A condemned man negotiates his own execution for a month of love — with jazz hands.
In a small Japanese town, Ko-Ko is appointed to the unenviable position of executioner. Knowing he must successfully perform before the appearance of the Mikado in a month's time, Ko-Ko finds a suitable victim in Nanki-Poo, who is distraught over his unrequited love for the maiden Yum-Yum. Nanki-Poo agrees to sacrifice his life if he is allowed to spend his remaining days with Yum-Yum, who is betrothed to Ko-Ko. Esgee Productions' live taping starring Australian singer-songwriter Jon English.
Acting
Jon English's gloriously smarmy Poo-Bah steals every scene.
Production
Esgee's maximalist 90s aesthetic — neon, kimonos, and sheer commitment.
Writing
Gilbert's razor-sharp lyrics still slice through modern ears.
Director
Craig Schaefer
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
This 1996 Australian production was part of a late-90s boom in 'proshot' musicals, preserving stage performances for home video when Broadway touring was financially inaccessible Down Under.
Jon English, already a rock star in Australia, reportedly learned Japanese pronunciation phonetically from a dialect coach who had never seen the show — the resulting 'Japanesque' gibberious was intentional chaos.
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