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The Worlds of Gilbert and Sullivan

Reginald Fairfax is smitten with the geisha, O Mimosa San, but there are complications:

For example the pompous Marquis Imari, Governor and Chief of Police, is set to marry Mimosa, and Wun-Hi stands to lose his most important attraction of the House. Also Wun-Hi's French interpreter Juliette Diamant wishes to marry the Marquis herself. Additionally Lady Constance Wynne, leader of an English group in the country is outraged that Reggie is being unfaithful to Molly, his fiancé (at home). If that were not all, Mimosa's own true love Captain Katana is most unhappy with the situation. {Oh what a tangled web - but then, is life (or love) ever simple? And it made for good theatre!}.

Meanwhile Mimosa highlights in a  lovely song to Reggie, how a little lady goldfish describes her love for a sailor and . . . but perhaps you would prefer to sing it yourself:

The Amorous Goldfish
(Brief and beautiful intro . . .)

A goldfish swam in a big glass bowl,
As dear little goldfish do,
But she loved with the whole of her heart and soul
An officer brave from  the ocean wave,
And she thought that he loved her too!
Her small inside he daily fed
With crumbs of the best digestive bread,
"This kind attention proves", said she,
"How exceedingly fond he is of me . . .!"

And she thought "It's fit - fit - fitter
He should love my glit - glit - glitter,
Than his heart give away
To the butterflies gay,
Or the birds that twit - twit - twitter".

She flash'd her frock in the sunshine bright,
That officer brave to charm,
And he vowed she was quite a delightful sight,
So her spirits were gay, till he came one day
With a girl on his stalwart arm!
In whispers low they talked of love.
He begged for a rose and a worn-out glove;
But when they kissed a fond good-bye,
The poor little goldfish longed to die . . .!

And she sobbed "It's bit - bit - bitter
He should love this crit - crit - critter,
When I thought he would wish
For a nice little fish
With a frock all glit - glit - glitter".

That charming girl for a time upset
The officer brave and gay.
And his sad little pet he contrived to forget,
For with never a crumb did he chance to come,
So the goldfish pined away!
Until at last some careless soul
With a smash knock'd over the big glass bowl.
And there on the carpet, dead and cold,
Lay the poor little fish in her frock of gold . . .!

But her fate so bit - bit - bitter
Is a story fit - fit - fitter
For a sad little sigh
And a tear in the eye
Than a thoughtless tit - tit - titter!

Aahh! what a sad little song. But it's a lovely piece of gentle Eastern philosophy, and allegory, isn't it? (Students of English, discuss). Hope you enjoyed our arrangement of Sidney Jones' music. It is the declared favourite 'Geisha' song of one member of the MusicSmiles team!  Did you have a good sing?

Now, what about a taste of A Geisha's Life . . .?

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