The Teahouse of the August Moon

The Teahouse of the August Moon Summary | Act 1, Scene 1 Summary

The Teahouse of the August Moon is John Patrick's three-act play about American military efforts to introduce democracy and American culture to the Japanese people living on the island of Okinawa during the American Occupation of Japan, following World War II.

The stage is set with four bamboo panels, which raise and lower to reveal different scenes throughout the play. As the first scene begins, the strains of Oriental music are heard being played on a stringed instrument. A Japanese man, named Sakini, who is dressed in a combination of island clothes and American military accessories, comes to the front of the stage to address the audience.

Sakini describes the occupation of the American military forces on the island of Okinawa and hopes that it will be different from all the other times the island has been invaded by other countries. Sakini admits that being invaded is a good way to learn the cultures of other peoples, without ever having to leave your own home.

Sakini's function is to act as an interpreter between the American military personnel and the Okinawa residents. Sakini motions for one of the bamboo panels to be raised, and the office of Colonel Wainright Purdy is revealed. Sakini works closely with the Colonel and reveals that the officer is very organized and very clean. These are uncommon traits in this poor country and will be of great benefit one day.

Inside the Colonel's office is Sergeant Gregovich, the Colonel's assistant, who spends most of his time reading copies of the Colonel's Adventure magazine. Colonel Purdy enters the scene and realizes that the laundry hanging on the line is lacking one pair of pants. The Colonel yells at Sakini to take care of the issue and does not understand why people in this country are either sleeping or stealing. Sakini wryly replies that the people's "get-up-and-go" went away.

Colonel Purdy is expecting a new officer, Captain Fisby, to help with the Americanization effort and sends Sakini in search of the new man. Purdy tells Gregovich that Fisby has been transferred to Purdy's command from the Psychological Warfare unit. Purdy feels honored to have someone from such an elite group coming to his unit.

Gregovich leaves to have more signs painted for Purdy's new requests. Before long, Fisby arrives to report for duty. It is revealed that Fisby has not so much requested a transfer to Purdy's unit, but has been moved, because he seems to fail at every other job or unit in which he is placed. Purdy's command is almost the end of the line for the bumbling Fisby.

Purdy presents Fisby with the government's Plan B document, which is the size of a big city phone book. He tells the newcomer that he is responsible for Americanizing the village of Tobiki, implementing the steps in the plan. Part of Fisby's mission is the building of a pentagon-shaped schoolhouse and the establishment of a chapter of the Ladies' League for Democratic Action to whom the Captain will deliver lectures on the benefits of a democratic society.

Purdy reminds Fisby that the eye of the government is on the success of the democratization of Tobiki. He sends the Captain away with Sakini as his new aide.