"THE GEISHA”

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 79, Issue 281, 30 November 1935, Page 11

"THE GEISHA”

LAST NIGHT TO-NIGHT THE BEST OF MUSICAL COMEDY To-night wijl afford the public of Wanganui and surrounding districts the last opportunity to see that appealing musical comedy, “The Geisha,’’ which is being staged by the Wanganui Amateur Musical and Dramatic Society at the Opera House. Three excellent audiences have seen the play since it opened and have complimented the society on its choice and on the success with which the cast, chorus and orchestra have acquitted themselves. Undoubtedly the music of “The Geisha” is outstanding, and its humour and settings leave a lasting impression of charm. The story itself is interesting: The “Tea House of Ten Thousand Joys,” under the proprietorship of that lovable rascal, Wun Hi, sheltered behind its wisteria-covered portals the charming Geisha, O Mimosa San, the “Pride of all Japan.” To her conies an English officer, Reginald Fairfax, who, though engaged to the playmate of his youth, Molly Seamore, succumbs to the Eastern girl’s charms. This arouses the of her Japanese lover, Captain Katana, and also the ire Of the Marquis Imari, who wishes to marry her “not for her gratification’’ but for his own. The Marquis Imari, as Chief of Police, vents his rage upon Wun Hi by cancelling the licence of the tea house and ordering the sale of ail the Geishas/ intending to buy O Mimosa San for himself. Lamentations resound throughout the land, but I marl ’s scheme is frustrated by Lady Constance Wynne, who, visiting Japan in her yacht and acting as chaperon to Molly, outbids the Marquis for the “Pearl of the Radiant Eastern Sea.” Meanwhile, Molly, who, wishing to teach Reggie Fairfax a lesson, has dressed herself in Japanese costume, finds herself “put up for auction” as a Geisha and “knocked down to the amorous, but easily consoled, Imari, who transfers his attentions to her in spite of the seductive appeals of Juliette, a French girl employed in the tea house. The second act takes place in the grounds of the palace of the Marquis, where preparations are tak-

ing place for the marriage of Molly and Imari. To his cost, the Marquis finds that complications arise; complications which, while uniting happy pairs of lovers, prompt him to remark: “1 suppose every man is disappointed with his wife at some time or other.” “The Geisha” will be repeated tonight for the last time and it is expected that all who so far missed seeing so fine a play will make a point of attending when the Opera House will respond to the ten thousand joys emanating from that quaint, wisteriadecorated tea house near that radiant Eastern sea The plan is at the D.I.C. and trams will wait till after the performance at ordinary fares.