The Norfolk post. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 1865-1866, 1865-12-01

has married Don Pedro. Vasco now
declares that he loves her, and does not
care at all for Selika, who is only
slave; and after this evidence of vacilla.
| ton the act ends with II concerted
piece. :
In the third act occurs the celebrated
| shin scene. On a vessels deck are seen
! the principal characters of the drama,
| and after various choruses and solos q
storm arises, the ship veers round,
strikes rock and sinks. The weight OF
this act falls upon the scene painter and
| machinist, rather than the poet.
| The fourth act shows Selika, as Queen
of Madagascar, ut home and enjoying
| all the splendors of royalty. Nasco Is
brought in and is about to be killed, as
his other European companions had
been. He sings all exquisite air. Sell
ika, the queen, to save Nasco from
death, declares him to be her husband,
calling as witness Nelusko, who, to save
her life, sacrifices himself. But the
marriage ceremony must again be per-
formed according to the Madagascar
rites, and these include the drinking by
the welded pair of certain elixer,
| which takes such potent possession OF
| Vasco's weak brain that he clings with
| passionate devotion to the being whom
he has hitherto neglected. The protes-
tatons of affection, now for the first
time mutual, give rise to duet which
has no equal on the stage save that of
| Raoul and Valentine, in Lies Hugue-
nots.' Equal to it in Importance, equal
in melodic beauty, equal in dramatic
force, it partakes Of that indiscribable
fragrance which Meyerbeer has cast
over all the eastern scenes in this wild
| play. The hot Indian air would seem
| to draw out passions from the souls oil
| the two lovers, as it would perfume from
| the rich flowers of that same prollhc
land. The spell is, by masterstroke,
| interrupted for moment when, the In
dian MISUNDERSTANDING their fascin-
ating nuptial song-lead Vasco captive
through an avenue of diaphanOus wells
to the temple.
The fifth and last act ia very short.
Selika, hoping to make her lover still
more happy, and believing that after all
lac loves lnez better than herself, deter
mines to sacrifice her life that he may
wed his first love. She eats the fruit OF
the deadly upas tree, and with her death
the opera closes.
AN AMUSING PICTURE.
The usual absurdity of operate Ii.
bretti is fully borne out in this libretto
of 1.-The African Girl.n 1t is full OF
preposterous absurdities, which need all
the musician $ skill to free it from the
most ludicrous results. At the same
time, there are many affecting dramatic
| situations; and, of course, the scenic
opportunities are unsurpassed. The
great length of the opera was found al
objection in Paris, but we presume il
will be brought down to reasonable
duration by Maretzek.
At the time of its appearance Puncl
gave rather funny burlesque OF the il
brett0, which was extensively copiet
into the American papers. The produc
ton of the opera in English, at London
suggests, however to a writer in til
Orchestra, a much droller account iron
"behind the scenes" in which tn
names of the performers are freel,
made Use of. The writer seems particu
larly disposed to make fun of MI
Kenney, the translator of the libretto
who is represented as visiting the diff
ent artists, asking how they like hi
transactions, and receiving repeated re
Bluffs. We quote, beginning at the sec
ond act
IA dungeon Of the Inquisiton comfortably provide
with tiger skim terrestrial globe, aud map of Fin
bury on the wall Mr. Henry Haigh discovered pretend
| 10 he asleep Dut IN realty
his part. Seika watching him.
Mr. II, II asleep, bat voeal) Onward, speed onwar
Tie gets on wonderfully, having the music undo
srIIEA "'Tis her name He Ines calls p
H-#rEF. Enter Miss Thirlwall, Inc
Mss 4. Here | am Int didn't know -
sRIKa Go back-it's not your cue.
Miss T. But you called - (She is drasge
iselika sings the slumber song Enter NeIusk
lie j. fierce, but cannot manage his legs.
AIg-Nelusko-Ah, my queen, &c.
#.=-'H Applause. as the audience reeogn'
the first bar AS an old fayorite.
: sukA Spare his life.
NELcsR0. No, no, no.
III. #f mfr. Henry High wakes u
puo-yasco ant seia the mnsic OF sasco being omittt
by Mr.. Henry Iiaigh.
Mr. KENNY (behindl | have called, Mr. Corr,
know how You like the part OF Don Pedro.
Nj. III. CoRRI Oh, tollol.
AIR-yasco; the music Of vasco being omitted BY NJ
Henry Isigb
Enter Miss ThiTlwall with Don Peir
Miss r 90 Mr.. II, H. We're in for it now,
- Nj. Iii. Yes, amt we2
Miss T. Please, Mr.. Mellon skip the reeitative al
J. come to the septuor SAID
u sEpTuuRThe music VI Vasco and Ines being omitted
r. Nj Henry Ilaigh and Miss Thirlwall.
AUDIENCE 10 themsclyes). That surely sounds funn
- [Drol
#Ut Acr. III.
THE great ship scene. An enormous mast, to viii
le dtmssk curtains attached rises through the sta
y More darnisk curtains at the wings. AT the back
IA seen the poop"i fact seven poop among the compai
A number OF ladies' at the O. p. though they were
SIS church. Sailors lying about and letting the ship dr
II | everywhereJ
T. Bright morn her CHEEKY beams Is dartiug,
n Distempered thoughts Of night subsie.
Youya LADY IN CIRCLE Ito adorer). Isn't "Distempei
ne thoughts rather disagrecable phrasei
10 Carrie OF DnLT PiPER. No, no; excellent words;
ney's words.
Il iHlH CHORUS OF SAILORS
ia -5.Ht with silver to flock
,d In s4-t with silver II fieck-- -.. 8
All hands the deck ...... +
e Flick
X, AIS HI beck eI..
,lr | Check Itaa Ua
" [Euter Mr. c. l. Kenny behind the seen
Ill Mr. KENNY. | should be glad 10 know. Mr.. Lauren
,r, before you go whether the words OF your part
ar Mr. LAURENCE Excuse mo, FIa in hurry
- (Goes as Nelusl
III, NEIusEo Turn to the north
or az ~. Turn 10 the north
70 | Turn 10 he north ! .IH
~ Mr. EtSyEY Oh. bat didn't write that.
No PRoMPToa. Silence!
- s4I as. s45 Exit Mr.. C. l. kenn,
nd Tho vessel is supposed 70 reer ROM
az -. but doesn't. Tine audience thi
a they getting interested,
Is: 4a.#.of aren't. Lightning. 81
IN, | DALLlD-Nelusko.
H. Enter Mr. Henry Hsgh
~, Mr. IL IT. Tn for more OF it, oh, Lordi t...
we DUovasco and Don Pedro the music OF Nasco omit
nd EssEHmE--With equal results
II WI ~ -, iTie sailors rush at him and iisar1 hi
in i4 !. q More lightning. u
es sEPruoR, with the music Of Vasso aud Ines omitted