“THE GEISHA.”

Gisborne Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 3658, 21 October 1912, Page 7

“THE GEISHA.”

STORY OF THE PLAY

The play opens in the garden of the tea liou.se of Ten Thousand Joys, owned by a Chinaman named Wun .Hi, and the rising curtain disclose* the principal geisha, viz Blossom (Mrs Wilson), Chrysanthemum (Mrs Bain), Nami (Miss M. Law), Golden Harp (Miss L. Nicolas), and Little Violet (Mrs Dods) idly sipping tea brought to them and the "guests by the mousmes (Misses Blair, R. and M. Malcolm, Skinner Hain, Toomath, and McKay. The opening chorus describes a day in a tea-house and what a happy country Japan is. The five geisha sing “'Shall We Sing You” and the opening dialogue reveals the fact that Mimosa is the star attraction of the tea-house. Wun Hi (Mr Bayliss) arrives and complains of the geisha idling away their time, but his complaint is interrupted by a warning that the English officers are coming, and th<? chorus herald their advent with the

number “Here They Come.” The naval officers, Lieuts. Fairfax (Mr Jackson), Cunningham (Mr Dods), Cuddy (Mr Teat), Grunston (Mr Langridge), and Midshipman Tommy Stanley (Mr Skeet) arrive on the scene. Fairfax explains the teahouse and goes to find Mimosa. The other officers pair off with the principal geisha and Cunningham, in “Jappy Jap Jappy” describes the adventures of a Jack Tar in Japan. The officers strole off and Wun Hi calls Juliette (Miss Ina Sweet), a French girl, whom he has just engaged as an interpreter, and instructs her in her duties. This is interrupted by the arrival. of the Marquis Imari (Mr Irvine) with his servant Takemine (Mr Turner). ’The Marquis is Governor of the Province and Chief of Police, and he announces his intention of marrying Mimosa, much to Wun Hi’s dismay. Juliette sets her cap at the Marquis and is allowed the privilege of walking half-way home with him. A pary of English ladies, Ethel (Mrs Buscke), Louie (Miss O’Rourke), Marie (Miss Bull), and Mabel (Miss Penney) arrive at the tea-gardens under the chaperonage of Lady Constance Wynne (Miss McCredie). While they are looking around Mimosa is heard singing in the tea-house, and they withdraw to listen. 0 Mimosa San (Miss Elsie Nicolas) comes on with Fairfax and sings the “Amorous Goldfish,” their little tete-a-tete is m-r terrupted by the English ladies, and Lady Constance tells Fairfax she is going to inform Molly, his fiancee, of this flirting with a geisha. The English depart and Fairfax, in the “Kissing Duet” describes to Mimosa how a European kiss is given and received. Captain Katana (Mr Wilson), who is Mimosa’s lover, arrives and is jealous of Fairfax, but his wrath is appeased by Mimosa explaining a kiss to him. The officers and geisha return from their wanderings and sing the concerted number “If you will Come to Tea.” The Marquis comes back seeking Mimosa and finds her on the balcony with Fairfax; he flies into a rage and announces his intention of selling up the show. The geisha and attendants are very upset by this, and give rent to their woe in a doleful “Chorus of Lamentation.” The English party return and say they will stop the threatened sale. They sing “We’re going to call on the Marquis” and leave with the intention of doing so. Wun Hi begs of Fairfax to try and defeat the Marquis’s plans, but "is interrupted by the arrival of (Molly Seamore (Mrs Irvine) who is Fairfax's fiancee. She had hired a coolie (Mr Hennessey) and rickshaw, hut not liking the coolie in front, had put him in the rickshaw to give him a ride, but had emptied him out. (Molly accuses Fairfax of flirting with * tne geisha, which he indignantly denies. They sing the “Joy Duet” and Fairfax takes her for a ridm Jiliette tells Lady Constance of Fairfax's flirtations with Mimosa and suggests that the best way to get Mimosa away from him would be for Lady Constance to buy the chief geisha at theYiuction sale. Lady Constance informs Molly of Fairfax’s fickle ways, and in a fit of pique Molly gets Mimosa to disguise her as a geisha (Rolli Poll), thinking it fine fun, but Mimosa sings “A Geisha’s Life” pathetically revealing that it is not all as Molly imagines. The English party return from calling on the Marquis, and Cuddy sings “Jack’s the Boy.” The Marquis arrives with his guards, and peremptorily proceeds to sell up the whole of Wun Hi’s property, including the geisha. (Mimosa is sold first and after strenuous bidding between Imari and Lady Constance, the English lady secures Mimosa. The next to be sold is Molly disguised and unrecognised by hej English friends. She sings “Chon Kina” and is bought by the Marquis—much to the annoyance of Juliette (who has been scheming to marry the Marquis herseii). Sunset comes and all foreigners have to leave the gardens. Katana bids good-bye to Mimosa. The English chaff the Marquis about being beaten in the bidding for Mimosa, but the threatened quarrel is stopped by the chorus singing “Please to Go” and the departure of the English officers and ladies with Mimosa, leaving Molly i \ the (Marquis possession, unknown fo themselves, and the first act concludes.

—Act II

The curtain reveals the grounds ot tne Marquis Imari’s palace, where a chrysanthemum fete is to be he : d to celebrate the wedding of the Marquis and Rolli Polli (Molly). The opening chorus “Day Born of' Lc-ve,” invites the good wishes of the gods. The Marquis and hij intended brdc Molly have a scene in which, she explains the English kiss in quite n d ifferent fashion to the way »n w.no'i Fairfax showed Mimosa,'and then, 1 »> singing “A Monkey on a Stick”, explains the mess she has made of things by her mad prank. Wun Hi, who is now penniless, and Juliette arrive and scheme to make some money by rescuing Molly from the Marquis. They sing a duet “Ching a Ring-rce” illustrate their methods of doing so. Hie Marquis arrives and rages at Wun Hi. However, he softens down and gives Wun Hi permission to assist a i the wedding festivities. The Engbsb

party approach in search of Molly, and Juliette explains what lias happened. Mimosa comes seeking her new owner, Lady Constance, and sings “The Jewel of Asia.” Wun Hi then propounds to Fairfax a scheme for rescuing Molly and is well-paid for doing so. Fairfax, 'despairing of getting Molly out of the Marquis’s clutches, sings “Star of my Soul.” Mimosa, Wun Hi, Cunningham, and Fairfax then put their heads together to help Molly’s escape, and sing “What Will the Marquis Do?” Mimosa gets permission from Lady Constance to appear at the wedding festivities, which now commence. The Chinaman obliges with an item “Chin Chin,” and then a fortune-teller arrives. Tlie Marquis is induced to admit her, and reluctantly agrees to draw a card. The fortune-teller is Mimosa in disguise, and she forecasts anything but a pleasant prospect for Imari. She shows an escape from the awful fate threatening him, and obtains permission to see Molly. Acting on Mimosa’s advice Molly pretends that her feelings towards the Marquis have changed, and the Marquis allows her to have Juliette as a bridesmaid. (Molly sings the .“Interfering Parrot” and leaves to prepare for the ceremony. Wun Hi endeavors to get into the Palace to see Molly, but his cleverly-conceived plan is frustrated by the guards. The wedding ceremony commences and Molly enters, veiled under the bridal canopy. Mimosa substitutes Juliette for Molly under the canopy, and when the Marquis appears and impatiently rushes through the Japanese marriage rite, lie finds himself wedded to Juliette. Molly is thus restored to Fairfax and Katana and Mimosa arc re-united.