A Chinese Honeymoon

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"A Chinese Honeymoon" is a musical comedy that was first produced in 1901, with a book by George Dance, lyrics by Harry Greenbank, and music by Howard Talbot. It was one of the earliest British musical comedies to achieve international success and has been credited with helping to popularize the genre.

The show tells the story of a young couple, Willie and Eileen, who decide to go on their honeymoon in China. However, their plans are complicated when they accidentally swap bags with a group of criminals, who are smuggling stolen jewels out of the country. The couple soon finds themselves embroiled in a series of comical misadventures as they try to avoid the authorities and recover their belongings.

The show features a variety of catchy songs, including the popular tunes "I'm Afraid to Come Home in the Dark," "My Little Octoroon," and "Tell Me, Pretty Maiden." It also includes a number of comedic set pieces, such as a sequence in which the characters dress up in Chinese costumes and perform a traditional dance.

Although "A Chinese Honeymoon" was hugely popular in its time, it is now considered to be a relic of a bygone era, with many of its jokes and cultural references being outdated and offensive by modern standards. Nevertheless, it remains an important milestone in the history of musical theater and has influenced many subsequent works in the genre.