Bruges, Belgium; Zilania; early 20th century

Years ago, diplomat Mikel Mikeloviz brought Princess Jeanne, the infant daughter of King René of the kingdom of Zilania, to Bruges to wait in safety during a war. Dame Paula, who runs the Laundry of the White Geese and is known as Mother Goose, takes the princess in secret to raise as her own daughter under the name of Sylvia.

Years later, as the people of Zilania are demanding the restoration of the monarchy, Mikel is conspiring to restore Princess Jeanne to the throne, which is about to be offered to Prince Franz, the heir presumptive. Franz, while travelling in disguise, has fallen in love with Sylvia. But Sylvia, who does not know that she is really a princess, is bethrothed to Lieutenant Karl, a military lothario. Mikel's plans are endangered by the schemes of Hon. Percy Algernon Slingsby, Petros Van Tromp and Aristide Caniche, who, for their own purposes, wish to purchase Prince Franz's estates in Zilania. Liane. a milliner, has sought temporary employment in the laundry of the White Geese and is mistaken by Mikel and Slingsby for the lost Princess. Sylvia finds that Karl is untrue to her so she agrees to marry Franz

When Sylvia is formally presented to the court of Zilania as the fiancee of the Prince, complications arise when Mikel, Slingsby, Van Tromp, and Caniche each disguises himself as the monk who abducted the princess. When the throne is about to be offered to Franz, Mikel dramatically halts the proceedings by announcing that the real successor to the throne is not a Prince but a Princess, whom he believes to be Liane. However, Dame Paula identifies Sylvia as the true lost Princess. Sylvia is willing to renounce her claim to the throne, but she and Franz agree to rule jointly. Liane accepts Karl, and all ends well in the typical light opera manner.

Producer: W. A. Atkinson

Musical Director: H. Bramwell Bailey