San Francisco Lamplighters will perform Gilbert and Sullivan's 'The Mikado' at Hakone Gardens later this month.

Gilbert and Sullivan's 'Mikado' at Hakone

The San Francisco Lamplighters perform classic operetta Sept. 27

By Shari Kaplan

Hakone Gardens in Saratoga will fill with the music and humor of a classic Gilbert and Sullivan work on Sept. 27, when the San Francisco Lamplighters--in full costume--perform The Mikado as a benefit event for the Hakone Foundation.

The San Francisco Lamplighters, now entering its 38th season, is a nationally known troupe of performers of the distinctive Gilbert and Sullivan style of operetta. They have appeared at many venues throughout the Bay Area, including another Saratoga location--Villa Montalvo. The group performing at Hakone Gardens includes soprano Karen Tesitor as Yum-Yum, contralto Marcia Hunt as Katisha, tenor Michael Matson as Nanki-Poo, baritone Rick Williams as Ko-Ko and Baker Peeples serving as narrator and pianist.

Beginning at 4 p.m., a selection of wines from Saratoga's Cooper-Garrod Winery will be served. Guests are also invited to walk through the gardens. The performance begins at 6 p.m., followed by a light dinner. Throughout the evening, kimonos, obis and other Japanese artifacts will be on display and available for sale.

Honorary chairperson for the event is Shigeki Matsue, president of the Japanese Chamber of Commerce of Northern California.

Joining Hakone Foundation President Daryl Becker are committee co-chairs Nancy Lesser and Helen Metcalf.

Committee members include Yasuko Ashford, Nancy Lesser, Janice Morgan, Jillian Ring, Elaine Salter, Mikiko Shimabe, Alice Skurko, Margaret Slemmons and Shizue Tomlinson.

The nonprofit Hakone Foundation took over independent management of Hakone Gardens in June 1997, although the property remains a Saratoga city park. Among other things, the foundation keeps the trees, plants and landscape maintained, organizes special events and holds the Hakone Gardens Arts Program each year, which includes seminars, classes and workshops on many different artistic genres led by local artists.

Hakone Gardens is located at 21000 Big Basin Way in Saratoga. Tickets are $60 per person, $40 of which is tax-deductible. Seating is limited and on-site parking is by assignment; carpooling is recommended. For reservations or more information, call 741-4994.

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