The Mousmé: History and Key Facts

The Mousmé; or The Maids of Japan is an Edwardian musical comedy in three acts with a book by Alexander M. Thompson and Robert Courtneidge, lyrics by Arthur Wimperis and Percy Greenbank and music by Lionel Monckton and Howard Talbot, premiered in 1911 at the Shaftesbury Theatre, London. The musical was next staged in Tokyo (at the Tokyo Imperial Theater), and in Yokohama and Osaka, Japan, in 1912.

It is an example of Japonisme, during a time of high popularity of everything Japanese in Europe. In the development and production of the musical, efforts were made to create an authentic depiction of Japanese culture through stage and costume design and plot elements. The music, however, was almost completely Western, with a few allusions to Asian musical styles.

Source and attribution

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