| The Sho-Gun | |
|---|---|
| Comic opera by Gustav Luders | |
 Poster | |
| Description | A Comic Opera in Two Acts |
| Librettist | George Ade |
| Language | English |
| Premiere | |
web The Sho-Gun is a 1904 comedic opera written by George Ade and composed by Gustav Luders. [1] [2] [3]
Set on the fictional Korean island of Ka-Choo, the plot revolves around the arrival of William Henry Spangle, an American businessman, amidst the serene, tradition-bound island ruled by Sho-Gun Flai-Hai.
Businessman William Henry Spangle leaves Iowa and arrives at the Korean island of Ka-Choo in the Sea of Japan during the island's ruler Sho-Gun Flai-Hai's absence on a pilgrimage to China.
Spangle, a whirlwind of financial acumen and chewing gum promotion, disrupts the island's tranquility with his audacious schemes and relentless advertisements for his "Spangles Goo-Goo" product. He rapidly accumulates land and influence, even captivating the widow of the previous Sho-Gun.
However, upon his return, Flai-Hai is incensed by the cultural upheaval and the U.S. presence. He finds his domain transformed, his authority challenged by the enterprising American and his island overrun by sailors and marines. Facing resistance from Spangle and his newfound unionized executioners, Flai-Hai ultimately relinquishes his position, paving the way for Spangle's temporary reign.
Faced with execution, Spangle leverages his influence over the executioner's union, ultimately leading to Flai-Hai's abdication. A landing party from the U.S. Navy arrives, only to find Spangle in absolute control. The deposed Sho-Gun recognizes Spangle's royal lineage, granting him legitimacy through a royal decree which affirms his own noble lineage. Spangle soon relinquishes his island holdings and returns to his beloved Iowa, leaving behind a grateful Tee-To and a forever-altered Ka-Choo.
The Sho-Gun was produced by Henry W. Savage and debuted at the Davidson Theater in Milwaukee, Wisconsin on March 31, 1904. It ran at Wallack's Theatre and other U.S. cities from October 10, 1904 to January 21, 1905, with 125 performances. [4] Christie MacDonald was one of the cast members during this run. [5]
In December 1905, the play was performed at the Grand Opera House in Seattle, Washington. [6]
In March 1953, the play was performed by students in South Bend, Indiana. [7]
The Sho-Gun received positive reviews from critics during its initial run, with The Minneapolis Journal and The New York Times giving it high marks. [8] [9]
The "Korean Dance" portion from act two of the opera was later adapted and released separately to sheet music as "Hi-Ko, Hi-Ko". [10] [11] [12]
Annie Get Your Gun is a musical with lyrics and music by Irving Berlin and a book by Dorothy Fields and her brother Herbert Fields. The story is a fictionalized version of the life of Annie Oakley (1860–1926), a sharpshooter who starred in Buffalo Bill's Wild West, and her romance with sharpshooter Frank E. Butler (1847–1926).
The Korean Empire, officially the Empire of Korea or Imperial Korea, was a Korean monarchical state proclaimed in October 1897 by King Gojong of the Joseon dynasty. The empire stood until Japan's annexation of Korea in August 1910.
George Ade was an American writer, syndicated newspaper columnist, and playwright who gained national notoriety at the turn of the 20th century with his "Stories of the Streets and of the Town", a column that used street language and slang to describe daily life in Chicago, and a column of his fables in slang, which were humorous stories that featured vernacular speech and the liberal use of capitalization in his characters' dialog.
Shōgun is a military rank and historical title in Japan.
Richard Mansfield was an English actor-manager best known for his performances in Shakespeare plays, Gilbert and Sullivan operas, and the play Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde.
Sam Bernard was an English-born American vaudeville comedian who also performed in musical theatre, comic opera and burlesque and appeared in a few silent films.
The Broadway Theatre is a Broadway theater at 1681 Broadway in the Theater District of Midtown Manhattan in New York City. Opened in 1924, the theater was designed by Eugene De Rosa for Benjamin S. Moss, who originally operated the venue as a movie theater. It has approximately 1,763 seats across two levels and is operated by The Shubert Organization. The Broadway Theatre is one of the few Broadway theaters that is physically on Broadway.
The Hippodrome Theatre, also called the New York Hippodrome, was a theater located on Sixth Avenue between West 43rd and West 44th Streets in the Theater District of Midtown Manhattan in New York City. The theater operated from 1905 to 1939 and was called the world's largest theater by its builders, with a seating capacity of 5,300 and a stage measuring 100 by 200 feet. It had state-of-the-art theatrical technology, including a rising glass water tank.
Henry Wilson Savage was an American theatrical manager and real estate entrepreneur.
Jessie Bartlett Davis was an American operatic singer and actress from Morris, Illinois, who was billed as "America's Representative Contralto".
Wang is a musical with music by Woolson Morse and book and lyrics by J. Cheever Goodwin. It was first produced in New York in 1891 by DeWolf Hopper and his company and featured Della Fox.
Events from the year 1904 in the United States.
Events from the year 1905 in the United States.
Ida Hawley was a musical comedy actress and soprano singer from Canada who worked in the U.S.
Henry Vogel was an American actor and bass-baritone singer who originated several roles on the Broadway stage during the first two decades of the Twentieth Century.
Gustav Carl Luders, sometimes written Gustave Luders, was a musician who wrote the music for various songs and shows in the U.S. He was born in Bremen, Germany. He came to the U.S. in 1888 and lived in Milwaukee and then Chicago. He was known for his musical comedies. His The Prince of Pilsen was adapted into the film The Prince of Pilsen.
Gus C. Weinberg was an actor, writer, and composer who appeared in early-twentieth-century American films. He also had theatrical roles during his career. Weinberg lived in Milwaukee but traveled widely, appearing in several lead roles in touring shows in the United States and London. Some of the songs he wrote became popular.
Frank S. Pixley was an educator, newspaper editor, playwright and lyricist. He partnered with Gustav Luders, Pixley writing words and lyrics and Luders the music for several shows. American Musical Productions describes the team as Pixley and Luders became the Rodgers and Hammerstein of the 1900s.
MILWAUKEE, March 31. -- 'The Shogun,' a new comic opera by George Ade and Gustav Luders, was produced for the first time, under Henry W. Savage's management, at the Davidson Theatre to-night. The opera proved a pronounced success. The scenes are laid in Korea, and the production is well staged.
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