New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1879-12-28

orphans and IA a consequence every shin thew cap
tnred was found Gf the oaptives told the truth 20
he manned and differed entirely bv that interest
inc and ifiicted class Yet. as o7e of the Pirates
remarked il is certain that the British mercantile
marine is not recruited exclusively from orphans.
II : with the picturesque ruffan~ Of Peuz wee
mat the new comic opera by Mes~rs. Snlh-
van and Gilbert has to do. The hero
NJ the piece il Young man named
Frederic. who was inuu-ted 10 nurse in early
childhood 20 be apprenticed to Pilot. The mood
woman made a slight mistake. and the hoy
firmly irdertured 10 the bard If Pirates error
for which the nurse could hardly be blamed. since
che words are so much alike Frederic was a most
sxcenenf person and useful Pirate. L. all his
tons ne was governed b. the stre;es Of duty.
Those who have read in the Bah Balladltbe Story
Of Captain Reeee. commanding of t& NJ mile
niece are well aware TIA, Mr.. Gilbert hrs a keen
opurecaton OF the heroism OF duty, and that he
excrl- IN analyzing the operations OF a mind con-
.-oled by a sacred sense of OBLIGATION Tie char
acfer of Frederic, torn by conf ctIng emotions.
loathing the trade OF theft and p.llage. yet doing
violence TO his natural impulses IN stern fidelity to
the bond of mdennre. Is happily and powerfully
drawn. and the surprising complications which r.
snlt from his strange situation treated with the
greatest ingenuity.
The opera IS in two acts. The first takes place in
eric j. within a few hours of the end of his appren
tceship At - o'clock he will BE twerty-one years
of axe. lie informs the band that he Is
about to leave them forever. He loves. admires.
reveres them as comrades: he detects them as
Pirates. and il is has purpose TO devote the re-
mainder of his existence to their exrermination.
or THIS resolve, II Is prompted by sense OF
duty the Pirates find IL unreasonable To- complain.
and al the end of the act he separation accord
Il. ii.
been some stirring scenes. 4 bevy Of charming girls.
,ooking in their hlgh-waisted and short-skirtcd
.owns and their bToad-hafs. "a pretty rs picture
hv GairsbcrouCh, come tripping over the rocks,
sul prepare TO amuse themselves 10y padding the
wafer. They are caught with shoe of, ana their
alarm IS piquantly expressed IN hopping chorus.
81 winch The Pirates contribute being determined 20
Ut married Immediately through the iustru-
mentality of
doctor of 6iv'nitv
Loclied ia tAr vicinity.
The discovery thar all these girls are Wards in
-.arcerv and the daughters Of Major General s
,nicsly followed by the appearance Of their
military papa. This parsonage has been supp led
Kltl a "a tlug "patter-sOuE which can hardly
'al of great effect Studded thick with scientific
..rrs Of tremendous length aud difficulty, t To-
..rr.s the accomplishments OF the distinguished
,iccr who seems to be thoroughly versed 90 asiron-
,uy matht MATES. natural history. and nearly all
branches of science eXccnt indeed. m military
lalirs Tlc rapid delivery OF tins sorg is
occasionally interrupted % hig U.s., ludlcrous
nau er iy The Generals hesitation ior a rhyme.
We lal not take the edge Oh the pubic eI oymont
bv die,lo.ing tie Genouemeut o. the r,t act; Do s
,xces rvo'y droi,; tLe music IS brisk auu taxing;
sud Ne shall 70, surprised abe tain do not ia-
lnuc r,.r- I'd lauglt'r.
TIC secold act. v ich pas-e- ia a Ruined Chapel
H. 1 f-.. fr of of rll
incidents. The Nurse, Iah represented by the
lady Who has recently been play ng Lite HHsr
rup dlvulgc- a dreadful secret when place, Tired
pic iu tie most deperablc Of dIlemmas Far be
il from MS t3 tell the distressing story prematurcly,
Or TO describe tie behavior of the most ex, client
young man when a stern sense Of duty suddenly
oblces him to dash the cup OF happiness from his
lips. Without indiscretion, however, We may call /
attention to,oue OF two scenes which likely TO
provoke great deal of amusement. There is
rhorus Of policemen. dressed in the uniform of the
British bobby and armed with clubs upon
WHICH being drawn up in line across the stage they
perform. as refrain 10 song. a sort of taran-
tara O tumpet-call before marching to battle
with the Pirates. The song itself is excessively
funny and the footing business ought 70 be a great
addition 10 the effect. There Is an admirable
bur's.Qnc upon serious opera in a scene whore the
Pirates are hidden In one aisle Of the chapel aud
Tie Policemen III another while the Major-5 eneral
WITT LIS daughters occupy the nave. An elaborate
concerted number Is sung here. stropho and anr-
,tronhe alternating in strict order. and tie music
presumably we have not heard this portion Of NJ
preceding by an intricate Interviewing OF parts,
although the separate groups % personages are sup
posed to be- unaware Of ancthers presence, and
deaf r ,ne anothers swelling voices. The perfect
s.i.nntv of this performance blinds YOU ~ hrst 20
the Wild lnooss bilry Of tie situation. You must
stop and think a moment before the fuli alb
s1r. JOS of ir strikes You. There is ano her scene,
however, of tie same SORT where tie General ed
tcfs thc chapel thinking he has heard noise; and
here the impression of tle udicrous j. certain 10 be
Immediate and overpoweriug The police, all
Though. are delicious. They have little chant'
"a monotone. W. which they iLt0ne snort COM
u.eu.. upon the language Of the prma DONNA and
81 tins holh tie author and tie composer
SEEN 10 have made the Lappcst use Of
ts. element Of unexpectedness. TIE catastrophe
o. rh- opera as brought about by device not less
Gal.ng and 80 n.oas than that of The climax OF
" fnafore.'
H. Writing II Pinafore last season we ex-
pressed pretty fully reasons for aamiring that
poruiar opera We have heard very LITTLE as yet OF
NJ. suuyaus music for the new piece, but that lit
Tie IS fresh sparkling and appropriate, while the
tex las All the line qualities Of the earlier play.
VIII prrhap, even a richer vein OF humor and an
eqaa, abundance Of striking points. The character
isic charm OF the work o. these two English gen
tleueu j. the preterna turally sober cOunteu&nce
Nith winch they utter the rankest absurdities and
show Us the most ludicrOus situations. The per
s0uagcs If their dramas are little exaggerated
Ther arc familiar types. using familiar language
AMI wearing a familiar dreSs The music follows
tie familiar forias. and copies tbe devices Of grand
-.