Gilbert and Sullivan’s Mikado tells the story of Ko-Ko, a tailor and guardian of a beautiful young woman named Yum-Yum, who also is Ko-Ko’s fiancée. Ko-Ko was sentenced to death for flirting but avoided his sentence by getting himself named Lord High Executioner.
Since Ko-Ko is first in line for execution, no executions occur, gaining the notice of the Mikado, who decrees there must be an execution within one month. After Nanki-Poo threatens to kill himself because he cannot have Yum-Yum, Ko-Ko suggests that he execute Nanki-Poo instead. Nanki-Poo agrees to the plan provided he can spend his final month married to Yum-Yum.
