Scene 1: The vicar Mr Gedge, the schoolteacher Miss Wordsworth, the police superintendent Mr Budd and Mr Upfold, the mayor of Loxford, gather at the home of Lady Billows to discuss who should be chosen as this year’s May Queen. Numerous girls are ruled out as morally unsuitable by Florence Pike, Lady Billows’s housekeeper.

Eventually, the idea of a May King is proposed and accepted. The suggested candidate is Albert Herring who, with his mother, runs the local greengrocer’s shop.

Scene 2: Sid, who works in the butcher’s shop, encounters Albert at the greengrocer’s. The arrival of Sid’s girlfriend Nancy makes Albert nervous and uncomfortable. Later, the committee calls at the shop to inform Albert of his election as King of May. Albert is indifferent to the honour and the accompanying cash prize of £25. His mother, by contrast, is delighted.

Scene 1: At the May Festival, Sid and Nancy lace Albert’s lemonade with rum. He is duly crowned King of the May and, stumbling over his speech of acceptance, is struck by hiccups.

Scene 2: Later that evening, Albert returns home, elated by his success and by the effects of the drink. Overhearing Sid and Nancy talking about him outside the shop, he contemplates life beyond the confines of his current existence. Tossing a coin, he decides to go out and enjoy himself. When his mother comes back she hears no sound from Albert and concludes that he must already be asleep.

By the following afternoon Albert is still missing and it is presumed that he has met with a fatal accident. His eventual reappearance upsets those who are prematurely mourning his death. Albert gives a brief description of his night of debauchery. Finally he confronts his mother and asserts his independence and authority.