Chu Chin Chow

• Original London Production (1916)
  London, England
• Broadway Production (1917)
  New York, NY
• Broadway Revival (1919)
  New York, NY
• Film Version (1923)
• Film Version (1934)
• Australian Revival (1980)

Click on the title for info on the song.

Original score

• Here Be Oysters
• I Am Chu Chin Chow
• Cleopatra's Nile
• I'll Sing and Dance
• Corraline
  • aka Serenade [no note]
• When a Pullet Is Plump
• We Are the Robbers of the Woods
  • aka The Robber's March [no note]
• All My Days Till End of Life
• Temperamental am I
• Behold!
• Desert Song
• I Long for the Sun
• Mahbubah
• I Built a Fairy Palace in the Sky
• The Song of the Scimitar
  • aka The Scimitar [no note]
• Anytime is Kissing Time
  • aka Anytime's Kissing Time [no note]
• The Cobbler's Song
• We Bring Ye Fruits
• From Cairo, Baghdad, Khorasan
• Desert Prayer
• How Dear is Our Day
• Olive Oil
• Wedding Procession

Added to Broadway production

• Javanese Dance
• My Head, My Head
• I Love Thee So
• Dance
• Hail the Grand Wazir
• Jewel Ballet
• Mannequin

Added after opening

• Why Should I Repine?
• My Desert Flower
• At Siesta Time

Added to 1919 UK tour

• When a Man is Middle-Aged

Added to the 1940 revival

• I Shiver and Shake With Fear
• Beans, Beans, Beans
• At Siesta Time
• If I Liken Thy Shape

Recordings listed here were done in the studio specifically to release as recordings. They do not represent cast recordings of a particular production.

• Studio Cast (1959)
  

  • Inia Te Waita
  • Julie Bryan
  • Barbara Leigh
  • Charles Young
  • Williams Singers
• Studio Cast (1961)
  

  • Marion Grimaldi
  • Edward Darling
  • Hervey Alan
  • Martin Lawrence
  • John Wakefield

Based on the story Ali Baba and the 40 Thieves

The wealthy merchant Kasim Baba (brother of Ali Baba) is preparing to give a lavish banquet for a wealthy Chinese merchant, Chu Chin Chow, who is on his way from China. The Robber Chieftain, Abu Hasan, wishes to add to his riches the property of Kasim. Abu Hasan forces his captive, the beautiful Zahrat Al-Kulub, to spy for him in Kasim's house by holding her lover hostage. She is nearly found out several times. Zahrat sends a message to Abu Hasan, letting him know about the banquet. Hasan arrives at Kasim's palace in disguise as Chu Chin Chow, whom his gang has robbed and murdered. He tries to glean information that will enable him to rob his host.

Meanwhile, the slaves tell Ali Baba about Hasan's secret cave and the password "open sesame". Ali Baba helps himself to some of the thieves' treasure. Kasim persuades his brother to tell him where his sudden wealth came from and slips out to see what he can find at Hasan's cave. Kasim finds the treasure but is captured by Abu Hasan and put to death. Finally, on the eve of an attack on Ali Baba’s family planned by Abu Hasan, Zahrat gets her revenge by disposing of the forty thieves using boiling oil and stabbing Abu Hasan, and generally saving the day. The lovers are united, and all ends happily.