Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-04-11

HNHB Matinee Musical Club members
i will give delightful afternoon in the
Rose Gardens Of the Bellevue -stratford
today, when THE Pagoda of Flowers" a
Burmese story In song. will be sung. The
story was written by John Frederick
Fraser and has been set to music by Amy
Woodforde-F'lnden. This afternoons will
be the initial performance In the United
States, in costume and with stage setting.
The argument OF the song story is as
follows; Preceding the events explained
by the lyrics. Oomala, young Burmese.
betrothed OF Ma Moo, filled with religious
fervor. and in his heart resolved TO be-
come a Poongyi buddhist priest, has bid
den Ma Moo a sudden, strange farewell,
that only half revealed his full intention.
The marriage day passes oomala does
not come to claim his bride. Deserted and
desperate Ma Moo, unwilling to accept
the rumored truth, sets forth on pilgrim
age, praying that her beloved may be
restored to her
The action Of the story passes upon
the grounds of what Is intended to rep
resent the famous Shwe Dagon Pagoda
In RanBoon.
IL is morning and the people come in
gay costumes to offer prayers before the
ehlgles or Buddha, and later, depart to
celebrate with dance and song the merry
holiday.
The happiness of Ma Nee. the little
Hover maiden, and the songs sung by
her and Chit Maung, her boy lover. are
In contrast to the dsspairing note of Ma
Moo, in whose secret heart there fingers
little hope of answer to her oft-said pray
ers
The pilgrims having all departed from
the shrines. Oomala is now seen leav-
ing the pagoda with a procession of
priests. He drops unObserved from them,
and remains alone TO brood and mediate.
Thus, while Oomala is engaged in prayer
and meditation. Ma Moo returns and finds
J. her lover Blind in her happiness at find
ing him again. she does not grasp at
first the cruel truth, and. fearful of dis
turbing his meditations. cautiously makes
her way TO the 'Pagoda of Flowers"
where she awaits him. He finishes, where
upon she eagerly advances to him. Rec
ognizing her. he turns again to Buddha
for strength to forget her, and finally re-
tires to the temple for prayer. He bars
the sacred door Ma Moo vainly tries to
force it. and, In desperation. goes to the
window. where she discovers that his
robes are those of a Pyin-Sin monk-and
that he Is lost to her.
Resolved to cod her misery, Ma Moo
bids last farewell and seizes a dagger
(called "dah'), and is about TO end her
unhappy life, when Oomala. emerging,
seeing what she Is about TO do, Wrests
the 'iah' from her grasp. The man IN
him Is stronger than the priest. ana
triumphant love at last Is conqueror.
Oamala divests himself Of his priestly
gown. and together the lovers. cloaked
in the twilight mist. steal from the
pagoda and fly hand in hand to the far
distant rice fields of the north, where
once they parted by the Star-Flower tree.
The program is as follows:
/. Ca) Opening Chorus qS worgnhipSrs I'll aon ,roaa
@ Passing Of the % Gss Gsss's FTom e the TEsmHle
. ta) TrIo,;Isudd3lstr PRAYER. "Awsatha'
9 o' s99GH' sa9E sIidst sS 5''iS the Fotais Your
4. t> sonE RFG''$f in Ny ii.sacaaared Tray Are
NV Roses .,,.......'..'. Miss Ne rnSIeS aes
20, % 2sS:% ss ks56 Ny FSsasSts Nc 700
cN "osl Joy; for Here the Sos!
,o "Alas2, sfea Alassj' come, Toe
I. Ia, Song "BsiS bSSs Priest Beside M the "o
n, "Say, snT,nf Live. Ma Noo' ooomGiS 600 iaf
toj "Humbly Kneel TO Kiss Thy "
cD Duet "4S; hSve MA %'s Soo rssd' SSd oomsa ms
s. cAo Duet: TO Live, to ,d Lqye. Noo and ooma,.
tb) Chorus lin the dlstance):
flsssGnhS f'p and uP S0s%sn your st steps @ to-day;
All the city goes 10 pray.
Dramatis personae-oomala, Mr.. Lewis
]. Howell Chit Maung. Mr. James Daven-
port Ma Nee Miss Edna Florence Smith
Ma Moo. Miss Kathryn Meisle.
Solo trIo-Nrs. John Thompson Miss
Anna B. Smith and Mr. F. Forderer.
Danssuse-MIss 'Thusnelda Tholey
Chorus-Mrs George w. Edmonds, Miss
Barnett Smith, Miss Gilmore Gitteloon,
Miss Thusnelda Tholey. Mrs, John B.
Becker, Miss Lillian Hyslop. Miss Florence
A. wadas, Miss Ethel l.. Short, Miss
Edith Niethammer. Mrs. John Thompson,
Miss Dorothy Wolff, Miss Ann Thompson.
Mr.. Thomas Murphy, Mr.. Jack Painter,
Mr.. Ronald Marsans, Mr. James Muir. Mr..
William Connolly, Mr.. Robert Jack, Mr.,