Princess Chrysanthemum

Horowhenua Chronicle, 15 December 1913, Page 2

Princess Chrysanthemum

SYNOPSIS UE THE LIBRETTO

Tlio story of Princess (Jhrysan<themum, the Japanese operetta which is to be produced in the Century Hall on Tuesday next (to-morrow) is as follows: The princess, who is a daughter ol the Emperor of Japan, has just come of ayej.and high festival is being h.eld at the Japanese cuuri in honour.of the occasion. One of the maiden's duties on this day is to choose a husband. Two princes are rival suitors fur Ji.or' hand. One of those, Prince So Tru, is one of a noble Samurai family, and at the court fete appears in the picturesque armour of ancient, feudal Tapan. The oilier, Prince So Sli, is a parvenu prince, wiih modern ideas and appears in I lie uniform of an admiral of the fleet. The audience is not left long in doubt as to which the princess really favours; but, as her father favours the suit' of the other. Prince So SK, she hesitates about making a public choice. Enraged #t her showing more favour to his rival, Pnnce So Sli calls to his aid Saucer-eyes, a wizard cat, who carries her off

to the Cave of Inky JNight, when he will keep her till she consents to marry Prince So Sli. By means of a magic ring she calls to her aid Fairy Moonbeam, but just when the latter is going to help her out of her difficulties she drops the ring and can't find it. The Fairy then vanishes, and Saucer-eyes with, his sprites comes in and jeers at her. Great consternation is causca at court

y the disappearance of the princess, and Prince So Xru-at once sets out to find.her, lollowed soon after by the Emperor ;md his followers." He arrives at the Cave of Inky Night ana finds the princess's ring, which lie recognises. While handling the ring he rubs it, and Moon-beam with her band of fairies enters. She leads Prince So'Tru to where the princess is hidden. The Emperor and his followers come to the cave, take Saucer-eyes and his impish folloAvers prisoners, and return with them to court. Under threat of torture Saucer-eyes confesses what he has done, and blames Prince So Sli. They are both ordered oft' to execution, but at the critical moment the princess appears, accompanied by Prince So Tru and" the fairies. The princess -begs her father to spare Saucer-eyes and So Sli, which he does, and then, amid general rejoicings, songs and dances the princess is given by her father to Prince So Tru.