CHU CHIN CHOW Book and Lyrics - Oscar Asche : Music - Frederic Norton Opened His Majesty's Theatre, London August 1, 1916 (2238 peformances) Manhattan Opera House October 22, 1917 (208 performances) THE STORY: Chu Chin Chow is based on the tale of Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves. The setting is themagnificent Eastern palace of Kasim Baba who welcomes the Chinese merchant Chu Chin Chow. He is, in fact, not who he seems to be but the rascally Abu Hasan, a robber come to glean information that will enable him to rob his host. Hasan has a slave, Zahrat, already spying in the palace. She has made friends with Kasim's chief wife, Alcolom, who in turn is loved by Kasim's poor brother, Ali Baba. Another friend is the slave maid Marjanah who loves Ali's son, Nur Al-Huda. The downfall of Kasim would solve a lot of problems! Marjanah recognises Abu Hasan and enlists him in a scheme to get rid of Kasim - she wants her freedom and Alcolom wants to be with her beloved Ali. In exchange, Abu Hasan's identity will not be disclosed. Kasim entertains his guests royally. Abu Hasan tries to buy Marjinah as intended, but drunken Ali Baba offers a fortune, forty thousand gold pieces, - which he does not possess - to buy her for his son. The offer is accepted. Next morning, Ali can't remember anything, but wakes up in a cactus grove with a hangover. Meanwhile, Marjinah and Nur Al-Huda are preparing to escape when they overhear Abu Hasan and his men coming out of a concealed rock entrance. Abu has ordered Zahrat's lover, Omar, to be brought to the desert to ensure her loyalty to him. When the robber band has left, Marhjanah and Nur tell Ali about the concealed cave, its treasure and its password - "Open Sesame". Later the incantation works for the three as well. Now they can acquire enough money to buy Marjinah from Ali. At the sale, Chu Chin Cow believes his identity has been revealed by Zahrat. He proposes to put Zahrat to death. She exposes his real identity and he leaves with her, his robbers and all the bid money. Ali visits Kasim, his brother, tells him of the cave and brings the promised bid money for Marjanah, who can now wed Nur. The lovers return to the cave, where they discover a chained Zahrat. They are unable to release her as Kasim is ushered in. He goes mad at the sight of the treasure but is captured by Abu Hasan and put to death. Hasan has brought along Zahrat's lover to die with her. Eventually Zahrat is freed; the robbers are killed by boiling oil, and Hasan is stabbed to death. All that remains is for the young lovers to be united - and so are Ali and Alcolom. ORIGINAL CAST: • Abu Hasan - the sheik of the robbers - OSCAR ASCCHE • Kasim Baba - a wealthy merchant - JAMES HERBERT • Ali Baba - his poor brother - COURTICE POUNDS • Alcolom - Kasim's head wife - AILEEN D'ORME • Mahbubah - Ali's wife - SYDNEY FAIRBROTHER • Bostan - Mahbubah's Servant - ANNIE MOORE • Nur al-Huda Ali - Ali's son - J.V. BRYANT • Marjanah - a slave - VIOLET ESSEX • Zahrat al-Kulaub - a slave - LILY BRAYTON • Baba Mustafa - a cobbler - FRANK COCHRANE • Abdullah - Kasim's steward - NORMAN WILLIAMS • Mukbil - An auctioneer - W. DAVIDSON • Otbah - A stall-keeper - WILLIAM HOLLES • Musab - member of Abu Hasan's band - SPENCER LLOYD • Khuzaymah - member of Abu Hasan's band - JULIAN CROSS
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