The Yashmak

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The Yashmak, A Story of the East is a musical play, with a libretto by Cecil Raleigh and Seymour Hicks, adapted from an Armenian operetta, Leblébidji Horhor, which had been a success in 1896 in Constantinople. The music was composed by Napoleon Lambelet (1864-1932), and additional songs were composed by Leslie Stuart and others. The Yashmak was first produced at the original Shaftesbury Theatre in London from 31 March to 31 July 1897, for a run of 121 performances. Scott Russell, a former leading D'Oyly Carte Opera Company tenor, left the Savoy Theatre to star in the production withAileen D'Orme, who was later replaced by Marguerite Cornille, a music hall star.

A yashmak is a double veil worn in Islamic countries. The first layer is drawn around the forehead and gathered up behind and on the head; the second, pinned on behind to the first, falls sufficiently in front to uncover the eyes.