The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1868-11-10
OPERA BOUFER.


B0roe BIeue is not altogether novelty upon
the Philadelphia stage, having been served up,
after fashion, in an English dress, which we
need not say is incomparably inferior in all
respects, save that of mere fastidousness, to the
original, as 1t came fresh from the hands Of
Ofenbach and the Messieurs Meilhac and
Halevy. The plot of the extravaganza is based
not altogether upon the old-time nursery tale OF
',Blue Beard" the source of mingled delight
and horror to our infantile days, but more
especially upon piece of medieval French
history, on which the nursery tale is likewise
founded, some what as follows:--
Gil de Retz, powerful baron OF Brittany in
the days of the CrUsades, attained most unen.
viable reputation as an enemy to the people
living round about his castle, being in the
habit, according to the unpleasant rumors
which were freely circulated of enticing women
and children into his stronghold, and there
putting a summary end to their existence. For
his multtudinous crimes he was finally indicted
and put upon trial before the Council at
RenDes; but the judges entertained such an
unwholesome fear of his desperate men-at-
arms that no amount of testimony availed to
convince them of his guilt. As the notorious
brigand was about to go unwhipt of justice
the prosecutor arose, and after reproaching
the court for its cowardice, changed the charge
against him to one of sorcery, whcreupon a
prompt conviction ensued, and Gil de Retz was
burned alive at the stake.
The fate of Gil de Retz was not more melan-
choly and tragical than that Of "Mauiredo," the
troubadour; but it was rather too violent for
the purposes of operate extravaganza, and so
Nessieurs Meilhac and Halevy, who do the
literary business for onenoach, have contorted
Al H. r.II
The first act, disclosing village scene, with
mountains in the background, and the castle of
"Bue Beard" in the distance, opens with an
affecting interview between "Prince saphir'
ipersonated last evening at the Academy Of
Music by NJ. Dardignac) and "Fleuretten
iMad,le Marie). "Prince saphir" is disguised
as a shepherd-how fiat, stale, and Improbable
would be the mimic life of the stage without
these princes in disguise wearing gorgeous
satin vest which envelopes him with mystery
and serves to give clue to his noble origin at
the outset; while "Fleurette," seemingly a sim
pie shepherd girl, is subsequently developed
into the long-lost daughter of old "King
Bobeche" (M, Francis). The love.making
of the pair is soon interrupted
by the advent of "Boulotte" (Mad'lle
1rma), romping, boisterous damsel,
unchary of her charms, and disposed to make
love to everybody. She plunges at the ''Prince'
and vehemently insists that he shall embrace
her, which the modest and proper youth in the
satin vest declines to do. "Popolani" (M.
Tholer), an alchemst in the service of "Blue
Be8dn I'M. Aujac), and "Couut Oscar" {M
Benedc), who has risen, 'by the help of the
ladies'" to the position of Prime Minister to
'.King Bobeche," interrupt the struggle. Count
Oscarn is in search of the daughter of ''King
Bobeche," who had been set afoat in basket
when an infant somewhat after the fashion OF
Moses of DID, being the n regarded as an incum-
brance to the royal households; while "Popo-
lani" is charged with selecting from among
the village girls "Rose Queen"
his master having taken a sudden
fancy to crown one with the presumed intent
of installing her as his sixth vile, having ust
gotten rid of his fifth IN a mysterious way,
through the agency of this same "Popolani.i
''Count Oscar' suggests that the Rose. Queen be
selected by lot, to which "Popolanin gives
assent. The village girls are summoned, and pro-
coed to give their names to the scribe, who
writes them on slips of paper and deposits them
In basket, from which the lucky maiden is to be
drawn by child. While the names are being
written, "Boulotte" soliloquizes upon her
chances, and finally requests that her name be
taken also. This action greatly astounds the
gay young men of the village, who desire to
know if "Boulotte" will dare claim "the prize
of virtue" 'Boulotte" insists that she will, in
the following .ditty, somewhat more faithfully
rendered than in the English version which
accompanies the lbretto:-
"How eagerly they press their claims!
In league together, one and all
Pursue IL;
Don'tcrowd me out, my princely danes;
For II you press me TO the wall
You'll rue IL!
II you have rights. have mine, too;
The world Is not SO strict, wot,
That may not, as we'll as you
Demand tsS 'sS prize that's drawn by lot.
"'Tis true, before gay gallant
don't put on an angry air,
All blushing;
Like those who are as good as fair,
rnt take nv aame. let's have fair play;
The world is not SO strict, wot,
That may not, as we'll as they,
Demand the prize thecs drawn By lot"
''BOulottes" name is drawn from the basket as
a matter of course; and then "Count Oscar"
discovers that the basket once belonged to the
royal household, and finally, to his great delight
he finds IN the owner of it, the simple shepherd
ess 'Fleurette, }" the long lost princess Hermia"
daughter to ''King Bobeche." The Princess is
Installed In palanquin, and her escort starts
for the court, accompanied by "Prince Saphir,b
stil disguised as a shepherd, to whom she
declares she will remain faithful in her neT-
found station. On the way Blue Beardo en-