A CHINESE HONEYMOON A musical play in 2 acts by George Dance Music by Howard Talbot Royal Strand Theatre, London October 5, 1901 Casino Theatre, Broadway - June 2, 1902 (376 perfs) STORY The Emperor seeks a bride who will marry him "for himself alone," so he despatches an English skipper, who has been promoted to the post of Lord High Admiral of the Chinese fleet, in search of such a woman. But the conditions are rather hard, for the high position of the Emperor is withheld, and the unlucky admiral has to pretend that he represents a billposter. The admiral returns from his quest without success. As a lingering death is the penalty of his failure it need hardly be said that he resorts to all sorts of expedients in order to avert the punishment. Some comical effects are obtained by making the abnormally tall Emperor think that he is betrothed to a diminutive "slavey" [a maid-of-all-work]. To these ingredients add a cockney tradesman married to a jealous wife who insists upon her four bridesmaids travelling with her for detective and protective purposes, a pair of young lovers, and quaint (even if imaginary) Chinese customs. MUSICAL NUMBERS: 1. Opening Chorus - "In Ylang Ylang where the ruby river rolls its billows" 2. Chorus Exit - "It's Roly Poly, Roly Poly, o'er the sea once more" 3. Song - Soo-Soo & Chorus - "In the days of the ancient long ago in a quaint little Chinese town" 4. Chorus - Entry of the Emperor, and Song - "Hail, hail, hail all hail!" 5. Reprise for Exit - "And this is the hand that seeks a mate" 6. Sextette - Mr. & Mrs. Pineapple & Bridesmaids - "Three months ago we stepp'd aboard a great big ocean ship" 7. Song - Mrs. Pineapple & Chorus - "The à la girl is an English girl with lots of à la ways" 8. Nursery Rhymes Sextette - Tom, Fi Fi, Hi Lung, Mrs. Brown, Yen Yen and Mr. Pine - "Sing a song of sixpence" 9. Song - Fi Fi & Chorus - "I'm awfully partial to music, so I bought a piano one day" 10. Finale Act I - "Gather, gather, man and maiden come with bridal blessings laden" 11. Act II Opening Chorus - "With weary hearts we wait about, the bride to greet" 12. Song - Fi Fi & Chorus - "Some people sigh for beauty and some yearn for this and that" 13. Song - Soo Soo & Chorus - "Dolly was a baby just as others may be, with a pair of eyes of blue" 14. Song - Mr. Pineapple - "I dreamed a dream the other night, I thought that I had flown..." 15. Octette - Emperor, Yen, Tom, Soo Soo, Mr. & Mrs. Pineapple, Fi Fi & Hi Lung - "There's nothing like a little pat" 16. Chorus - "Welcome, official mother-in-law, let the cymbals clang" 17. Duet - Soo Soo & Tom - "Along the way where lovers go the roses EMPEROR: What is the law on the subject of Admirals disappointing their Emperors? CHIPPEE CHOP : There isn't one. EMPEROR: Then go in the corner and think one out.
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy ODU3MzQ=