The White Chrysanthemum

Isabel Jay in the title role

The White Chrysanthemum is an English musical in three acts by Arthur Anderson and Leedham Bantock, with lyrics by Anderson and music by Howard Talbot). It opened at the Criterion Theatre, produced by Frank Curzon, on 31 August 1905 and ran for 179 performances. The Japanese-themed musical starred Isabel Jay, Rutland Barrington, Lawrence Grossmith (a son of George Grossmith), and Henry Lytton. Louie Pounds later joined the cast. The musical enjoyed various international productions including one at the Kings Theatre in Melbourne, Australia in 1917 starring Barry Lupino.

[edit] Roles and original cast

Admiral Sir Horatio Armitage, K.C.B. (baritone) - Rutland Barrington
Lieut. Reginald Armitage (His Son) (baritone) - Henry Lytton
Lieut. Chippendale Belmont - Lawrence Grossmith
Sin Chong (Reginald's Chinese Servant) - M. R. Morand
Cornelia Vanderdecken (An American Heiress) - Marie George
Betty Kenyon (A Young Widow, Cousin to Sybil) - Millie Legarde
Sybil Cunningham (known as O San, "The White Chrysanthemum") (soprano) - Isabel Jay

No. 1 - Overture
No. 2 - Prelude and Song - Sybil - "It was just an old-world village..."
No. 3 - Duet - Sybil and Betty - "A White Chrysanthemum."
No. 4 - Song - Reggie - "There's a dear little lady I love..."
No. 5 - Song - Sybil - "The butterfly and the flower."
No. 6 - Song - Sin Chong, with Japanese Girls - "Just when-ee day is dawning..."
No. 7 - Duet - Sybil and Reggie - "When you are my very own..."
No. 8 - Finale Act I - (during dialogue)

No. 9 - Introduction to Act II
No. 10 - Quintet - Cornelia, Reggie, Chippy, Admiral and Lee - "Hide and Seek."
No. 11 - Song - Chippy - "I've never been in love before..."
No. 12 - Duet - Admiral and Betty - "As you have accepted my suggestion..."
No. 13 - Concerted Number - Sin Chong and Chorus - "Little Japanesee if you wishee pleasee..."
No. 14 - Song - Cornelia - "The only pebble on the beach."
No. 15 - Finale Act II

Nos. 16 & 17 - Prelude to Act III, and Song - Reggie - "You can't please everybody always..."
No. 18 - Concerted Number - Sin Chong and Chorus - "When little boys and girls are good..."
No. 19 - Song - Sybil - "Time was when my love was kind to me..."
No. 20 - Song - Cornelia - "Down by an old plantation homestead..."
No. 21 - Duet - Cornelia and Chippy - "Suppose we settle down and take a house in town..."
No. 22 - Recitation Music (Betty) - "A Hint."
No. 23 - Song - Admiral - "I've traversed the sea from a far distant shore..."
No. 24 - Sextet - Sybil, Cornelia, Reggie, Chippy, Admiral and Betty - "We've got to settle the parson..."