The Mikado, or The Town of Titipu, opened at the Savoy Theatre
on March 14, 1885 and proved to be not only the most famous of all the Gilbert
and Sullivan operas, running for 672 performances, but possibly the most
frequently played piece of musical theatre in history. Before the end of 1885 it
was estimated that, in Europe and America, at least 150 companies were producing
the opera.
Gilbert used foreign locales in several operas to soften the impact of his
pointed satire. As a reviewer noted, though nominally Japanese, the allusions in
The Mikado are more or less thinly-veiled references to the native institutions
and peculiarities of Great Britain.
The Mikado was originally staged with Mr. R. Temple as the
Mikado, Durward Lely as Nanki-Poo, George Grossmith as Ko-Ko, Rutland Barrington
as Pooh-Bah and Leonora Braham as Yum-Yum. The official New York premiere took
place on August 19, 1885 at the Fifth Avenue Theatre with a cast that included
George Thorne (Ko-Ko), Fred Federici (Mikado), Geraldine Ulmar (Yum-Yum),
Courtice Pounds (Nanki-Poo), Fred Billington (Pooh-Bah) and Elsie Cameron (Katisha).
A Broadway revival was staged in 1927 at the Royale Theatre with Fred Wright as
Ko-Ko, and another revival was staged in 1987 at the Virginia Theatre with Eric
Donkin, Marie Baron, John Keane and Arlene Meadows.
The 1938 film version features Martyn Green as Ko-Ko, Jean Colin as Yum-Yum,
and Kenny Baker as Nanki-Poo. The 1969 film version features John Reed as Ko-Ko
and Valerie Masterton as Yum-Yum.
The 1998 film version features Eric Donkin and Gidon Saks.
Plot Summary
The show opens in the town of Titipu where the chorus of nobles are joined
by Nanki-Poo, disguised as a second trombone, who is looking for Yum-Yum, the
ward of Ko-Ko. A noble lord named Pish-Tush asks what Nanki-Poo's business
is with Yum-Yum, and learns that the minstrel had seen the girl a year ago
when he was a member of the town band, and they had fallen in love. But
Yum-Yum was betrothed to her guardian Ko-Ko, 'a cheap tailor.' However on
learning that Ko-Ko was condemned to death for flirting, the minstrel has
hurried back to try to claim Yum-Yum. Unfortunately on his return he finds
that far from being dead, Ko-Ko has in fact been let out on bail, and
appointed Lord High Executioner. There is worse to come as Pooh-Bah, who
holds every other major office of state, informs Nanki-Poo that Yum-Yum and Ko-Ko
are to be married that very day.
Yum-Yum and her sisters, Pitti-Sing and Peep-Bo, appear with their
schoolfellows. When Yum-Yum finally catches sight of Nanki-Poo he reveals
that he is the son of the Mikado, and when they are alone, she admits she
does not love her guardian. The two lovers realise that their cause is
hopeless, and Yum-Yum leaves Nanki-Poo who then tries to kill himself.
Meanwhile, Ko-Ko has received a letter from the Mikado, who threatens to
abolish the post of Lord High Executioner and reduce Titipu to the rank of a
village unless a beheading takes place within a month. On seeing Nanki-Poo
about to 'terminate an unendurable existence,' Ko-Ko points out that suicide
is a capital offence, and offers to do the job professionally. Nanki-Poo
agrees, on the condition that he can Marry Yum-Yum and enjoy one month of
married life before he is beheaded. After the execution Ko-Ko will then be
able to marry the widowed Yum-Yum. Amidst the celebrations in storms Katisha,
having tracked down the object of her affections, Nanki-Poo, and threatens to
reveal his true identity. She is outshouted by a chorus of Japanese syllables:
" O ni! bikkuri shakkuri to!" (one of the many possible translations of which
is "So surprised, we hiccup! Bah!") . But the town dwellers are not to be
deterred and 'joy reigns everywhere around.'
Act two opens with Yum-Yum being prepared for her wedding. But soon the
awful fact is out that under the Mikado's law the widow of a beheaded man must
be buried alive. This places Nanki-Poo in a dilemma, if he holds Yum-Yum to
this marriage, she dies a hideous death, and if he releases her she must marry
Ko-Ko at once. The marriage is off, and Nanki-Poo determines to do away with
himself that afternoon unless Ko-Ko will kill him at once. But it turns out
that Ko-Ko can't kill anything. To make matters worse, the Mikado and his
suite are approaching the town and will arrive in ten minutes. In desperation
Ko-Ko arranges to draw up an affidavit of Nanki-Poo's execution.
The Mikado arrives with Katisha who makes much of being his daughter-in-law
elect. When Ko-Ko presents his certificate of execution. The Mikado reads it
and says, 'My poor fellow, in your anxiety to carry out my wishes you have
beheaded the heir to the throne of Japan!' Ko-Ko and Pooh-Bah find Nanki-Poo
and beg him to present himself, alive, to his father, thereby absolving them
of his death. But Nanki-Poo, now married to Yum-Yum, is afraid of Katisha's
wrath. Unless Ko-Ko will agree to marry the old hag himself, he and Yum-Yum
will leave on their honeymoon at once. Katisha, meanwhile, is mourning the
death of Nanki-Poo, and when Ko-Ko tries to woo her, she is at first reluctant,
but he wins the formidable lady with a pack of flattering lies and a sad,
lovelorn song.
Katisha adds her powerful pleas to the Mikado for everyone to be pardoned.
The Mikado, a bit bewildered by it all nonetheless pronounces that 'Nothing
could possibly be more satisfactory!'
