Round in 50 – Jazz Age China on the London Stage in 1922

I’m indebted to Anthony Clayton, one of the editors of the forthcoming collection of essays, Lord of Strange Deaths: The Fiendish World of Sax Rohmer (about which more soon), for introducing me to the 1922 London stage musical Round in 50 at the recent excellent Fu Manchu in London: Limehouse, Lao She and Yellow Peril in the Heart of Empire conference at the University of Westminster. Round in 50 ran at the London Hippodrome and featured some amazing representations (fantastical of course) of China in the Jazz Age. The musical, partly written by Rohmer, was a vehicle for the music hall entertainer George Robey and is a take on Around the World in 80 Days though this time in 50 with Phil Fogg. The play featured an elaborate set for Hong Kong and a “Chinese street” where the travellers are robbed. I would direct anyone interested to this great post on the musical, featuring some pictures of the amazing Chinese set, at the blog Jazz Age Club – well worth a look if you like your stage sets a la Chinois!

I don’t have any images from the show myself but the website has plenty to keep you going – but here’s a shot of Rohmer all got up in a Chinoiserie style for you….