The Sho-Gun is a comic opera in two acts with book and lyrics by George Ade and music by Gustav Luders. It was produced by George F. Marion at Wallack's Theatre, New York, on 10 October 1904.

Dramatis Personæ

Musical Numbers

ACT I   -   In front of the ancestral temple, outside of the city walls
and near the Gate of Victory, of the Forbidden City of Kachoo.

• No. 1 - Opening Chorus - "Sho-Guns were they!  Hail to the natal day!  Let us all unite in singing praises to the mighty Ming! ..."
• No. 1a - Recitative - Shaman - "Come, let us ask a benediction from the proud spirit of our mighty dead..."
• No. 2 - Song - Moozoo-May and Chorus - "The rose of June can feel no sorrow, if never droops or says: 'Ah, me!' ..."
• No. 3 - Entrance of Hanki-Pank - "Each day I most devoutly thank the gods for making Hanki-Pank a person of such sterling worth..."
• No. 4 - Chorus of Bachelors and Song - Tee-To - "We scoff at the man who sits at home with junior on his knee..."
• No. 5 - Entrance of Maids of Honor, with Hunni-Bun, Hi-Faloot & Kee-Otori - "We are the chums of Hunni-Bun at a private female college..."
• No. 6 - Ballad - Tee-To - "How often in this careless life a word but lightly spoken, by magic of a love sincere becomes a blessed token..."
• No. 7 - Quartette - Hunni-Bun, Hi-Faloot, Tee-To & Kee-Otori - "Observe the loving mother bird up in the spreading tree..." (4 verses)
• No. 8a - Chorus of Soldiers - "We are a mercenary lot of Oriental rangers, ready to join in any plot that's quite devoid of dangers..."
• No. 8b - Entrance of Spangle - "Wherever British drum-beats sound, unending round the world..." (3 verses)
• No. 9 - Mourners' Chorus and Song - Widow Omee-Omi - "See where she comes, broken-hearted, life is but an empty dream..."
• No. 10 - Duet - Omee-Omi and Spangle - "Tell me, if you can, the rule by which a man selects his worse or better half..."
• No. 11 - Finale Act I - "What ho!  What ho!  What ho!  What ho!  Lay hold upon this bold invader..."

ACT II   -   The Wistaria Garden of the Forbidden City.

• No. 12 - Opening Chorus - "June is a love-song, sweet is the measure;  time for idle leisure, time for jest and pleasure..."
• No. 13 - Song - Hunni-Bun and Chorus - "'Tis said that, in the vernal season, the young man's fancy lightly turns to thoughts of love..."
• No. 14 - Duet - Hunni-Bun and Tee-To - "When I settle with my hubby in our little home..."
• No. 15 - Korean Dance - "Ah!  Ah!  Ah!  Ah!  Ah!  Ah!  Oh lo-lo lo,  Oh lo-lo lo.  Hiko hiko teeah teeah hiko san goban..."
• No. 16 - Song - Spangle and Girls - "Back in the golden days of youth on a farm in I-o-way, happiest days of all were they..."
• No. 17 - The Wedding Ceremony - Ensemble - "Let us cheer them with our blessing, for they soon will be departed..."
• No. 18 - Entrance of Flai-Hai - "If you wonder why our king does not come before us..."
• No. 19 - Song - Flai-Hai and Chorus - "As the ruler of my party I made up my royal mind..."
• No. 20 - Duet - Omee-Omi and Spangle - "In a wood lived Brother Rabbit, of a most flirtatious habit..."
• No. 21 - Song - Ensign Beverly and Male Chorus - "When the jackies come ashore to work or play..."

 MIDI files

External Link

Vocal Score at the Internet Archive

American Musical Theatre

Page modified 9 March 2017