HOT MIKADO Swing version of The Mikado in 2 acts: Swing orchestration by Charles L. Cooke. Original production opened 23 March, 1939; Broadhurst Theatre, New York (85 perfs) Revised version: Book and lyrics by David H. Bell. Music adapted and arranged by Rob Bowman. Originally Produced at Ford's Theatre, Washington, DC, Frankie Hewitt, Producing Director. Based on The Mikado by W.S. Gilbert and Arthur Sullivan East meets West head-on in this hilarious 1940's-style updating of the perennial Gilbert and Sullivan classic. With the music transmuted into blues, Cab Calloway swing, hot gospel, scorching torch songs and 'Three Little Maids' turned into an Andrew Sisters' show-stopper, this zootsuited, tap-dancing colourful show is certain to provide the ideal evening out for the whole family. STORY The lights rise on the mahogany and neon town of Titipu, where the zoot-suited gentlemen of Japan are swinging, scatting, and living their lives in song. They are interrupted by the entrance of Nanki-Poo, a freshfaced rock-crooner who demands to know where to find Yum-Yum, the beautiful ward of a tailor named Ko-Ko. Nanki-Poo explains that he met Yum-Yum a year ago while playing second trumpet – an instrument that he plays without much talent - in the Titipu big band. It was love at first sight, but hopeless, since she was engaged to her older guardian, Ko-Ko. However, Nanki-Poo has recently heard the happy news that Ko-Ko has been condemned to death by the almighty Mikado for breaking the law against flirting, and has rushed to Titipu in order to marry Yum-Yum. Nanki-Poo is informed by the extremely cool Pish-Tush and Pooh-Bah that Ko-Ko has since been freed by the people of Titipu and made Lord High Executioner, its highest ranking official. Pooh-Bah, who became Lord High “everything else” after all the other officials resigned in protest, also offers (for a small fee) the information that Yum-Yum and Ko-Ko are slated for marriage that very day. Nanki-Poo determines he must find Yum-Yum at all costs before the wedding takes place. Ko-Ko ceremoniously enters proclaiming his enthusiasm for ridding society of Ragtime Serenaders, Recluses, Revivalists, and any other offenders on his list. As Ko-Ko bribes Pooh Bah’s multiple official positions into giving him wedding advice, Yum-Yum enters with her two scatting sisters, Peep-Bo and Pitti-Sing. Ko-Ko tries to kiss his unwilling bride-to-be when Yum-Yum suddenly collides into Nanki-Poo. The lovestruck trumpet player begs her to turn down Ko-Ko and marry him instead, but Yum-Yum points out that a wandering minstrel is hardly a suitable husband for a ward of the Lord High Executioner. Nanki-Poo confesses to her that he is, in fact, no musician – instead, he is the son of the Mikado himself ! He had been forced to flee for his life to Titipu when Katisha, an older woman in the Mikado’s court, claimed him in marriage under the Mikado’s flirting law. While Nanki-Poo and Yum-Yum realise that the law prohibits them from ever gazing into each others’ eyes and breathing sighs of unutterable love, they still sneak one regretful kiss. Ko-Ko, trying in vain to soliliquise, receives a letter from the Mikado stipulating that unless someone is beheaded within a month, his position will be abolished and Titipu reduced to village status. Since Ko-Ko is already under sentence of death for flirting, Pooh-Bah and Pish-Tush suggest that he simply execute himself. Ko-Ko points out that not only is self-decapitation difficult, but that suicide is a capital offence. He tries to appoint Pooh-Bah as Lord High Substitute, but Pooh-Bah declines the honour. With no one willing to act as a volunteer, Ko-Ko is left to figure out a solution. The solution arrives in the person of Nanki-Poo, who, devastated that Ko-Ko is going to marry the girl he
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