Ruth's OWBC Special Feature #1
So I need a special feature for this week, because of my heir poll. I had two thoughts related to this. First, my readers don’t know much about Gilbert & Sullivan, and I’m afraid I don’t help out much with the way I write. Second, one of my readers has mentioned that they are going to see The Mikado in January.
Now, when I was young and we were going to go to an opera, my mother would prepare us well in advance. She’d tell us the story, play us the soundtrack repeatedly, get a video of it and watch it with us (stopping as necessary to answer questions and explain things), and sometimes even get us in to see dress rehearsals of the show. The end result was that we knew exactly what was going on, had songs to look forward to, and had a fantastic time at the opera. So I thought that perhaps a fun special feature along the same lines as what my mother used to do would be appropriate. I can’t help anyone with admission to dress rehearsals, but the handy reference links include links to videos of some of the songs, and I’ve recommended some of my preferred versions available on DVD there as well.
The (rather flimsy) premise here is that at family gatherings, instead of playing Monopoly or Charades, Ruth tells a story, with the help of members of the audience.
RUTH: Okay, are we ready? Our story is set in Japan, in a town called Titipu. Out comes the men's chorus, and they say "Hi! We're Japanese!" Well, actually they sing a song about it, but that's what it boils down to: "Hi! We're Japanese!"
RUTH: Once they've finished, out comes a handsome young man. Tim, do you want to help me out here? (Tim comes up) Now, this handsome young man is named Nanki-Poo -
TIM (snickers): Nanki-Poo? That's not a Japanese name.
RUTH: You know that. I know that. Heck, Gilbert probably knew that. Just be glad your character isn't called "Snooky-Ookums." So anyway, Nanki-Poo enters and says "Hey, can you tell me where Yum-Yum lives?"
TIM (snorts incredulously): Yum-Yum?
RUTH (firmly): Yum-Yum. Go on.
TIM: Oh. Um. "Hey, can you tell me where Yum-Yum lives?"
RUTH: Who wants to know?
TIM: Uh...
TIM (sings): A wand'ring minstrel I, A thing of shreds and patches, Of ballad songs and snatches, And dreamy luuuullabyyyyy -
RUTH: Yes, yes, we haven't got all night, and it's a very pretty song, but it doesn't tell us why you're looking for Yum-Yum.
TIM: Oh, well, I came through here last year - I was second trombone in the town band? - and Yum-Yum and I fell in love at first sight. But she was engaged to marry her guardian Koko, so I left. Then I heard that Koko was condemned to death for flirting, so I came back.
RUTH: Sorry to disappoint you, but Koko wasn't executed. Actually, we promoted him. I can sing you a song about it.
RUTH: (clears throat) "Our great Mikado, virtuous man - "
TIM: Or you could just tell me.
RUTH (sulkily): Party pooper. So a lot of men were condemned to death for flirting, right, and they usually complained about it. So we took the next guy on the list and made him Lord High Executioner, because he can't cut off anybody else's head unless he cuts his own off first.
TIM: But Lord High Executioner is the highest rank you attain without being royalty! How did all the other lords like working for a former tailor?
RUTH: Ooooh, good question. Tyrone, can you help me out?
RUTH: Now, Ty, you are Pooh-Bah. You can trace your ancestry alllll the way back to a prehistoric molecule. In fact, you were born sneering. At this point, you should explain to Nanki-Poo here how the other lords liked working for a former tailor.
TYRONE: They... didn't?
RUTH: That's right. They didn't. They all quit. And who took over all their jobs?
TYRONE: Me?
RUTH: Right. So what jobs do you hold now?
TYRONE: Well, I'm the, uh, First Lord of the Treasury...
TYRONE: Lord Chief Justice, Commander-in-Chief, Lord High Admiral, Master of the Buckhounds, Groom of the Back Stairs, Archbishop of Titipu, and Lord Mayor, both acting and elect. Oh, and you can hire me to attend your parties or weddings, and I sell state secrets for a very reasonable price. For instance, any information about Yum-Yum would count as a state secret. (clears throat meaningfully)*
TIM: Oh! (hands over money)
TYRONE: (counts it and sniffs disapprovingly) Give it up, kid. She's marrying Koko this afternoon. Oh, and look - here he comes!
*Have you ever heard anyone who is important (or who likes to think that they are) described as a "pooh-bah"? Now you know why.
RUTH: So in comes Koko - Ryan, do you mind? - and the men's chorus sings a song about how he is, in fact, the Lord High Executioner.
(Ryan opens his mouth to sing)
RUTH: And then Koko makes a little speech about how he's going to be a good Lord High Executioner.
(Ryan opens his mouth to speak)
RUTH: And then he sings a nifty little patter song about who he would execute if he ever had to execute anybody.
RYAN (sings): As some -
RUTH: It's very famous and pretty much every group makes up their own words. And nobody sings the racist verse anymore. And then everybody leaves.
(Ryan turns to leave)
RUTH: Except Pooh-Bah and Koko.
RUTH: Now Koko asks Pooh-Bah how much he should spend on his wedding.
(Ryan opens his mouth)
TYRONE: Well, speaking as your private secretary, I say that since the city will have to pay for it, do it well. But then, as Chancellor of the Exchequer, I must see that due economy is preserved. Now, as your solicitor, I'd say "Chance it," but then as Lord Chief Justice, I have to uphold the law. Of course, as First Lord of the Treasury, I could propose a special vote that would cover all expenses, if it were not that, as Leader of the Opposition, it would be my duty to resist it, tooth and nail. Or, as Paymaster General, I could so cook the accounts that, as Lord High Auditor, I should never discover the fraud. But then, as Archbishop of Titipu, it would be my duty to denounce my dishonesty and give myself into my own custody as first Commissioner of Police. Naturally, all of these distinguished people could be persuaded to go along with what you want... Hint, hint...
RUTH: At which point Koko says he'll think about it and asks if Pooh-Bah could grovel, just a little bit, when Yum-Yum arrives.
TYRONE: Are you going to pay me?
RYAN: No! (looks inordinately pleased with himself)
TYRONE: (sniffs) No money, no grovel!
RUTH: And they leave. - Thank you, Ryan.
RUTH: Now the women's chorus comes in and sings a song about how they're all schoolgirls, eighteen and younger. Although if you ever see this live, you'll notice that some of the "schoolgirls" must be celebrating the 30th anniversary of their eighteenth birthday, at least. And then Yum-Yum and her friends-slash-sisters - Peep-Bo and Pitti-Sing - come out. I'll be Peep-Bo for now. Sarah Jane, why don't you be Yum-Yum? And Charlie, do you want to be Pitti-Sing?
CHARLOTTE: Nope.
RUTH: Buttercup?
BUTTERCUP: Huh-uh.
RUTH: Okay. Matt, would you mind terribly playing Pitti-Sing? We're kinda short on girls here.
MATTHIAS: I don't mind.
RUTH, SARAH JANE, AND MATTHIAS (sing): Three little maids from school are we, Pert as a schoolgirl well can be, Filled to the brim with girlish glee-hee, Three little maids from school!
RUTH: No sooner have they finished than Koko and Pooh-Bah come back.
SARAH JANE: Ew, you're not going to kiss me, are you?
RYAN: That was the plan, yes...
SARAH JANE: Ew...
RUTH: At which point, Nanki-Poo shows up.
SARAH JANE, MATTHAIS, and RUTH (joyfully): Nanki-Poo!
TIM (to Ryan): Sorry, to do this to you, sir, but (heroically) I am in love with Yum-Yum!
SARAH JANE, MATTHAIS, and RUTH: Squeeeeeee!
RYAN: No need to apologize - she's really something, isn't she? I'm in love with her myself. So glad you agree! - Take him away!
RUTH: So Nanki-Poo leaves, and the girls sing a song to tease Pooh-Bah, and then everybody leaves except Yum-Yum. At which point Nanki-Poo sneaks back in.
TIM: Darling!
SARAH JANE: My own!
TIM: Are you really going to marry Koko?
SARAH JANE: I have to. He won't let me marry anyone else. And besides, you're poor.
DESCARTES: But she's a grown-up. Why don't they just elope?
RUTH: Because in Japan, women aren't grown up until they're fifty.
DESCARTES (suspiciously): Really?
TIM: No. This show is a satire on Victorian British life. We can talk about it more when we get home, okay?
DESCARTES (grumbles): Fine.
TIM (to Sarah Jane): Oh, I'm not really poor. I'm not even really a musician.
SARAH JANE: Yes, that I figured out right away.
TIM: I'm really the son of the Mikado!
SARAH JANE: The son of the Mikado! But why is your Highness disguised? And what has your Highness done? And will your Highness promise never to do it again?
TIM: Well, unfortunately, an elderly ugly lady of my father's court thought I was flirting with her - which I wasn't! - and said that if I didn't marry her, she'd have me put to death for flirting. So I left. And then I met you, but we can never marry now.
SARAH JANE: No. In fact, we shouldn't even be talking.
TIM: Oh, don't worry. I'll be very well behaved.
TIM (sings): Let me make it clear to you, This is what I'll never do, This or this, Or this, Or this...
TIM (sings): This is what I'll never, Never do.
RUTH: And off they go in opposite directions.
RUTH: Now Koko comes on, and he makes a speech about how happy he is to be getting married.
(Ryan opens his mouth)
RUTH: But he gets cut off when Pooh-Bah and Pish-Tush come in.
DESCARTES: Who's Pish-Tush?
RUTH: He's a character that hangs around in case they need another person for the singing. I've been Pish-Tush already, and I'll be him now. - Hey, Koko! You got a letter from the Mikado!
RYAN: From the Mikado? (rips it open) Oh no! It says that if we don't have an execution within one month, I'll be fired! And Titipu will be reduced to a village! Who can I execute?
RUTH: Well, you are next on the list...
RYAN: Don't be stupid. - Hey, Pooh-Bah! Congratulations! You're now Lord High Substitute Victim.
TYRONE: Golly gee whiz, I'm just so very very flattered! - But I can't accept. I have got to stop being so ambitious.
RUTH: And they all sing a song about that.
RUTH, RYAN and TYRONE (sing): To sit in solemn silence in a dull dark dock, In a pestilential prison with a life-long lock, Awaiting a sensation of a short sharp shock, From a cheap and chippy chopper on a big black block!
RUTH: Then Pooh-Bah and Pish-Tush leave, and Koko begins a very moving soliloquy.
(Ryan stands there)
RUTH: I said -
RYAN: I heard you. But you never let me say anything anyway. So who's going to interrupt me this time?
RUTH: Nanki-Poo, actually. He comes in and begins preparations to kill himself.
RYAN and TIM (simultaneously): Kill himself?!
TIM: I thought this was a comedy!
RYAN: Oh 'Lanthee, can't I talk him out of it?
RUTH: Actually, you want to talk him into it.
RYAN and TIM (simultaneously): What?!
RUTH: Think about it - you need to execute someone, you don't want to die, he does... What could be more perfect?
TIM: Yeah, but what's in it for me?
RYAN (with sudden inspiration): Yum-Yum!
TIM: Your wife?
RYAN: Fiancee. You can marry her for a month - I'll pay for everything you need for that month, by the way - and when she becomes a widow at the end of the month, then I can marry her. See? Everybody's happy!
TIM: It's a deal!
RUTH: And now comes the Act I finale, which is probably the longest finale ever, clocking in at 14 minutes and 59 seconds. The whole cast comes on stage asking Koko (through song) if he's found anyone to be a substitute victim yet. Koko replies (in song) -
RYAN: Yes - Nanki-Poo!
EVERYONE: Hail, Nanki-Poo!
TYRONE: Now, normally, we'd day "Long life to you," but seeing as how you've only got a month to live, that's kind of pointless. But we can say "Long life to you - til then!"
RUTH: Then Nanki-Poo and Yum-Yum sing about how happy they are, and everyone dances, and then (lowers voice ominously) Katisha comes in.
RUTH: Your revels cease! Assist me, all of you!
EVERYBODY ELSE: Who the heck is that?
RUTH: I’m here for Nanki-Poo! (to Tim) Why did you leave me, you big idiot?
TIM (to Sarah Jane): Oh my Esme, it’s Katisha - the elderly ugly lady I told you about!
RUTH (to Sarah Jane): And you! Oh, you are in for a world of hurt, young lady!
MATTHIAS: Hey! Why don’t you just get on out of here? He’s going to marry Yum-Yum!
EVERYONE ELSE: Yeah!
MATTHIAS: Go find your own man - there’s lots of good fish in the sea!
EVERYONE ELSE: Yeah!
RUTH: …And then Katisha sings a song about how sad it is to live without love. After which…
RUTH (to Tim): You’re going to be sorry! Hey, everyone, this man isn’t who he says he is! He’s really the son - And then you all interrupt her by singing at the top of your lungs “O ni! Bikkuri shakkuri to!”
TIM: What language is that?
RUTH: Japanese.
TIM (scoffs): No it isn’t. It’s gibberish.
RUTH: Doesn’t it mean anything?
TIM: Well… If - and please note that I say if - you use your imagination and look at it the right way and squint really hard, you could possibly interpret it as “Demon! So surprised, we hiccup!”
RUTH (incredulously): “Demon! So surprised, we hiccup!”?
TIM: I told you it was gibberish.
RUTH (getting back into character): Well, fine then! I have had enough! You all are all going to be very, very sorry! And as for you (turning on Tim) I’m going to tell your father on you, you see if I don’t! - And exit Katisha melodramatically, and curtain. That’s the end of Act I.
While we are in intermission here, I’d like to take the opportunity to mention that Ryan’s brothers Timothy and Tyrone, as well as their respective spouses and offspring can be found in Already in Progress, currently available in the “Fictional Stories” forum on Boolprop. Stop by and leave a comment so I don't have break the rules and quadruple post.
Thank you.
RUTH: Now, Act II opens with all the women getting Yum-Yum ready for her wedding. They sing a song about how pretty she is, and then they leave.
SARAH JANE: They’re right. I’m probably - no, definitely - the prettiest girl in all Japan.
RUTH: And she sings a song about that.
RUTH: Then Pitti-Sing and Peep-Bo come back out and congratulate Yum-Yum. (to Sarah Jane) Congratulations! It’s going to be a good wedding, and you’re going to be so happy! And why not? Everything’s almost perfect!
SARAH JANE (sharply): What do you meant, “almost”?
RUTH: Well, you know, he’s going to be executed in a month. That’s kind of a problem.
MATTHIAS: It all depends.
RUTH: Well, I bet he thinks it’s a problem.
MATTHIAS (significantly, through gritted teeth): You never know. It all depends.
RUTH: Well -
MATTHIAS: Shut up, Peep-Bo!
(Sarah Jane starts to cry)
RUTH: Now Nanki-Poo comes in, accompanied by Pish-Tush for no particular reason other than a quartet is coming up and they need a baritone.
TIM (with concern, to Sarah Jane): Hey, hey, now! Why are you crying? We’re getting married today!
SARAH JANE: Yes, and in a month, you’ll be beheaded. (cries harder)
RUTH and MATTHIAS: It’s true - you will. (both start crying)
TIM: Oh, boy. - Look, it won’t be as bad as all that. I vote that each day is really a year, which means we’ve got, oh, thirty years of happiness ahead of us. Who’s with me?
(Everyone else half-heartedly raises a hand)
RUTH: So Peep-Bo leaves, and the other four decide to sing a song to cheer themselves up.
SARAH JANE: B-b-b-brightly dawns our wedding day
ALL FOUR: Joyous hour, we give thee greeting, Whither whither art thou fleeting?, Fickle moment prithee stay, Fickle moment - (all break down crying again)
RUTH: Not that it works all that well. Pitti-Sing and Pish-Tush are so overcome that they have to leave, and Koko comes in as Nanki-Poo is busy comforting Yum-Yum.
RYAN: Oh. Don’t mind me.
SARAH JANE (sniffling): Sorry. It must be hard for you to see us like this.
TIM: But it’s only for a month.
RYAN: No… No, it’s forever.
TIM and SARAH JANE (ecstatically): Really?
RYAN: Yup, yup. See... When a man is beheaded, his wife is buried alive. It’s never happened before, because only flirting is punishable by beheading, and married men never flirt, but it’s still the law.
TIM: Who told you that?
RYAN: Pooh-Bah. He’s my solicitor.
TIM: Maybe he’s wrong.
RYAN: I thought of that, so I asked the Attorney General, the Lord Chief Justice, the Master of the Rolls, the Judge Ordinary, and the Lord Chancellor. They're all of the same opinion. Never knew such unanimity on a point of law in my life!
TIM and SARAH JANE: Well, crap!
TIM, SARAH JANE, and RYAN (sing): If what he says is true, ‘Tis death to marry you, Here’s a pretty state of things!, Here’s a pretty how-de-do!, Here’s a pretty state of things!, A pretty state of things!
TYRONE (casually, as he enters): The Mikado’s coming, Koko. He’ll be here in ten minutes. I’d kill this guy if I were you.
RYAN: Oh, bother! I can’t do it! (to Tim) Look, marry Yum-Yum and go away and never come back.
TIM: But wait - you have to kill me, otherwise you have to die yourself.
RYAN: No no no no. I’ll just take out an affidavit and say you’ve already been killed. I’ll get lots of people to witness it: the Lord Chief Justice, Lord High Admiral, Commander-in-Chief, Secretary of State for the Home Department, First Lord of the Treasury, and Chief Commissioner of Police. Right, Pooh-Bah?
TYRONE: You want us to all commit perjury to save your butt?
RYAN (firmly): Cash. Lots and lots and lots of cash.
TYRONE: No problem. Choose your fiction, and I’ll endorse it.
TIM: But Yum-Yum -
RYAN: Oh, bother Yum-Yum! Marry her and take her with you! Go away with the Archbishop of Titipu now - he’ll marry the two of you - if you stay here, how am I ever going to convince the Mikado I’ve killed you?!
RUTH: So now the Mikado enters. Who wants to be the Mikado?
DESCARTES: Me!
RUTH: Okay, you’re the Mikado. So you come in accompanied by your daughter-in-law elect, Katisha, and everyone sings a song to welcome you. Then you sing a song about how you’re a good Mikado -
DESCARTES: Bo-ring!
RUTH: And then you sing another song about how you try to have the punishment fit the crime.
DESCARTES (eagerly): Can I do the insane laugh, too?
RUTH: Of course.
DESCARTES: (insane laugh) My object all sublime, I shall achieve in time, To let the punishment fit the crime, The punishment fit the crime (insane laugh), And make each prisoner pent, Unwillingly represent, A source of innocent merriment, Of innocent merriment! (insane laugh)
RUTH: After which, Koko comes out, along with Pooh-Bah and Pitti-Sing.
RYAN: Your Majesty, I know why you’re here!
DESCARTES: Really?
RYAN: Yes, and we’ve taken care of everything! The execution has taken place! Here’s the death certificate. (hands certificate to Descartes)
DESCARTES (disinterestedly): Oh, you had an execution? (hands certificate to Ruth)
RYAN: Er - yes.
DESCARTES: Describe it.
RYAN: Er, er -
RYAN: Well, the criminal was terrified! Especially when I bared my big right arm and drew my snickersnee - he screamed!
MATTHIAS: Yes, he was terrified - but then he saw me and he cheered up and died bravely. Because, you know, a pretty girl like me is a heartening sight for any man! (bats his eyelashes furiously)
TYRONE: And then the head got up and bowed to me! Because I’m really pretty important, you know.
(Ryan and Matthias glare at him)
DESCARTES: That’s nice. Sorry I missed it. But actually, we’re here because we’re looking for my son, uh - Aunt Ruth, what’s Daddy’s pretend name right now?
RUTH: Nanki-Poo.
DESCARTES: Nanki-Poo. Have you seen him?
(Ruth screams)
DESCARTES: What’s wrong?
RUTH: See? See? (points to the certificate) Nanki-Poo! These idiots executed your son, the heir to the throne of Japan!
DESCARTES: Oh, s - (catches sight of his mother in the audience) Oh, snap. What’s the penalty for that? Something lingering, I think. Boiling oil?
RUTH: Or melted lead, yeah.
RYAN: We didn’t know!
MATTHIAS: We had no idea!
TYRONE: I wasn’t there.
DESCARTES: Oh, I’m not mad. He probably deserved it. But that doesn’t change the fact that the punishment is boiling oil. Or possibly melted lead. Do you mind if we delay the execution until after lunch? Can you wait?
RYAN, MATTHIAS, and TYRONE (miserably): Yes, we can wait.
RUTH: And everyone leaves except Koko, Pitti-Sing, and Pooh-Bah.
RYAN (furiously, to Tyrone): Now see what a fine mess you got us into! What was all that with the head bowing down to you?
TYRONE (with dignity): Merely corroborative detail, intended to give artistic verisimilitude to an otherwise bald and unconvincing narrative.
MATTHIAS and RYAN: Oh, shut up!
RUTH: Which is when Nanki-Poo and Yum-Yum come back in.
RYAN: Oh, thank Esme! Nanki-Poo, congratulations! You’re not dead anymore!
TIM: Oh yes I am.
RYAN: No, no - your father’s here. If you’re dead, we’re all going to be boiled in lead or something. So come back to life, huh?
TIM: Nope.
RYAN: Why not?
TIM: If I’m alive, Katisha is going to want to marry me. But I can’t marry her, because I’m already married. So she’d ask to have me beheaded for flirting and then Yum-Yum would be buried alive. I’m perfectly happy being dead, thanks.
RYAN: But - But - !
TIM: Tell you what, though. If you marry Katisha yourself, she can’t ask to have me beheaded. Then I can come back to life, and nobody has to be boiled in anything.
RYAN: But - but - She’s hideous!
TIM (cheerfully): Too bad.
RUTH: And then they sing a song about the flowers in spring, which is an extended metaphor for marriage to Katisha, and Koko agrees to marry Katisha. Everyone leaves so that Katisha can come out and sings a song about how being dead is preferable to a life without love, and then Koko comes back out.
RYAN: Katisha?
RUTH: Oh, it’s you. What you want?
RYAN: Marry me, Katisha! I can’t live without you. (half-muttered) Literally.
RUTH: What are you - crazy?
RYAN: Yes - crazy with love! Marry me, or I’ll die right here and now!
RUTH: Don’t be stupid. Nobody ever died of love.
RYAN: Oh yeah?
RYAN (sings): On a tree by a river a little tom-tit -
(Audience snickers; Ryan glares at them)
RYAN (sings): A little tom-tit -
(More snickers)
RYAN (sings): Sang “Willow, titwillow, titwillow!”
(Loud snickers turning to giggles)
RYAN (sings gamely): And I said to him “Dicky-bird - ”
(Open laughter)
RYAN: Look, this song sounds really dirty nowadays. Do I have to sing it?
RUTH (trying not to laugh): Naw, you can skip it.
RYAN: Thank you!
RUTH: Basically, the little bird drowned himself because of love, and Koko says that he’ll do the same thing if Katisha doesn’t marry him. (back in character, to Ryan) Oh no! Please don’t kill yourself! I’ll marry you, I’ll marry you!
RYAN (dejectedly): Oh, whoopee. (sings) There’s a fascination frantic, in a ruin that’s romantic, Do you think you are sufficiently decayed?
RUTH (sings): To the matter that you mention, I have given some attention, And I think I am sufficiently decayed. (in her own voice) We have to leave now, so the Mikado can come back.
DESCARTES: Wow, that was a good lunch! Are we ready for the execution now?
RUTH: Mercy, Your Majesty! Mercy for my new husband Koko! Mercy for Pitti-Sing! Mercy even for Pooh-Bah.
DESCARTES: Your new husband?
RUTH: Yeah. He followed me home. Isn’t he cute?
DESCARTES: Yes, but you can’t keep him. He killed the heir to the throne of Japan -
TIM: No he didn’t.
DESCARTES: Daddy! - I mean, My son!
SARAH JANE: And your daughter-in-law elected. Take that, Katisha!
DESCARTES (to Ryan): But you said you killed him. You described it very enthusiastically.
TYRONE (with dignity): Merely corroborative detail, intended to give artistic verisimilitude to an otherwise bald and unconvincing narrative.
MATTHIAS and RYAN: Oh, shut up!
RYAN (to Descartes): It's like this: When your Majesty says, "Let a thing be done," it's as good as done - practically, it is done - because your Majesty's will is law. Your Majesty says, "Kill a gentleman," and a gentleman is told off to be killed. Consequently, that gentleman is as good as dead - practically, he is dead - and if he is dead, why not say so?
DESCARTES (doubtfully): Okay, if you say so, Uncle Ryan.
RUTH: And then everyone sings a song about how happy they all are now that everything’s worked out, and curtain. The end.
Notes, disclaimers, and other trivia
This is intended to capture the flavor and spirit of the original rather than being a slavish recreation. I hope it worked (and met with your approval).
The “insane laughter” during the Mikado’s song is not scripted, but it’s still traditional. Descartes does go a bit overboard with it, though.
Some of the words are Gilbert’s own, because there was no way I could paraphrase as well as he said it in the first place. These parts include Pooh-Bah’s description of all the jobs he holds, most of Pooh-Bah’s response to the question of how Koko should pay for his wedding, “No money, no grovel!,” Yum-Yum’s reaction to Nanki-Poo’s revelation that he is the son of the Mikado, the list of who Koko consulted about Yum-Yum’s being buried alive (and the results and comment afterwards), the list of who will swear to Nanki-Poo’s death, “Choose your fiction and I’ll endorse it,” the whole line about “corroborative detail,” and Koko’s explanation at the end.
Ryan is the youngest of three. Tyrone is the oldest, and Timothy comes right in the middle. Timothy is married to Sarah Jane, and Tyrone is married to Matthais. This explains some of my casting decisions: I thought that it would be better to have all romantic actions occur with the appropriate spouse. While it is not scripted that Pooh-Bah and Pitti-Sing end up together, they generally do get paired up during duets and such, for symmetry.
In case you were wondering, yes, the (generally derisive) term “pooh-bah” really does come from this opera. Look it up in the dictionary - you’ll see that Gilbert gets full credit for inventing it.
Gilbert’s “Japanese” phrase used at the end of Act I is indeed gibberish. He didn’t seem to care about accuracy - if he did, would he really have named a character “Peep-Bo”? - but some people have tried really hard to find Japanese words that would sort of fit the words Gilbert wrote in order to provide a translation. “Demon! So surprised, we hiccup!” is the result. (“Oni” - one word - does indeed mean “demon.” I learned that word from anime, along with “wolf,” “everybody,” and a mild swear word.)
If people don’t look exactly the way you think they should, that’s because I shot this in a completely different ‘hood, with recreated Sims. I think I did pretty well, but I’m sure SimPE would have done a better job. Oh well.
The Mikado plot is not particularly practical for the main story, so you won’t see it again. I hope you enjoyed this special feature, and we should return to our regularly scheduled programming next time. Until then, Happy Simming!