Synopsis - Mikado '99

Before the action of the opera begins, Nanki-Poo has fled to Titipu from the court of his father, the Mikado, in a Gilbertian version of Japan, to escape marriage with Katisha, an older woman. Disguised as a musician, Nanki-Poo has fallen in love with Yum-Yum. Their marriage has been prevented by her guardian, Ko-Ko, who wishes to marry her himself. Ko-Ko, however, has been condemned to death for flirting.
As Act I opens, Nanki-Poo returns to Titipu to find out whether Yum-Yum is now free to marry him. There he learns from Pooh-Bah a scheming local official, that Ko-Ko has been made Lord High Executioner, thus preventing his sentence of decapitation from being carried out. Ko-Ko is, in fact, going to marry Yum-Yum that very afternoon.
Yum-Yum enters with Ko-Ko's other wards and young ladies. Yum-Yum and Nanki-Poo, when alone, sing of their frustrated love. He reveals his true identity and tells her why he has fled his father's court.
Everything seems to be proceeding well for Ko-Ko when a letter arrives from the Mikado ordering him to execute somebody soon. He is in a quandry when Nanki-Poo appears bent on suicide because he cannot marry Yum-Yum. By conceding him the right to marry Yum-Yum for a month, Ko-Ko persuades Nanki-Poo to be executed when the month is up.
There is general rejoicing at this strange solution, which is marred by the unexpected appearance of Katisha in quest of her love, Nanki-Poo.
She is prevented from disclosing his true nature by continued interruptions and, as the curtain falls, in great anger she goes to fetch the Mikado.

Act II starts with Yum-Yum preparing for her wedding, her happiness overshadowed by Nanki-Poo's beheading in a month's time. Ko-Ko arrives with the news that he has just discovered a law stating that when a married man is executed his wife must be buried alive. To save Yum-Yum from that fate, Nanki-Poo decides to kill himself at once. This again throws Ko-Ko into a quandry to find someone to execute (especially since the Mikado is thought to be approaching). Nanki-Poo offers himself for immediate decapitation but Ko-Ko is unable to perform the act with some practice.
Another way out of the difficulty presents itself: Ko-Ko has Pooh-Bah make a false affidavit that Nanki-Poo had been executed, and bids Nanki-Poo and Yum-Yum leave the country.
The intimidating Mikado appears. Ko-Ko produces the affidavit and describes the execution with gusto. but the Mikado had actually come at the prompting of Katisha, in search of his lost son.
When it appears that the person Ko-Ko supposedly executed is the Mikado's son, Ko-Ko and his accomplices are in trouble. The only hope is to admit the falsehood and produce Nanki-Poo alive. But as he has already married Yum-Yum and cannot marry Katisha, Katisha will surely insist on the execution of the couple.
Ko-Ko solves the problem by offering to marry Katisha. When he sings her a plaintive ballad, she accepts him. After their wedding, Nanki-Poo is able to reappear, his father forgives him and welcomes Yum-Yum as his daughter-in-law while the town rejoices.
 
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Revised: April 25, 2002.