Synopsis
Book by Roger Alford
Music and Lyrics by Hal Stephens
Based on the film by D.W. Griffith and the story ìThe Chink and the Childî by Thomas Burke
East London, 1905. The residents of the Limehouse District feel trapped in their daily lives. Their one escape is during LIMEHOUSE NIGHTS, when the bars and opium dens open their doors. Cheng Huan, a young Chinese student, arrives with his guardian, Tai Fu. On their way to Tai Fuís shop, they run into local pugilist ìBattlingî Mack Burrows and his fellow Thugs, who taunt them with a little ditty (THE CHINAMAN SONG). Burrows breaks Tai Fuís leg after he refuses to fight back. Cheng Huan doesnít understand, and Tai Fu explains that there is no justice for them there.
The next morning, Cheng Huan already has deep regrets about coming to London (WHAT IS THIS PLACE?). He meets a local opportunist, Charlie Woo, who knows everyone and everything about Limehouse. Cheng Huan tells Charlie that his father, Lord Cheng, has sent him to England to learn first-hand about Western thought and teachings to better prepare him for the encroachment of Western civilization upon China. Charlie explains that the best way to get along there is to DO AS THE ENGLISH DO. He teaches Cheng Huan the basics of English customs, and suggests that he take an English name, ìHenry.î Cheng Huan disagrees, knowing that as soon as he finishes as the University, he will return to his homeland.
Five years later, ìHenryî Cheng is still living in London, depressed that despite having finished school years ago, his father still hasnít sent for him (TRAPPED IN THIS PLACE). He spends his days working in Tai Fuís shop and his nights at the local opium den. Tai Fuís daughter, Tai Songlian, longs to bring joy back into his life, but he doesnít notice her feelings toward him. Instead, he is infatuated with a poor, battered English girl, Lucy Burrows. He watches her in the market each day (DOES ANYBODY SEE THAT GIRL?), though he dares not speak to her, and doesnít even know her name. He also doesnít know that she is Battling Burrowsí daughter.
Battling Burrows hasnít changed a bit, and spends his days drinking in the local pub, bragging to his friends and girls, Molly and Dolly about his prowess in and out of the ring (GORILLA OF EAST LONDON). Burrowís manager, Chuck Lightfoot, berates him for boozing and carousing, threatening to keep him out of the ring. Burrows goes home and takes his anger out on Lucy, before storming out again. Lucyís only escape from Burrowsí daily abuse is a storybook about a young Princess stolen away by an evil Ogre and rescued by a handsome Prince, ESMERELDAíS FOREST.
In the market the next day, Henry Cheng again watches Lucy from afar (DOES ANYBODY SEE THAT GIRL?, Reprise). Songlian wonders why he doesnít look at her in the same way. Tai Fu is visited by a fellow Merchant, Abdul Ali, who has just returned from China. Henry piques him for information, and learns that his father was killed in the rebellions, his home burned, and his mother and the other concubines taken by another Lord. Henry realizes that he is now TRAPPED IN THIS PLACE (Reprise) for good. He races off to the opium den, where he attempts to escape his sorrows in OPIUM DREAMS.
Early the next morning, Lucy wakes from wetting her bed. She attempts to wash the sheets before her father gets up, but is too late. He beats her mercilessly, and she stumbles out into the early morning fog, then collapses in the street near Tai Fuís shop. Henry finds her on his return from the opium den, and carries her up to his room. Charlie Woo watches from the shadows.
Henry tends to Lucyís wounds and puts her in his bed (SLEEP WELL, WHITE BLOSSOM). When she wakes hours later, he attempts to talk to her, but she cowers away and refuses to speak. After he leaves to get her something to eat, Lucy searches for her book, but finds that she has lost it.
Songlian talks to her father about Lord Chengís death, Henryís future, and hints at her desire to be his bride. Tai Fu says that Henry has brought dishonor upon himself by visiting the opium den and lying down with whores. Songlian says that she loves Henry, and intends to marry him even if she has to denounce her family and culture.
Songlian catches Henry on his way back to his room, and senses that he is hiding something. He is very evasive, and she eventually storms off in anger. Henry takes Lucy her food and attempts once again to talk to her. She finally tells him her name. After he leaves to work in the shop, Lucy makes up her own happy ending to the storybook (ESMERELDAíS FOREST, Reprise).
Songlian notices that Henry has stopped visiting the opium den. She confronts him during morning Tai Chi. He is very edgy due to withdrawals, and snaps back at her. Henry returns to his room to find Lucy washing her sheets in the handwashing bowl. He is short-tempered and abrasive. She cowers away and screams for him not to beat her. Henry wrestles her to the ground to keep her quiet, promising that he wonít hurt her. Songlian hears her scream and insists that Henry let her in, but he refuses, and she leaves. As Henry holds Lucy, he notices just how threadbare her clothes are, and offers her an ornate Chinese robe. She is shy and embarrassed, but he appeals to her imagination and teaches her how to be SOMEONE ELSE to find her hidden beauty.
Charlie Woo meets with one of Burrowís Thugs to reveal Lucyís whereabouts in exchange for money. The Thug agrees to set up a meeting.
Henry can no longer bear his withdrawals, so he leaves Lucy alone and returns to the opium den. He is desperate for the pipe, but refuses the girls, and offends the Dragon Lady who runs the den. While Henry is away, Lucy sits BY THE WINDOW and wonders why Henry has shown her so much kindness.
Arriving home, Henry is stopped by Charlie Woo. Charlie tells him who Lucyís father is and urges Henry to send her away. Songlian overhears and begs him to do the same, realizing that Henry has put all of their lives at risk for keeping Lucy. Henry refuses, and says that he will stand up to Burrows to protect Lucy.
The next night, Charlie Woo meets with Burrows, and attempts to arrange a deal. Burrows threatens to kill Charlie and demands to know Lucyís whereabouts. Charlie tells them. Burrowsí Thugs, armed with chains, corner Henry on his way to the opium den (THE YELLOW MAN). Henry fights them off and races home to save Lucy. He arrives to find his room destroyed and Lucy gone. Charlie returns, claiming Burrows forced it out of him, and tells Henry where Burrows lives.
Burrows takes Lucy home and beats her to near death. Henry rushes in, too late to save her, and faces off with Burrows. He kills Burrows with a crushing blow to his wind pipe.
Henry carries Lucy back to his room and holds her tightly. She asks why he has been so kind. He tells her that he loves her and kisses her softly. She smiles, never having known such love, and dies in his arms. As the police close in, convinced that he has killed both Lucy and Burrows, Cheng Huan accepts his place as Lord Cheng, follower of the Dragon Throne, student of Kung-fu Tzu, and worshipper of Buddha (THE YELLOW MAN, Reprise). Then he plunges a dagger into his heart.
Songlian, Tai Fu, the Thugs, and Police rush in to find Cheng Huan and Lucy lying together. The Thugs snicker, saying Cheng Huan got what he deserved. The Police see the shame of it all, commenting that Lucy was ìa pretty girl.î The Police tell everyone to leave until the Coroner arrives. Songlian stays behind a few minutes, and asks Cheng Huan, ìWHY DID YOU HAVE TO LOVE THIS GIRL?
Copyright 2000