@rooprect said:

Question about the taylor/executioner. I didn’t understand how he got a reprieve/promotion. As the taylor, he’s about to be executed. But then the Mikado in his hilariously convoluted wisdom decrees that no man may judge another unless he first judges himself… meaning the existing executioner cannot execute the prisoner until he chops his own head off.

Then suddenly the taylor is the new executioner. Does this imply that the old executioner actually chopped his own head off? (Doubtful since later there’s a song about the impossibility of beheading yourself.) Or did the old executioner quit his job and give it to the taylor so he [the taylor] could carry out the sentence?

In the movie there was no mention of a previous Lord High Executioner in the city at that time.

After the Mikado's decree:

"That all who flirted, leered or winked, unless connubially linked, should forthwith be beheaded."

everyone feared for their life, so the city council thought of a plan. Ko-Ko, the tailor, who was the first to be executed, was let out on bail and made the Lord High Executioner, because:

"Who's next to be decapited, cannot cut off another's head, until he's cut his own off."

Pooh-Bah: "Our logical Mikado, seeing no moral difference between the dignified judge - who condemns a criminal to die - and the industrious mechanic - who carries out the sentence - has rolled the two offices into one and every judge is now his own executioner."

Criminals sentenced to death must be executed in the order in which they are sentenced. Ko-Ko was the first in the queue and as he was now judge and executioner, he could postpone his execution indefinitely. The others behind him had to wait until Ko-Ko's sentence was carried out.

@wonder2wonder said:

@rooprect said:

Question about the taylor/executioner. I didn’t understand how he got a reprieve/promotion. As the taylor, he’s about to be executed. But then the Mikado in his hilariously convoluted wisdom decrees that no man may judge another unless he first judges himself… meaning the existing executioner cannot execute the prisoner until he chops his own head off.

Then suddenly the taylor is the new executioner. Does this imply that the old executioner actually chopped his own head off? (Doubtful since later there’s a song about the impossibility of beheading yourself.) Or did the old executioner quit his job and give it to the taylor so he [the taylor] could carry out the sentence?

In the movie there was no mention of a previous Lord High Executioner in the city at that time.

After the Mikado's decree:

"That all who flirted, leered or winked, unless connubially linked, should forthwith be beheaded."

everyone feared for their life, so the city council thought of a plan. Ko-Ko, the tailor, who was the first to be executed, was let out on bail and made the Lord High Executioner, because:

"Who's next to be decapited, cannot cut off another's head, until he's cut his own off."

Pooh-Bah: "Our logical Mikado, seeing no moral difference between the dignified judge - who condemns a criminal to die - and the industrious mechanic - who carries out the sentence - has rolled the two offices into one and every judge is now his own executioner."

Criminals sentenced to death must be executed in the order in which they are sentenced. Ko-Ko was the first in the queue and as he was now judge and executioner, he could postpone his execution indefinitely. The others behind him had to wait until Ko-Ko's sentence was carried out.

Thanks, it makes sense to me now. But it brings up another question: how could the town of Titipu have existed without an executioner (or execution), especially under the rule of the Mikado who is shown to be comically bloodthirsty?

My guess is Titipu must’ve been a tiny village that was only recently elevated to municipal status. That would gel with the Mikado’s threat to reduce it to village status if they don’t carry out an execution.

@rooprect said:

Thanks, it makes sense to me now. But it brings up another question: how could the town of Titipu have existed without an executioner (or execution), especially under the rule of the Mikado who is shown to be comically bloodthirsty?

My guess is Titipu must’ve been a tiny village that was only recently elevated to municipal status. That would gel with the Mikado’s threat to reduce it to village status if they don’t carry out an execution.

I remember from an opera version that I saw:

"Years ago when the Lord High Executioner retired, the council didn't appoint a successor, because there was no crime of any significance in Titipu, and they could save money by not paying the enormous salary attached to the position of 'the highest dignity that a citizen could attain'. When the Mikado issued his decree, forbidding flirting by unmarried persons, and anyone committing this crime would be decapitated, it became necessary for the council to find someone to fill the position of Lord High Executioner. "

@wonder2wonder said:

@rooprect said:

Thanks, it makes sense to me now. But it brings up another question: how could the town of Titipu have existed without an executioner (or execution), especially under the rule of the Mikado who is shown to be comically bloodthirsty?

My guess is Titipu must’ve been a tiny village that was only recently elevated to municipal status. That would gel with the Mikado’s threat to reduce it to village status if they don’t carry out an execution.

I remember from an opera version that I saw:

"Years ago when the Lord High Executioner retired, the council didn't appoint a successor, because there was no crime of any significance in Titipu, and they could save money by not paying the enormous salary attached to the position of 'the highest dignity that a citizen could attain'. When the Mikado issued his decree, forbidding flirting by unmarried persons, and anyone committing this crime would be decapitated, it became necessary for the council to find someone to fill the position of Lord High Executioner. "

SOLVED! Thanks!

PS I bet this must've been a real treat to see on stage.