“Southern Fried Mikado” was performed this weekend in Brown Auditorium presented by the school of visual and performing arts division of music. Mikado was under the direction of Mark Ross Clark with music by Kajsa Wilkins and Julian Jones.

“Southern Fried Mikado” is based in Canton, Miss. at a Nissan Japanese auto plant. Workers who paint cars are on edge about rumored pink slips. Throughout the opera, a love triangle creates tension between Ko-Ko, head of human resources, Nanki-Poo, a factory worker and their love interest Yum-Yum, a Japanese girl studying in Mississippi.

Nanki-Poo, played by Orlandzeo Hennings, is actually the son of Mr. Mikado, the CEO of Nissan Japanese Auto Company. However, he is disguised as a regular factory worker “The King of Rock n’ Roll” himself, Elvis.

Hennings has enjoyed his experience as a leading role saying, “It has been a great learning experience, and has greatly helped my voice.”

He also expressed his love for the cast, “…such positive and helpful people to be around, and we have shared so many laughs.”

Hans Beutner, a sophomore biology major from Sterlington, isn’t new to the opera scene. “I was raised with certain theatre exposure and have developed my own interest,” said Beutner. He also found a different side of ULM. “One of my friends was in this production and it opened me up to a new side of life at ULM.” Beutner said.

The differences in the “Southern Fried” version are that it is set in Mississippi instead of the original production set in Japan, and it also is set in modern-day.

In the end of the opera, Yum-Yum, played by Melissa Thomae-Champion, marries her true love Nanki-Poo who is revealed to be Mr. Mikado’s son after the CEO visits the plant. Ko- Ko, who wanted to marry Yum-Yum for job stability, ended up marrying Miss Katy Shaw an “ugly drunk” of an ex-wife of the Mississippi Governor.