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Sybil Cunningham loves Reggie Armitage of the Royal Navy. She has followed him from England to Japan partly to escape an unpleasant engagement in London. They have asked his father's consent to their marriage, and in the meantime, he has arranged for a modest house for her to stay in. His father the admiral, however, has decided that Reggie must marry a wealthy but vivacious American, Cornelia Vanderdecken. Sybil disguises herself as a Japanese girl and hides from Cornelia, and Reggie's friend, Chippy helps her keep up the pretense. But Sybil is distressed to see Reggie with Cornelia and runs away tearfully. Fortunately, Reggie's servant, Sin Chong, and Sybil's cousin, Betty, reveal the true situation to Sybil. In the end, Sybil returns to Reggie, Betty pairs off with Sir Horatio (who will agree to anything she wants), and Chippy lands Cornelia's heart.

It is only a little love story, the slender plot of which is unfolded, without the slightest pretence at anything really "serious", in three short dainty scenes. At the rising of the curtain we find ourselves peeping into a deliciously cool and cosy bungalow somewhere on the sunny shores of Japan. In a bamboo hammock reclines the pretty heroine whose name is Sybil Cunningham, and who, without any other preamble, proceeds to explain her presence by singing very sweetly the following verses:
It was just an old world village near an English country town,
It was just at eve in autumn when the leaves are showing brown,
And the maiden stood awaiting for her lover to confess,
Till he breathed a whispered "Will you?" and she softly answered "Yes."
It was just a twelvemonth later with her lover far away,
It was just a lonely maiden growing paler day by day,
Till there came a tender message from an easterly address,
Saying" Come to me, my darling," and again she answered "Yes."

Thus do we soon learn that Sybil, accompanied by a captivating widow, Betty Kenyon, for companion, has come out to Japan partly to escape a marriage which is not to her liking, and principally to be near Lieutenant Reggie Armitage, the man who had sworn to love none but her a year ago in England. And here, in this flower-scented Eastern retreat, where Reggie quite innocently installs his fair sweetheart until "promotion" shall enable him to marry her, it is arranged that Sybil shall pass temporarily as a "Japanesy" girl and be known as 0 San, "The White Chrysanthemum." It may be that Reggie would never have bolted to Japan (in which case Sybil could never have followed him) if it were not for the fact that his strong-willed father had made up his mind that his son should marry Miss Cornelia Vanderdecken, a wealthy American heiress; and, doubtless, you will better imagine than I can describe the consternation in this beautiful bungalow when a bombshell comes down upon Reggie in the unexpected arrival of his dad, who is no less a personage than the gallant Admiral in command of the China Squadron.

"For goodness sake, hide yourself, Sybil," implores Reggie distractedly. And, greatly wondering, the poor girl disappears only just in time. A few moments later the Admiral makes his entry accompanied by a handful of men from His Majesty's ship "Terrible" and the American heiress to whom his undutiful son is "officially" affianced. Whilst the father is affectionately shaking Reggie's two hands he is suddenly interrupted by a beautiful and unknown girl who rushes in wildly from an adjoining room, and remarks that "there is no room in the cupboard and I can't get under the bed."

The fat, of course, is in the fire, but the situation is momentarily saved by the audacious mendacity of a brother officer, a Lieutenant Chippendale Belmont, familiarly known as "Chippy." This blundering "Johnnie," in a well-meant effort to help his friend Reggie, tells the Admiral that the bungalow, its Chinese servant Sin Chong, and the beautiful "White Chrysanthemum" all belong to him.

Although the Admiral is not easily bluffed he at length believes this explanation and forthwith commands "Chippy" to go down to the ship and order preparations for the immediate marriage of Reggie and Cornelia. Matters thus go from bad to worse, and to Reggie the end of all things has come when Sybil, who has seen him with Cornelia, believes her lover to be false and goes tearfully away. Fortunately the loquacious Chinese servant and the widow between them soon convince Sybil of her mistake, and in due course she returns to fall into the arms of Reggie and seek his forgiveness.

In the end it is "Chippy" who captures the young lady from America. The pretty widow pairs off with the old Admiral, who, having fallen head over heels in love with her, is ready to consent to any number of happy unions, to say nothing of his willingness to bestow his blessing on those happiest of children - Sybil and Reggie.

The autbors of "The White Chrysanthemum," which was produced at the Criterion on August 31st, 1905, are Mr. Leedham Bantock, a comedian who has served many years under the banner of Mr. George Edwardes, and Mr. Arthur Anderson, who has also turned out some exceedingly neat lyrics. Mr. Howard Talbot's music is both charming and melodious, and he may fairly claim a goodly share of the congratulations that were showered upon all concerned. Many of his pretty numbers fall to the heroine, Miss Isabel Jay, who gives them, as may be expected, the most delightful interpretation. The little tiff between the lovers gives an opportunity for a telling little number of the sentimental type, the singing of which Miss Jay makes particularly effective, and the refrain of which is:
0, wandering breeze,
0, birds on the trees,
Come to me, comfort me now,
How may I recover
The love of my lover?
Come to me, comfort me, tell me how!

One is quite carried back to happy days at the Savoy, for besides Miss Jay the cast includes Mr. Henry A. Lytton and Mr. Rutland Barrington, both of whom, you may be sure, are warmly welcomed. Other favourites in this strong company are Miss Millie Legarde, Miss Marie George, Mr. Lawrence Grossmith and Mr. M. R. Morand.

Act I - A Bungalow on the Sea Shore, Japan
No. 1 - Overture
No. 2 - Prelude and Song - Sybil - "It was just an old-world village..."
No. 3 - Duet - Sybil and Betty - "A White Chrysanthemum."
No. 4 - Song - Reggie - "There's a dear little lady I love..."
No. 5 - Song - Sybil - "The butterfly and the flower."
No. 6 - Song - Sin Chong, with Japanese Girls - "Just when-ee day is dawning..."
No. 7 - Duet - Sybil and Reggie - "When you are my very own..."
No. 8 - Finale Act I - (during dialogue)

Act II - A Chrysanthemum Garden outside the Bungalow
No. 9 - Introduction to Act II
No. 10 - Quintet - Cornelia, Reggie, Chippy, Admiral and Lee - "Hide and Seek."
No. 11 - Song - Chippy - "I've never been in love before..."
No. 12 - Duet - Admiral and Betty - "As you have accepted my suggestion..."
No. 13 - Concerted Number - Sin Chong and Chorus - "Little Japanesee if you wishee pleasee..."
No. 14 - Song - Cornelia - "The only pebble on the beach."
No. 15 - Finale Act II

Act III - Reggie's Snuggery in the Bungalow
Nos. 16 & 17 - Prelude to Act III, and Song - Reggie - "You can't please everybody always..."
No. 18 - Concerted Number - Sin Chong and Chorus - "When little boys and girls are good..."
No. 19 - Song - Sybil - "Time was when my love was kind to me..."
No. 20 - Song - Cornelia - "Down by an old plantation homestead..."
No. 21 - Duet - Cornelia and Chippy - "Suppose we settle down and take a house in town..."
No. 22 - Recitation Music (Betty) - "A Hint."
No. 23 - Song - Admiral - "I've traversed the sea from a far distant shore..."
No. 24 - Sextet - Sybil, Cornelia, Reggie, Chippy, Admiral and Betty - "We've got to settle the parson..."

Admiral Sir Horatio Armitage, K.C.B. (baritone)
Lieut. Reginald Armitage (His son) (baritone)
Lieut. Chippendale Belmont (Reggie's friend)
Sin Chong (Reginald's Chinese servant)
Cornelia Vanderdecken (An American heiress)
Betty Kenyon (A young widow, Cousin to Sybil)
Sybil Cunningham (Known as O San, "The White Chrysanthemum") (soprano)

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