Two Merry Monarchs

About the show

In the kingdom of Esperanto, King Paul orders a year-long ban on kissing unless people buy a license. His adopted daughter, Princess Cynthia, is in love with Charmis, governor of police, while the visiting King Utops of Utopia is expected to marry her. Paul plans to use Cynthia’s poisoned kiss to bargain with Utops for an antidote to mortality. Utops reveals that he was Paul’s assistant when they discovered the Elixir of Life, making them both immortal. The kings agree to duel by drinking from two glasses, one containing water and the other a liquid that makes its drinker mortal. Charmis switches the drinks while the kings are blindfolded, and both drink the Elixir. Cynthia and Charmis become king and queen of Esperanto; Mandamus becomes king of Utopia, Utops becomes his chief justice, and Paul becomes Charmis’s governor of police. The kissing law is repealed, and Iris chooses herald Helvanoise over former postmaster Rolandyl.