Will Nanki-Poo and Yum-Yum find true love? Will the Three Little Maids remain maids until the final curtain? Will the Lord High Executioner actually get to execute someone? These are some of the burning questions this lighthearted, entertaining opera sets out to answer. Treat yourself to an evening of vintage Gilbert & Sullivan, presented with a few surprisingly contemporary twists.

m= matinee

Full Synopsis

Background: At one time, the son of the Mikado of Japan, Nanki-Poo, fled his father's court in order to escape marrying the elderly Katisha. He disguised himself as a traveling musician and arrived in Titipu, where he met Yum-Yum, the young ward of Ko-Ko, and fell in love with her. Unfortunately, Yum-Yum was betrothed to her guardian, so in misery Nanki-Poo left Titipu.

ACT I: The now hopeful wandering minstrel Nanki-Poo has returned to Titipu after hearing that Yum-Yum’s guardian Ko-Ko was condemned to death for the terrible crime of flirting. After introducing himself, Nanki-Poo learns from Pish-Tush (a noble lord) that Ko-Ko was reprieved and instead named Lord High Executioner. Since criminals must be beheaded in order, Ko-Ko cannot execute anyone until he first cuts off his own head. Pooh-Bah, the Lord High Everything Else, offers to share Yum-Yum’s whereabouts for a small fee. He tells Nanki-Poo that Yum-Yum is this day returning from school to wed Ko-Ko.

The Lord High Executioner Ko-Ko arrives and revels in how he attained such a status. He explains to the nobles that he has a list of people who, if he must fulfill his duty, will not be missed. He tries to consult with Pooh-Bah about the amount of money that should be spent on the upcoming wedding celebration, but Pooh-Bah reveals through his varying conflicts of interest that he cannot advise one way or the other.

Arriving with a procession of school girls, Yum-Yum enters, joined by her sisters Pitti-Sing and Peep-Bo. Ko-Ko greets her warmly, but she is much more interested in welcoming Nanki-Poo. The young minstrel confesses his love for her to Ko-Ko. Ko-Ko agrees that Yum-Yum is quite charming, but he has Nanki-Poo led away so that he can introduce the maids to Pooh-Bah, who is less than excited about meeting the girls. Yum-Yum, Pitti-Sing and Peep-Bo blame their youth for not showing him the proper amount of respect. All depart, leaving Yum-Yum behind.

Returning and finding himself alone with Yum-Yum, Nanki-Poo hopes to change her mind about marrying her guardian by revealing his identity as the Mikado’s son. He explains that he had to flee his father’s court or marry Katisha, an elderly lady who misinterpreted his friendliness. As he begins to flirt with her, Yum-Yum reminds him of the strict penalties against such behavior, but they proceed to show each other how they would successfully flirt if not for the law.

Meanwhile, Pish-Tush and Pooh-Bah arrive with a letter for Ko-Ko from the Mikado expressing concern that no executions have taken place. Unless someone is beheaded in one month, the Mikado threatens to reduce Titipu to the rank of village. Ko-Ko, by law, being the next person in line to be beheaded, would prefer to find a substitute, especially since as the Lord High Executioner his reputation will be tarnished if he cannot behead himself properly.
Nanki-Poo enters, resolved to kill himself at the prospect of life without Yum-Yum. After determining that Nanki-Poo will not change his mind, Ko-Ko offers him a much more spectacular death at the end of one month – a public beheading at the hands of the Executioner. Nanki-Poo agrees if, in return, he can marry Yum-Yum now and Ko-Ko can marry her when she is a widow.

The people gather to ask Ko-Ko what he has decided to do, and Ko-Ko announces the agreement he has struck with the lad. As Nanki-Poo, Yum-Yum and the townsfolk rejoice, Katisha arrives much to the fright of the townsfolk and to Nanki-Poo’s dismay. Pitti-Sing revives the celebration by taunting Katisha, and Katisha tries to reveal Nanki-Poo’s true identity to the crowd. However, they refuse to hear her, driving her to vow revenge.

ACT II: Yum-Yum’s sisters and fellow-maidens are helping to prepare her for the wedding. Pitti-Sing advises her how to appear to be a modest bride. Left alone, Yum-Yum compares her natural beauty to the sun and the moon. Her sisters return to remind her that Nanki-Poo will be executed in a month, and Nanki-Poo arrives to find Yum-Yum crying. He tries to cheer her, but Ko-Ko comes with some distressing news for the young bride. According to the Mikado’s law, when a married man is beheaded, his wife must be buried alive. Yum-Yum (less than excited about her impending death), Nanki-Poo and Ko-Ko all lament their messy situation.

Nanki-Poo again decides to kill himself, since he can’t condemn Yum-Yum to death and he can’t live without her. However, this will also mean that Ko-Ko has lost his stand-in for the beheading. Pooh-Bah enters to announce the Mikado is arriving at any minute for a surprise visit. Nanki-Poo offers to allow Ko-Ko to behead him immediately, but Ko-Ko is unprepared and decides to issue an affidavit stating that the young minstrel was executed, without actually carrying out the sentence. In order to rush Nanki-Poo out of town and out of sight of the Mikado, Ko-Ko sends Yum-Yum with him, and the couple leaves just as the Mikado arrives.

The Mikado extols how he rules with love, while Katisha, who has returned to Titipu in his company, declares herself his daughter-in-law elect. The Mikado further explains how he aims to have the punishment fit the crime. Ko-Ko takes the opportunity to tell the Mikado that an execution has occurred and to describe it in full detail with the help of the townsfolk.

However, the Mikado’s visit is not about the lack of executions, but instead he is looking for his son, masquerading under the name of Nanki-Poo. Katisha reads the death certificate, which claims Nanki-Poo was beheaded, and while the Mikado is highly understanding of the situation, he must punish Ko-Ko, Pooh-Bah and Pitti-Sing for their part in the death of the Heir Apparent.

The trio has no choice but to admit they lied to the Mikado and produce Nanki-Poo to save their own lives. Nanki-Poo enters with his new wife, Yum-Yum, and once appraised of the situation argues that he cannot come back to life because Katisha will insist on his execution for marrying another, and then Yum-Yum will be buried alive. The only possible solution is for Ko-Ko to woo and marry Katisha himself.

Katisha, brokenhearted and alone, is at first furious with Ko-Ko for executing Nanki-Poo, but as he reveals his long-hidden passion for her, she accepts his love. Since the Mikado has finished lunch, he returns for the execution. Katisha begs mercy for her newly acquired husband. Meanwhile, Nanki-Poo and Yum-Yum return, spurring Ko-Ko to appease the Mikado by arguing since the Mikado’s word is law, if he says a man is to die then his is already good as dead. Pleased at last, the Mikado and all his subjects celebrate the marriage with song and dance.