''The Sho-Gun'' is a 1904 comedic opera written by
George Ade
George Ade (February 9, 1866 – May 16, 1944) was an American writer, syndicated newspaper columnist, librettist, and playwright who gained national notoriety at the turn of the 20th century with his "Stories of the Streets and of the Town", a ...
and composed by
Gustav Luders.
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.
Synopsis
Businessman William Henry Spangle leaves Iowa and arrives at the Korean island of Ka-Choo in the
Sea of Japan
The Sea of Japan is the marginal sea between the Japanese archipelago, Sakhalin, the Korean Peninsula, and the mainland of the Russian Far East. The Japanese archipelago separates the sea from the Pacific Ocean. Like the Mediterranean Sea, it ...
during the island's ruler Sho-Gun Flai-Hai's absence on a pilgrimage to
China
China, officially the People's Republic of China (PRC), is a country in East Asia. With population of China, a population exceeding 1.4 billion, it is the list of countries by population (United Nations), second-most populous country after ...
.
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.
Performance history
''The Sho-Gun'' was produced by
Henry W. Savage and debuted at the Davidson Theater in
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Milwaukee is the List of cities in Wisconsin, most populous city in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. Located on the western shore of Lake Michigan, it is the List of United States cities by population, 31st-most populous city in the United States ...
on March 31, 1904. It ran at
Wallack's Theatre
Three New York City playhouses named Wallack's Theatre played an important part in the history of American theater as the successive homes of the stock company managed by actors James W. Wallack and his son, Lester Wallack. During its 35-year ...
and other U.S. cities from October 10, 1904 to January 21, 1905, with 125 performances.
Christie MacDonald
Christie MacDonald (February 28, 1875 – July 25, 1962) was a Canadian-born American musical comedy actress and opera singer. She was perhaps best remembered as the Princess of Bozena in the 1910 operetta ''Spring Maid''. The 1913 musical ' ...
was one of the cast members during this run.
In December 1905, the play was performed at the
Grand Opera House in Seattle, Washington.
In March 1953, the play was performed by students in
South Bend, Indiana
South Bend is a city in St. Joseph County, Indiana, United States, and its county seat. It lies along the St. Joseph River (Lake Michigan), St. Joseph River near its southernmost bend, from which it derives its name. It is the List of cities in ...
.
Reception
''The Sho-Gun'' received positive reviews from critics during its initial run, with ''
The Minneapolis Journal
''The Minnesota Star Tribune'', formerly the ''Minneapolis Star Tribune'', is an American daily newspaper based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. As of 2023, it is Minnesota's largest newspaper and the seventh-largest in the United States by circula ...
'' and ''
The New York Times
''The New York Times'' (''NYT'') is an American daily newspaper based in New York City. ''The New York Times'' covers domestic, national, and international news, and publishes opinion pieces, investigative reports, and reviews. As one of ...
'' giving it high marks.
The "Korean Dance" portion from act two of the opera was later adapted and published separately to sheet music as "Hi-Ko, Hi-Ko".
References
Further reading
*
External links
*
1904 operas
Operas set in Korea
Musicals by Gustav Luders
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