ACT I

      Prince Tamino is chased by a huge serpent when he is saved by the Queen of Night’s Ladies-in-Waiting.  He faints from fright and they disappear.  He wakes to the Queen’s bird catcher, Papageno who lies and says he killed the snake.  The Ladies return and padlock Papageno’s mouth for lying.  While there, they show a portrait of Pamina, the Queen’s daughter, to Tamino and he instantly falls in love.  Tamino vows to free her from her captor, Sarastro, and he is promised her hand upon her return.  The Ladies appear and remove Papageno’s padlock.  He and the prince are given magical chimes and a magic flute by three spirits to aid them in their journey to find the princess. 

      The scene changes to the palace of the Priest of the Sun, Sarastro.  Pamina is there and is being pursued by Sarastro’s head slave, Monastatos.  Papageno accidentally barges in and scares Monastatos away.  He assures Pamina she will soon be saved by her new love.  The finale takes place in a grove among three temples.  Tamino is led there by the three spirits, and he soon learns that Sarastro is not the evil enemy.  Soon after, Pamina, Papageno, and Tamino are all captured by Monostatos.  Papageno remembers his magic chimes and uses them to set Monostatos and the other slaves dancing so the three captives can make their escape.  Pamina and Tamino finally meet and fall deeply in love.  Sarastro sends them to the Temple of Ordeal to prove they are worthy of higher happiness.   
 

ACT II

      Tamino and Papageno must go through ordeals to worthy of entering the Temple of Light, thus skewing the Queen’s schemes.  Sarastro prays the two will be worthy.  They give a vow of silence, and are true to their vow even when the Three Ladies appear, therefore successfully passing the first ordeal.  The scene changes to a garden, and the Queen forces a dagger upon her daughter with the command to kill her enemy, Sarastro.  Monostatos knows of this plan and threatens Pamina, but Sarastro enters and saves her just in time.  In the hall, Tamino and Papageno are still silent.  The meet an old crone who calls herself Papageno’s sweetheart-to-be.  She disappears and Pamina enters overjoyed to see her love, but is distraught at his silence. 

      The scene changes again, this time to a vault.  Papageno is granted one wish, but wastes it on wine.  The old crone appears again and reveals herself to be a young feathered woman; the perfect match for Papageno.  He is warned that he not yet worthy of her.  The Three Spirits are singing in a garden when they discover the now suicidal Pamina who believes Tamino no longer loves her.  She is comforted and brought in for Tamino’s final initiation.  He can finally speak to her freely.  She has gained a maturity about her and guides Tamino through the ordeals.  In the end, they are welcomed into the Temple by Sarastro.  Papageno has a comic scene of mock suicide, paralleling the serious trials of Pamina and Tamino.  At the Temple, Monostatos who is now united with the  Queen, seek revenge on Sarastro.  Their appearance is countered by a flood of light, and the forces of the night are driven away, and there is much celebration for the initiates.