Escaping from a distasteful marriage Nanki-Poo the son of the Mikado arrives in the town of Titipu - disguised as a musician. He has chosen Titipu because a beautiful girl Yum-Yum with whom he has fallen in love lives in the town. A desire to marry Yum-Yum however is not enough. Nanki-Poo has to contend with her guardian Ko-Ko the Lord High Executioner who has every intention of marrying Yum-Yum himself. Problems are compounded when the Mikado accompanied by Katisha Nanki-Poo's jilted bride also arrive in the hitherto peaceful town of Titipu