Opera Guide– The Mikado

English Comic Opera by Gilbert & Sullivan

Oct 17, 2009

Guide to the plot, characters, and history of The Mikado, a comic operetta by Gilbert & Sullivan, which uses the background of Japan to satirize governmental bureaucracy.

The Mikado, or The Town of Titipu premiered at the Savoy Theatre on March 14, 1885. The libretto was written by W.S. Gilbert and the music composed by Arthur Sullivan. The foreign and exotic setting of Japan is used to satirize British government and culture, but there is not much attempt by Sullivan to imitate Japanese music.

The opera has remained popular, although lines are often rewritten both to include updated jokes and to remove racially offensive words.

Nobles are gathered in the courtyard of Ko-Ko's palace ("If you want to know who we are"). Nanki-Poo enters, disguised as a minstrel, looking for Yum-Yum ("A wandering minstrel I"). He is in love with Yum-Yum, and has heard that her guardian and fiancé, Ko-Ko, was condemned to death for flirting. Pish-Tush explains that Ko-Ko was given a reprieve at the last minute and appointed the Lord High Executioner ("Our great Mikado, virtuous man"). Nanki-Poo bribes Pooh-Bah to tell him more about Yum-Yum; Pooh-Bah warns that he should stay away from her ("Young man despair").

Ko-Ko enters with his attendants ("Behold the Lord High Executioner!"). Ko-Ko goes through a list of people who should be executed ("As some day it may happen" ["Little List"]). Pooh-Bah explains to Ko-Ko that his various positions contradict each other; if he has a task for one job, the other will undermine it.

Yum-Yum, Pitti-Sing, and Peep-Bo enter ("Three little maids from school are we"). Ko-Ko introduces them to Pooh-Bah, who insists that greeting them is beneath his rank; they apologize ("So please you, sir, we much regret").

Yum-Yum and Nanki-Poo are left alone. He confesses to her that he is really the son of the Mikado, who has been in hiding to avoid punishment for refusing to marry Katisha. They bemoan their plight ("Were you not to Ko-Ko plighted").

Ko-Ko receives a letter from the Mikado saying that if he does not execute someone soon, the position of Lord High Executioner will be eliminated. Pooh-Bah and Pish-Tush suggest that he execute himself, but he decides to find a replacement ("My brain it teems"). Nanki-Poo enters, threatening suicide because he cannot marry Yum-Yum. He makes a deal with Ko-Ko: if he can marry Yum-Yum and be with her for a month, Ko-Ko can execute him afterward. Katisha enters and attempts to reveal Nanki-Poo's identity, but Nanki-Poo and Yum-Yum drown out her words.

Act II

Yum-Yum's maids prepare her for her wedding ("Braid the raven hair"). Yum-Yum explains that she is so lovely because she is the daughter of nature ("The sun whose rays"). Her sisters remind her that Nanki-Poo will be beheaded in a month, but Nanki-Poo tries to cheer her up ("Brightly dawns our wedding day").

Ko-Ko explains that, according to law, the wife of an executed man must be buried alive ("Here's a how-de-do!"). Nanki-Poo threatens to kill himself if the wedding is called off, robbing Ko-Ko of his execution. Pooh-Bah announces the Mikado's arrival to see that someone is being executed, and Ko-Ko realizes that he needn't execute anyone when he can just bribe Pooh-Bah to write up a record of an execution.

The Mikado enters with Katisha ("Miya sama, miya sama"; "From every kind of man") and explains that he is the fairest, most humane Mikado in Japanese history ("A more humane Mikado"). Ko-Ko and Pooh-Bah present the certificate of execution for Nanki-Poo ("The criminal cried as he dropped him down"). Katisha reveals Nanki-Poo's true identity, and the Mikado declares that Ko-Ko must be tortured for executing the heir to the throne ("See how the Fates their gifts allot").

Ko-Ko tells Nanki-Poo that he must reveal the truth, but Nanki-Poo explains that the situation has become more complicated: if he reveals that he has married Yum-Yum, Katisha will have him executed, which will force Yum-Yum to be buried alive. The solution is for Ko-Ko to marry Katisha so she no longer has a claim on Nanki-Poo ("The flowers that bloom in the spring").

Ko-Ko declares his love to Katisha, claiming that he will die if rejected ("On a tree by a river a little tom-tit"), and she accepts him ("There is beauty in the bellow of the blast"). Pooh-Bah marries them, and Nanki-Poo reveals that he is still alive. The record states that a man was executed, says Ko-Ko, and the Mikado agrees that this is good enough.

The copyright of the article Opera Guide– The Mikado in Opera is owned by Amelia Hill. Permission to republish Opera Guide– The Mikado in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.