The Oakes times. [volume] (Oakes, N.D.) 1906-current, 1917-02-15
SCHOOL 0PERETTA
FEBRUARY 22nd
ALL ABOUT "LlTTLE ALMOND
EYES"-SYNoPSis AND CAST
Between Acts Are Specalties Highly
Pleasing and Of High
Order

U CLOCK, Will OCCUR Ine IDurtn annual
public school operetta. Little Almond
Eyes," in the nature Of comic opera,
will be presented by the local talent.
The principals and chorus have been
rehearsing for some time, costumes
have been ordered and scenery is in
preparation to make the production
one of the very best yet given Under
the auspices of the schools. The set
ting is Chinese, the costumes are
Chinese and much OF the music has a
Chinese flavor"
Tickets will go on sale at tie Vari-
ETY. Store, Saturday morning, Feb.
18th. Reserve seats will he free. Th,
entertainment will start promptly at
o'clock. A matinee FOE children and
out-of-town people will be given in the
afternoon at 2:3O. The admission for
this will be 25c for adults, 1Oc for
children.
The between-acts features for this
year will be of the same high stand
ard. The first grade will present a
dramatization of cinderella" The
fourth grade, represented by four boys
and four girls, will give flag drill in
keeping with the patriotic feelings OF
the day.
The argument for the operetta fol-
lows:
Each year the viceroys of the prov j.
inces of Cathay send the fairest maid
ems of the land to Pekin as the pros.
pective brides of the Emperor; from
them he selects his wives. Little AL
mond Eyes is among them by her ia
theirs command, and against her wish.
She has no desire to become Empress,
for she loves WangHo, a gallant sol
dier who has left her to seek fame and
fortune for her sake. Waiting with
her companions in the Imperial gar.
dens she wins their sympathy with
her story. When they hasten away to
put the finishing touches to their ap.
pearance, she remains in the garden
Ping-Po enters with the captain of
the guard. In him Almond Eyes t.c.
ognizes her lover, Wang-Ho, and hides
behind the shrubbery. From their con.
versation she learns that her father
had sent Wang-Ho word that she was
dead, and that the latter loves her
still. Overjoyed, she hopes to escape
notice when the Emperor makes his
choice of brides, but resolves not to
reveal herself to Wang-Ho until the
danger be past. Courtiers and pros.
pective brides now fill the garden
awaiting the Emperor's appearance
10 while away time Ping-Po directs
rehearsal OF the approaching cere.
mony. He suddenly discovers that all
have forgotten their fans, dreadful
breach of etiquette, and leads the way
to the fannery. Almond Eyes, who in
the meantime has fallen asleep in her
hiding place, is seen by the Emperor
passing through the garden alone on
his way to the palace. Impressed by
her beauty, he makes a mental note
OF her number-13-and decides that
she shall be his bride.
Courtiers and maidens now return
shortly after them the Emperor. AT.
ter the edict which threatens with
death any man who "has loved, does
love or will love" any of the prospec.
tive brides of his majesty has been
read, the Emperor explains what his
ideal is, and chooses Little Almond
Eyes as the nearest approach to it,
She refuses the honor and when he
presses her for reasons, says she will
only disclose them in confidence. The
Emperor dismisses all save his cap
tain OF the guard; and Almond Eyes
confesses her love for Wang -Ho. The
Emperor threatening him with death
ms desire. to assure Almond Eyes OF
his faithful love leads him to gag his
Imperial master and tie him to the
throne. He has convinced his sweet
heart OF his sincerity when the EN-
peror, ridding himself of the gag, calls
Tor help. The court returns; Wang-Hc
is arrested and led off to prison to die
the next day.
1t is the following day. ALMOND
Eyes. surrounded by attendants, is
sadly waiting in the garden for the
Emperor and the Chief Bonze, who is
to perform the ceremony. She deplo1es
her fate, and says she will not wee
the Emperor. Ping-Po is touched b,
her unhappiness and determines that
she and Wang-Ho shall yet be uni.ei
Sending off the courtiers and maidens
to attend their master, he takes Al
mond Eyes, Lotus Leaf ana Wang-Hc
(who, bound and helpless. is 10 wit
ness the marriage of his swee.:,eart)
into his confidence, and concocts 8
scheme by which the E.uperor's super
stitions are to be aroused until he dare
not marry Almond Eyes. Miss Lotus
Leaf. disguised as Dooma, the proph
etess of Pang-Wah, is to bring the