About The Show
The lights rise on the mahogany and neon
town of Titipu, where the zoot-suited gentlemen of Japan are swinging,
scatting, and living their lives in song (“We Are Gentlemen of Japan”).
They are interrupted by the entrance of Nanki-Poo, a fresh-faced
rock-crooner who demands to know where to find Yum-Yum, the beautiful
ward of a tailor named Ko-Ko. Nanki-Poo explains that he met Yum-Yum a
year ago while playing second trumpet – an instrument that he plays
without much talent - in the Titipu big band (“A Wand’ring Minstrel I”).
It was love at first sight, but hopeless, since she was engaged to her
older guardian, Ko-Ko. However, Nanki-Poo has recently heard the happy
news that Ko-Ko has been condemned to death by the almighty Mikado for
breaking the law against flirting, and has rushed to Titipu in order to
marry Yum-Yum.
Nanki-Poo is informed by the extremely cool Pish-Tush and Pooh-Bah that
Ko-Ko has since been freed by the people of Titipu and made Lord High
Executioner, its highest ranking official. Pooh-Bah, who became Lord
High “everything else” after all the other officials resigned in
protest, also offers (for a small fee) the information that Yum-Yum and
Ko-Ko are slated for marriage that very day (“And the Drums Will
Crash”). Nanki-Poo determines he must find Yum-Yum at all costs before
the wedding takes place.
Ko-Ko ceremoniously enters (“Behold the Lord High Executioner”),
proclaiming his enthusiasm for ridding society of Ragtime Serenaders,
Recluses, Revivalists, and any other offenders on his list (“I’ve Got A
Little List”). As Ko-Ko bribes Pooh Bah’s multiple official positions
into giving him wedding advice, Yum-Yum enters with her two scatting
sisters, Peep-Bo and Pitti-Sing (“Three Little Maids”). Ko-Ko tries to
kiss his unwilling bride-to-be when Yum-Yum suddenly collides into
Nanki-Poo. The love-struck trumpet player begs her to turn down Ko-Ko
and marry him instead, but Yum-Yum points out that a wandering minstrel
is hardly a suitable husband for a ward of the Lord High Executioner.
Nanki-Poo confesses to her that he is, in fact, no musician – instead,
he is the son of the Mikado himself! He had been forced to flee for his
life to Titipu when Katisha, an older woman in the Mikado’s court,
claimed him in marriage under the Mikado’s flirting law. While Nanki-Poo
and Yum-Yum realize that the law prohibits them from ever gazing into
each others’ eyes and breathing sighs of unutterable love, they still
sneak one regretful kiss (This is What I’ll Never Do”).
Ko-Ko, trying in vain to soliliquize, receives a letter from the Mikado
stipulating that unless someone is beheaded within a month, his position
will be abolished and Titipu reduced to village status. Since Ko-Ko is
already under sentence of death for flirting, Pooh-Bah and Pish-Tush
suggest that he simply execute himself. Ko-Ko points out that not only
is self-decapitation difficult, but that suicide is a capital offence.
He tries to appoint Pooh-Bah as Lord High Substitute, but Pooh-Bah
declines the honor (“I Am So Proud”). With no one willing to act as a
volunteer, Ko-Ko is left to figure out a solution.
The solution arrives in the person of Nanki-Poo, who, devastated that
Ko-Ko is going to marry the girl he loves, is searching for a tree in
order to hang himself. Nanki-Poo is persuaded by Ko-Ko to be his
substitute on the chopping block, but on one condition: that Yum-Yum be
his bride until he is beheaded at the end of the month. Ko-Ko grudgingly
consents to the marriage, and there is much rejoicing by all (“Let the
Throng Our Joy Advance”).
Suddenly, Katisha appears, claiming Nanki-Poo for herself (“Katisha’s
Entrance”). She is informed by Pitti-Sing and the rest of the company
that unfortunately her request can’t be fulfilled because of his
upcoming wedding. (“For He’s Going To Marry Yum-Yum”). Katisha soulfully
mourns her lonely fate (“The Hour of Gladness”) before spitefully
attempting to reveal Nanki-Poo’s true identity. Yum-Yum, anticipating
her intentions, drowns her out in song. A vengeful Katisha is finally
pushed offstage by a celebratory ensemble, which insists that nothing
should be permitted to ruin the festivities to come. (“Finale – Act
One”)
The women prepare Yum-Yum for the upcoming wedding behind lowered shades
as the men stare at the pretty bride-to-be’s silhouette (“Braid The
Raven Hair”). Yum-Yum contemplates, in her artless Japanese way, how
much more attractive she is than anyone else in the entire world (“The
Sun and I”), but her happiness is shattered when she’s reminded that her
husband is to be beheaded in a month. Nanki-Poo suggests that time is
purely arbitrary – if each ‘second’ is called a ‘minute’, they’ve got
thirty years of married happiness before them. As the wedding procession
begins, the company unsuccessfully endeavors to look on the bright side
of the situation (“Swing A Merry Madrigal”).
Before the wedding can take place, Ko-Ko announces his latest discovery:
he will not be able to marry Yum-Yum after all, since according to the
Mikado’s law, when a married man is beheaded, his wife must be buried
alive! Nanki-Poo realizes that by insisting on the wedding, he dooms
Yum-Yum to a hideous death. However, if he releases her from her
promise, she must marry Ko-Ko at once (“Here’s A Howdy Do”)! To Ko-Ko’s
dismay, Nanki-Poo decides the only way to solve the problem is to hang
himself as he originally planned.
Pooh Bah announces the approach of none other than the Mikado himself,
causing Ko-Ko to insist Nanki-Poo honor his contract and die by the
hands of the Lord High Executioner. To his surprise, Nanki-Poo accepts.
Ko-Ko admits that in truth, he is incapable of killing even a fly - he
had always thought his duties as Lord High Executioner were purely
nominal. To convince the Mikado that his orders have been followed,
Ko-Ko suggests that they create a certificate of Nanki-Poo’s execution,
witnessed by all the officials of Titipu (a.k.a. Pooh-Bah - for some
cold hard cash). However, Nanki-Poo must promise to leave and never
return. Nanki-Poo agrees to do so only on the condition that he marry
Yum-Yum immediately.
The Mikado, a cool cat who believes the punishment should always fit the
crime (“The Mikado Song”), demonstrates how to tap any troubles away.
Ko-Ko informs him that the demanded execution has taken place, but
quickly finds out the Mikado has come about another matter –his son, who
ran away a year ago, has been masquerading in Titipu disguised as a
second trumpet player. Ko-Ko, Pooh-Bah and Pitti-Sing try to convince
the Mikado that Nanki-Poo is in Cleveland, but Katisha discovers his
name on the execution certificate. The Mikado, understanding that
Nanki-Poo’s true identity had been kept a secret, regretfully points out
that the punishment for killing the Heir Apparent doesn’t take this into
consideration. It is decided that after lunch, Ko-Ko, Pitti-Sing and
Pooh-Bah will die in boiling oil.
Ko-Ko realizes that Nanki-Poo must be brought back to life immediately.
However, Katisha would then insist on the execution of the newly-wed
Nanki-Poo, causing Yum-Yum to be buried alive. Nanki-Poo suggests the
ultimate solution – Ko-Ko must marry Katisha! Ko-Ko is reluctant – even
Katisha’s famed left shoulder blade can’t make up for her plain face –
but when Nanki-Poo insists this is the only way he will “reappear” in
Titipu, Ko-Ko sets off to win Katisha’s heart.
Katisha wonders why death refuses to come and bring peace to her broken
heart (“Alone and Yet Alive”) as Ko-Ko springs into action, telling her
that he’ll die on the spot if she doesn’t accept his love. Katisha
claims no one has ever died of a broken heart, so Ko-Ko responds with
the tragic tale of Tit-Willow, a little bird who wasted away due to
blighted affection (“Tit-Willow”). Katisha is touched by the story, and
the two realize they are a perfect couple (“Beauty in the Bellow”).
As the Mikado prepares to boil Ko-Ko, Pitti-Sing and Pooh-Bah in oil,
Katisha begs him to show them mercy, particularly since she is so
koo-koo for Ko-Ko, she has gone and married him. The Mikado is
understanding, but mentions that this does not solve the problem – the
Heir Apparent is still slain. With that, the Heir Apparent himself
appears, along with the Mikado’s new daughter-in-law, causing everything
to fall happily into place as the Mikado calls the show to an end
(“Finale - Act Two”).
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