Pauline Chase as The Little Japanese Girl

Pauline Chase (1885-1962), American actress, as she appeared in the title role of the 1 Act play, The Little Japanese Girl, adapted from the Japanese by Loie Fuller and first produced at the Duke of York’s Theatre, London, on 26 August 1907.
(photo: Bassano, London, 1907).

Other members of the cast were Edward Sass as the Prince and Jane May as the Princess. The piece ran for 49 performances. Pauline Chase appeared again in The Little Japanese Girl at the London Coliseum in the summer of 1911.

* * * * *

‘PAULINE CHASE AS A STAR.
‘She Makes a Great Success in London in a Play by Loie Fuller.
‘Special Cable to THE NEW YORK TIMES.
LONDON. Aug. 26 [1907]. – Miss Pauline Chase made a brilliant success this evening in Loie Fuller’s one-act play, ”The Little Japanese Girl,” produced at the Duke of York’s Theatre under the management of Charles Frohman.
‘Among her most enthusiastic admirers were Oscar Lewisohn and his wife, (A HREF=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edna_May>Edna May,) who came to London from the country specially to witness the performance.’
(The New York Times, New York, 27 August 1907, p. 7)

‘Pauline Chase is now appearing in a one-act play by Loie Fuller, entitled ”The Little Japanese Girl.” Miss Chase has become so closely identified with the English stage that the British public has come to regard her as its own.’
(The Washington Times, Third Section, Woman’s Magazine, Washington DC, 8 September 1907, p. 8d)

* * * * *

London, week beginning Monday, 24 July 1911
‘At the Coliseum this week Miss Pauline Chase will appear with three others in Miss Loie Fuller’s one-act play A Little Japanese Girl, with music by Mr. John Crook.’
(The Times, London, Monday, 24 July 1911, p. 10d)

London, 2 August 1911 ‘Pauline Chase came an awful cropper at the Coliseum, where she is appearing in a Japanese play previously done in pantomime by Hanako. It is called ”A Little Japanese Girl,” and it deals with the vanity of a little laundress who put on a Princess’s kimono and rouged her face. She was mistaken for the princess and killed by an outraged princely lover. When the curtain descended on the act at the opening afternoon, there was none insistent ”hand” and Pauline took a bow where she needn’t have troubled. It seems as though ”Peter Pan” will have to be revived.’ (Variety, New York, Saturday, 12 August 1911, p. 15b)

Edna May’s wedding party

Edna May (1878-1948), American musical comedy actress, star of The Belle of New York, is married

Mrs and Mrs Oscar Lewisohn on their wedding day with guests, Ascot, 4 June 1907
left to right, seated: Mrs Pettie (Mrs Lewisohn’s mother) and Gertie Millar
left to right, standing: unknown, Jane May (Mrs Lewisohn’s sister),
unknown, Pauline Chase, unknown, Edna Lewisohn (Edna May) and Oscar Lewisohn
(photo: Bassano, Ascot, near Windsor, Berkshire, 4 June 1907)

‘EDNA MAY WEDDED.
‘Exciting Chase by Motorcars to Registry Office at Windsor.
”’I AM VERY HAPPY.”
‘Miss Edna May, the Belle of New York, has adopted her last rôle – that of Mrs. Oscar Lewisohn, the Copper Queen.
‘The marriage of the popular actress to the son of an American millionaire took place at the office of the Windsor superintendent registrar. The anxiety of the bride and bridegroom to avoid a public ceremony occasioned some amusing incidents. Few people knew where the ceremony was to take place. A host of motor-cars accordingly lay in ambush outside the bride’s residence, Torwood, at Ascot.
‘The watchers were rewarded, for shortly after ten o’clock a motor-car, in which were the best man and Miss May’s sisters, came out of the grounds and sped swiftly away on the Windsor road. A few seconds late a big red car followed. Miss Edna May was immediately espied nestling among the cushions, and the powerful cars of those in waiting sprang forward in pursuit.
‘Miss May, who was accompanied by her mother and Mr. Lewisohn, was the first to discover the pursuit. Dismayed at first, she subsequently became vastly amused, and in the first stage of the run looked repeatedly out of the observation window with that same bewitching expression which drew shout after shout from delighted audiences when, as the Salvation Army girl, she sang ”Follow On.”
‘Nervous Bridegroom.
‘The bride was wearing a close-fitting dress of crêpe de Chine, heavily embroidered with white lace. Round her neck was a string of magnificent pearls, and her demure little face looked still more demure in the picturesque setting of a Romney picture hat.
‘Mr. Lewisohn’s nervousness was most apparent, especially when he took from his waistcoat pocket the golden ring to place on the finger of his bride. Miss May was calm, although tears glistened in her eyes.
‘Standing face to face with Miss May, Mr. Lewisohn made the usual declaration:
”’I do solemnly declare that I know not of any lawful impediment why I, Oscar Lewisohn, may not be joined in matrimony to Edna May Titus.”
‘The bride then made a similar vow, and Mr. Lewisohn followed with:
”’I call upon these persons here present to witness that I, Oscar Lewisohn, do take Edna May Titus to be my lawful wedded wife.”
‘Miss May pronounced similar words, and the ring was then placed on her finger. The register – wich was signed by the whole party -gave the following particulars:
”’Oscar Lewisohn, twenty-two years of age, son of Leonard Lewisohn, deceased. Address, Torwood, Ascot, Berks.
”’Edna May Titus, twenty-eight years of age, divorced wife of Frederick Titus, formerly Edna May Pettie, daughter of Edgar Cory Pettie. Address, 1, Cadogan-place, London, S.W.”

Edna May
(photo: Lallie Charles Ltd, 67 Curzon Street, London, W, circa 1907)

‘Cheers greeted the bride and bridegroom as they emerged from the office, and on the steps Mrs. Lewisohn stopped to accept a small bouquet from Miss W. Jefferies, a girl of fifteen, well known in Windsor as a clever amateur actress.
‘Later a number of well-known theatrical people arrived at Ascot by special train from London, and participated in the wedding breakfast, which was laid out in a large marquee on the lawn. Meanwhile, congratulations poured in over the telegraph wire.
‘When the health of the bride and bridegroom were drunk, Mrs. Lewisohn said:
”’I am very, very happy. My husband is also, I am sure.”
‘The happy couple subsequently left for the Continent, where they will make a long honeymoon tour in a motor-car.’
(Weekly Dispatch, London, Sunday, 9 June 1907, p. 5e)