The Portland daily press., 1880-03-24
TICKELICK.
Walter Goods New Opera.

TICKELICK.
Walter Goods New Opera.
Mr.. Walter Goold, the author of Cupid, has
composed a charming comic opera entitled
'Tickelick, or Misses and Middies," which
will he produced for the first time on any
stage at City Hall, April I'd, under the aus
pices of the Woman's Temperance Union.
The tickets will be sold today. The opera will
be handsomely mounted and no expense spared
in its production.
The draanatas persona are Dick Sedley (mid-
shipman) Mr.. w. Howard, in love with Nell
Burbank, (the life of the seminary Miss
Annie Greeley; Capt Vaughan, Commanding
U. S ship Clytie) Mr.. Fl. Pingree; Miss Mary
Prim, (preceptress of the seminary Miss
Jennie Noyes; Rev. Tyre Knott, Mr.. Dell Ed
wards; Gully, colored servant, Mr.. W. P.
Morris, and a chorus of 80 ladies and gentle
men-the school girls, middies, officers of the
Clytie, male parents all widowers, and female
parents all widows. An admirable orchestra
of twelve pieces, from Chandlers Band, will
be conducted by the composer. The opera is
in two acts, with three scenes in the first act
and four scenes in the second act. 1t is differ
emit from most comic operas in that the proper
ton of music to dialogue is much greater than
usual. The acting time is two hours and ff-
teen minutes. The rehearsals have been thor
ough and the voices are all fresh and good.
The opera opens with the six female pupils
of the seminary in the school room, bearing
downcast countenances. They are evidently
afflicted with the blues. In fact they state
grievances in an opening chorus. To them APP
pears Nell who tells them they are evidently
dying for want of fun. In pretty rondo-
waltz the girls declare that they will rebel.
Finally Nell says she won't stand it. Gully,
the servant, then enters, and after a charact-
eristic song and dance informs the girls that
big gun-boat has anchored in the river, with
lots of handsome middies aboard. The girls
rush to the windows and wave their handker-
chiefs at the ship, while the bright "march
of the middies'' is heard in the distance.
Nell ''puts up job for the girls to get off
and meet the sailor lads. and declares she will
outwt the old maids of teachers. The teach
ers enter and put Nell on probation for
week for her declaration of disobedience,
which they have overheard Nell, however,
comes it over the teachers by getting permits
sion for the school to take baskets of provis-
ions to the Friendly Inn for the suffering
poor, and then the girls are so tickled at the
way they have deceived the teachers they all
break out in a merry laughing song.
Out in the street the six girls encounter the
six middies, just after the latter have intro
duced themselves in chorus, and Dick has
sung delightful solo entitled "Happy little
Maid" They all indulge in jolly stroll, and
finally all go off but Nell and Dick, who favor
the audience with "kiss song" Nell invites
Dick and his brother middies to the school
room that evening, after the teachers have all
gone to bed, and there they are to have feast
off of the goodies that the girls should have
carried to the Friendly Inn. The signal of
the boys arrival will be the Tickelick, or the
striking of bullet fastened to the end of
string against the window sash. Then they
will enter the big bay window by the grape
trellis. The girls and middies (who have re-
turned) are let into the scheme and the scene
ends with the grand ensemble CHOW be on the
Watcn at nalI-paSt elgnG.
The school room is next discovered with the
girls cropping in the dark Suddenly the "Song
of the tickelick'' is heard. This will probably
prove one of the most striking features of the
opera The middies enter by the bow window,
produce candles and matches from the bags
they carry, and strike light. The girls hurry
and set tables, and all the delicious confusion
ensues that is customary with stolen pleasures
at boarding-schoo All at once knock is
heard, and, in fright all hide. Gully enters
armed with two great horse pistols, and lights
candle. When the girls and boys see who it
is they come forward and get Gully on their
side. Then ensues a grand good time during
which the bright sparkling drinking song
"Hot Coffee" is sung. Finally some celery is
wanted and one of the middies goes to the
garden for it, Returning he accidentally
knocks down hanging basket and the noise
rouses the teachers who come in and catch
the girls, while the middies steal out of the
window. The girls all declare they will be
expelled and the act closes as they are sent
to bed.
The second act opens with the teachers and
girls in the school-room, the former having in
formed the latter that their parents have been
written to. Gully enters and informs the
teachers there are "visitors" for them in the
parlor, at the same time passing letters to the
girls from the middies. The teachers 90 and
the girls then read their letters to the en-
chanting 'letter song" The letters propose
an elopement and the girls prepare for flight,
The tickelck is heard as signal and Dick
outside, renders delicious serenade Nell
answers, and as the girls steal away from
school they, and the middies, render the fasci-
mating ensemble, "Softly creeping" which will
no doubt be rapturously redemanded. The
teachers discover the elopement and pursue,
aided by the male and female parents of the
girls At the parsonage the runaways are dis
covered, but too late. The Reverend Tyre
Knott has married them. A grand row ensues
during which enter the captain and officers of
the Clytie, who indulge in breezy barcarole.
Captain Vaughan asks an explanation of the
midshipmen, and by Dicks recital of his
story, is moved to tears as are all his officers,
for it revives old recolections. The captain
tells his story in delightful solo, which goes
to show that when he and the other officers
Were young, ehoy aiSo a1ceiupteu al elopement
but, alas! the parents came too soon, and they
were separated from their sweethearts. Before
he can finish the spinster teachers recognize
him and his officers as their old lovers, and
rush into their arms to the exclamation "Oh
George!' The parents forgive their children,
at this affecting scene, and all ends happily to
the grand finale of Tickelick Poor Gully is
the only one left minated. The six widowers
have decided to unite with the six widows,
the six spinster teachers have joined the six
officers, and the six middies have already
married the six misses.
An Important Decision,