The Mikado, 2009 Photo: J. Reeder

The Mikado

By Gilbert & Sullivan

The best way to enter the madcap world of The Mikado is through the opening lines of the first chorus:

If you want to know who we are,
We are gentlemen of Japan:
On many a vase and jar —
On many a screen and fan,
We figure in lively paint:
Our attitude’s queer and quaint —
You’re wrong if you think it ain’t, Oh!

Act One

Among the gentleman congregating in Ko-Ko’s courtyard lurks one wandering minstrel, Nanki-Poo. He is the son of the Mikado, Emperor of Japan, and is now disguised as a street musician to escape an arranged marriage with Katisha, a woman of a certain age and uncertain past, with whom he was caught flirting by his father. There are laws against flirting n Titipu, and The Mikado is a man of the law!
Nanki-Poo is really in love with the delectable Yum-Yum, ward and fiancée of the local skinflint tailor Ko-Ko, whose courtyard we now enjoy. Ko-Ko was recently sentenced to death for flirting, but The Emperor reprieved him in the nick of time, and anointed him Lord High Executioner instead. Enter a central conundrum and one of the plot’s pretty messes. As luck would have it all criminals in Titipu must be executed in order. Since Ko-Ko was next in line for execution, no one else can be executed until he cuts off his own head. Or somebody’s head….

As Nanki-Poo makes his way in the courtyard, one gentleman for-hire, Pooh-Bah, admits to him that Yum-Yum and her sisters and friends are about to return for the impending nuptials of Yum-Yum and Ko-Ko, who soon enters importantly in his new roles as both executioner and future husband.

Yum-Yum soon gaily arrives with her sisters Pitti-Sing and Peep-Bo. She greets Ko-Ko, and she and the girls tease the conniving Pooh-Bah. When Yum-Yum notices Nanki-Poo, the two share a few stolen moments. Nanki-Poo reveals his true identity as son of the Mikado and passionately declares his love for Yum-Yum. Because of the excessive laws against flirting, Yum-Yum urges extreme caution. Nanki-Poo devises a plan and opines her upcoming marriage to Ko-Ko.

Meanwhile, Ko-Ko has received a letter from the Mikado instructing him to catch up with executions in Titipu or else face serious consequences: if one doesn’t take place in a month, Titipu will be demoted from town to mere village status. Since Ko-Ko is scheduled to be the next in line for execution, he and his cohorts Pooh-Bah and Pish-Tush consider alternatives. Enter Nanki-Poo, lovelorn, forlorn, and suicidal at the thought of losing Yum-Yum to Ko-Ko. Ko-Ko, being a reasonable man, and Nanki-Poo, being desperate, strike a strange bargain. Ko-Ko agrees to let Nanki-Poo marry Yum-Yum now, and, in return, Nanki-Poo agrees to let Ko-Ko behead him at the end of the month and marry Yum-Yum, the widow, thus satisfying all issues.

The townsfolk are keen to know how the Mikado’s decree will be satisfied. Ko-Ko openly hails Nanki-Poo as his volunteer, and Nanki-Poo quickly embraces Yum-Yum. This plan appears to assuage everyone until Katisha, Nanki-Poo’s betrothed and old partner in flirting, makes her ponderous entrance. The brave Pitti-Sing stands up to Katisha, who laments her lost love, and attempts to reveal his current identity. She is silenced mercilessly by the crowd and vows to take revenge on them all.

Act Two

Sisters and friends prepare Yum-Yum for her brief happy marriage to Nanki-Poo. Yum-Yum sings a ravishing tune to the sun and moon about her own radiant beauty. All are filled with joy, yet deep sadness pervades the scene because of the brevity of the union. Just as Nanki-Poo enters and brightens the mood, Ko-Ko discovers a new wrinkle: under the Mikado’s law, when a married man is beheaded, his wife must be buried alive. Yum-Yum considers this howdy-do none too enthusiastically.
Rather than subject Yum-Yum to suffocation, Nanki-Poo decides to dispatch himself immediately. No one is happy with this solution because it means an actual beheading will not occur. Furthermore complicating matters, Ko-Ko admits he has no stomach for beheadings—that he couldn’t hurt a fly. As luck would have it word arrives that the Mikado is now entering Titipu to check status on his decree! Ko-Ko quickly arranges a mock execution and swears and signs falsely that he has done the deed. He orders Nanki-Poo to make a very quick exit and never come back. To get him to leave Ko-Ko agrees to send Yum -Yum with him--just as the Mikado enters with great pomp and glory, and Katisha.

The Mikado contemplates his great beneficence and power and agrees to align punishments with crimes. He is pleased to learn that the requisite execution has taken place, and is provided a lurid description of the “event” by Ko-Ko, the spot-on Pitti-Sing and Pooh-Bah. However, the Mikado now reveals his real reason for venturing into Titipu so unexpectedly. Katisha has urged him to seek the whereabouts of his missing son and heir, Nanki-Poo. The ever-observant Katisha notices the name Nanki-Poo on the false certificate of execution. In an enraged flourish, and while admitting it is all a mistake, the Mikado condemns Ko-Ko and his entourage to a horrible death for killing the heir apparent—after luncheon.

What to do? Nanki-Poo secretly suggests that Ko-Ko marry Katisha so that he, himself, can return to life with his wife Yum-Yum and set things aright. There being few alternatives, the parties finally agree. The Mikado, however pleased with the resurrection of his son and heir apparent, nevertheless laments the lack of a true beheading. Enter Ko-Ko to settle the central conundrum with irrefutable logic. “When your majesty says, ‘let a thing be done.’ It’s as good as done—practically is done—because your majesty’s word is law.” This makes everyone very happy, including the Mikado.

• Synopsis courtesy of Ruth Zaleski

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