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The Worlds of Gilbert and Sullivan

In a show full of show-stoppers, this was the show-stopper of them all.

Wun-Hi,in charge of entertainments, has a real whinge about his lot as the manager of the 'House of Ten Thousand Joys'. This delightfully daft little ditty about the woes of a Chinaman in Japan turned out to be the most enduring piece of the whole score. If you can't stop simultaneously singing, dancing and laughing, then you've joined Sidney (and the MusicSmiles team) in enjoying The Geisha . . .

Chin Chin Chinaman
(short, enchanting intro)

Solo: Chinaman no money makee
Allo lifee long!
Washee-washee once me takee
Washee-washee wrong!
When me thinkee stealee collars
P'licee-man-ee come;
Me get finee fivee dollars - 
Plenty muchee sum!

Solo: Chin chin Chinaman
Muchee muchee sad!
Me afraid Allo trade
Wellee wellee bad!
Noee joke - 
Brokee broke - 
Makee shuttee shop!
Chin chin Chinaman,
Chop, chop, chop!

Chorus (SATB): Chin chin Chinaman
Muchee muchee sad!
He afraid Allo trade
Wellee wellee bad!
Noee joke - 
Brokee broke - 
Makee shuttee shop!
Chin chin Chinaman,
Chop, chop, chop!

Solo: When me gettee catchee cheatee
Playing piecee card,
Chinaman they allo beatee - 
Kickee wellee hard!
When me takee nicee placee
Makee plenty tea,
Gettee me in more disgracee - 
Up they sellee me!

Solo: Chin chin Chinaman
Muchee muchee sad!
Me afraid Allo trade
Wellee wellee bad!
Noee joke - 
Brokee broke - 
Makee shuttee shop!
Chin chin Chinaman,
Chop, chop, chop!

Chorus (SATB): Chin chin Chinaman
Muchee muchee sad!
He afraid Allo trade
Wellee wellee bad!
Noee joke - 
Brokee broke - 
Makee shuttee shop!
Chin chin Chinaman,
(wait for it!)¹
Chop, chop, chop!

Dance . . . with double surprise ending!

We dedicate this number to Nick, who managed to wring more fun (and audience laughs) out of it (on and off stage) than we ever thought possible! (Excuse the pun!).

Would you like to return to The Geisha . . .?

Footnote 1:    The 'musical hesitations' are not identified in the 1896 vocal score. But they must have been introduced early in the show's progress, and are still a powerful theatrical tool today. Return to story.

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