This year the Music Department of Maine West will present Flower Drum Song as its annual musical‑comedy. Mr. Robert Kuite, general director and conductor of the show, said, "Flower Drum Song should be a fun show. It is one of Rodgers and Hammerstein's most delightful musicals."

A synopsis of the plot reveals that Flower Drum Song dramatizes the dilemma of Wang Ta, a young man of Chinese parentage who is fascinated with American ideas. Wang's father arranges a marriage for him with a modest "picture" bride from Hong Kong. However, Wang is infatuated with Linda Low, a Chinese‑American nightclub "entertainer" who almost drags Wang to the altar. The picture bride, Mei Li, has been assigned to the care of Sammy Fong'a San Francisco nightclub operator. As a result, Mei Li falls in love with Sammy, but she must obey the laws of her country and marry Wang.

Just as the elaborate wedding procession for the wrong marriage is about to start, the tangled romances are straightened out by a clever idea of the innocent picture bride.

The play will be presented in the Maine West auditorium the evenings of April 20, 21, and 22; and a Saturday afternoon matinee will be given April 22. Each student with a lead in the production will have the chance to perform twice, since the major roles will be double‑cast.

More than 100 students tried out for singing leads. Mr. Kuite stated, "We have discovered some very fine voices during tryouts." There are also dancing and speaking parts open to interested students. Auditions for speaking roles will be held after the singing leads are chosen. Rehearsals will begin shortly after V‑Show.

Mr. Kuite, who has been planning the musical since last June, says that Flower Drum Song ". . . will be a fairly professional production. We have had great student response."