''The Yashmak, A Story of the East'' is a

musical play Musical theatre is a form of theatrical performance that combines songs, spoken dialogue, acting and dance. The story and emotional content of a musical – humor, pathos, love, anger – are communicated through words, music, movement ...

, with a libretto by Cecil Raleigh and

Seymour Hicks Sir Edward Seymour Hicks (30 January 1871 – 6 April 1949), better known as Seymour Hicks, was a British actor, music hall performer, playwright, actor-manager and producer. He became known, early in his career, for writing, starring in and p ...

, adapted from an

Armenian Armenian may refer to: * Something of, from, or related to Armenia, a country in the South Caucasus region of Eurasia * Armenians, the national people of Armenia, or people of Armenian descent ** Armenian Diaspora, Armenian communities across the ...

operetta, ''Leblébidji Horhor'', which had been a success in 1896 in Constantinople. The music was composed by Napoleon Lambelet (1864-1932), and additional songs were composed by

Leslie Stuart Leslie Stuart (15 March 1863 – 27 March 1928) born Thomas Augustine Barrett was an English composer of Edwardian musical comedy, best known for the hit show '' Florodora'' (1899) and many popular songs. He began in Manchester as a church org ...

and others. ''The Yashmak'' was first produced at the original

Shaftesbury Theatre The Shaftesbury Theatre is a West End theatre, located on Shaftesbury Avenue, in the London Borough of Camden. Opened in 1911 as the New Prince's Theatre, it was the last theatre to be built in Shaftesbury Avenue. History The theatre was ...

in London from 31 March 1897 to 31 July 1897, for a run of 121 performances. Scott Russell, a former leading

D'Oyly Carte Opera Company The D'Oyly Carte Opera Company is a professional British light opera company that, from the 1870s until 1982, staged Gilbert and Sullivan's Savoy operas nearly year-round in the UK and sometimes toured in Europe, North America and elsewhere. The ...

tenor, left the

Savoy Theatre The Savoy Theatre is a West End theatre in the Strand in the City of Westminster, London, England. The theatre was designed by C. J. Phipps for Richard D'Oyly Carte and opened on 10 October 1881 on a site previously occupied by the Savoy P ...

to star in the production with Aileen D'Orme, who was later replaced by Marguerite Cornille, a music hall star. Kitty Loftus played Dora Selwyn, while

Topsy Sinden Harriet Augusta Sinden (1877–1950), known professionally as Topsy Sinden, was an English dancer, actress and singer. She was best known for her performances in Edwardian musical comedy and pantomime, both in London and on tour. Sinden was an ...

was principal dancer in the piece.''The Era'', 4 June 1898, p. 10 A

yashmak A yashmak, yashmac or yasmak (from Turkish ''yaşmak'', "a veil") is a Turkish and Turkmen type of veil or niqāb worn by women to cover their faces in public. Today there is almost no usage of this garment in Turkey. In Turkmenistan, however ...

is a double veil worn in Islamic countries. The first layer is drawn around the forehead and gathered up behind and on the head; the second, pinned on behind to the first, falls sufficiently in front to uncover the eyes.

References

External links

List of contributors to ''The Yashmak''
* ttps://web.archive.org/web/20100922193400/http://www.gabrielleray.150m.com/ArchiveTextC/MargueriteCornille.html Information about ''The Yashmak'' {{musical-theat-stub 1897 musicals West End musicals Musicals based on operas