The Red Cloud chief., 1880-02-05
THE "P1RArEs OF PESzANCE.r
Plot Of the New Operetta by Meesrs.
Sullivan and Gilbert-A Rival TO "Ptna-
FORE"
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Sullivan and Gilbert-A Rival To Pima
FORE"
From the New York Trfbune.l
The pirates of P~enzance were the
most ruthless and accomplished cut
throats who ever scuttled a White Star
steamer. Their lair was a rocky place
on the coast of Cornwall, remote enough
for quiet, and yet convenient for bust
ness. With equal ease they could
swoop from their hiding-place upon the
Liverpool and New York mail-packets,
or cut out the full freighted argosies
which ply between Boulogne and Folke-
stone in connection with h tidal trains
of the Southeastern railway. Yet, as
their Chief mournfully observed, some
how they never could make piracy pay.
This unfortunate failure was due To the
tenderness of their hearts. They were
far too ready to spare the weak: and
when they attacked the strong they al
ways got thrashed. 1t was their rule to
have mercy upon orphans. "Though
we are pirates,' said the Chief, eve
are not insensible to the promptings of
humanity; we are orphans ourselves,
and we know how il feels" The trou-
BILE was, it got about that they always
spared orphans, and as a consequence
every ship they captured was found Of
the captives told the truth) to be
manned and oficcred by that interesting
and aHH.sA class. Yet, as one OF the
Inafes remarked, it is certain that the
British mercantile marine is not recruit
ed exclusively from orphans.
1t is with the picturesque ruffians OF
Penzance that the new comic opera by
Messrs. Sullivan and Gilbert has to do.
The hero of the piece is a young man
named Frederic, who was intrusted to a
nurse in early childhood to be appren-
ticed to a pilot. The good woman made
a slight mistake, and the boy was firmly
indentured to the band of pirates-an
error for which the nurse could hardly
be blamed, since the words are so much
alike. Frederic was a most excellent
person and a useful pirate. In all his
actions he was governed by the strictest
sense of duty. Those who have read in
the Bah Ballads the story of "Capt.
Reece, commander of the M~antlepiece,"
are well aware that Mr.. Gilbert has a
keen appreciation of the herOism of
duty, and that he excels in analyZing
the operations of a mind controlled by
a sacred sense of obligation. The char
acter of Frederic, torn by conflicting
emotions, loathing the trade of theft and
pillage, yet doing violence to his natural
impulses in stern fidelity to the bond of
indenture, is happily and powerfully
drawn, and the surprising complications
which result from his strange situation
are treated with the greatest ingenuity.
The opera is in two acts. The first
takes place i'm the Pirates Lair, and
when the action begins Frederic is within
a few hours of the end of his appren-
ticeship. At - O'Clock he will be 81
years of age. He informs the band that
he is about to leave them forever. He
loves, admires, reveres them as COM
rades; he detests them as pirates, and
it is his purpose TO devote the remainder
of his existence to their determination.
Of this resolve, since it is prompted by
a sense of duty, the pirates find it I'M
reasonable to complain, and at the end
of the act the separation accordingly
takes place. Not, however, until there
have been some stirring scenes. A bevy
of charming girls, looking, in their
high-waisted and short-skirted gowns,
and their broad hats, as pretty as a pic
ture by Gainsborough, some tripping
over the rocks, and prepare to amuse
themselves by padding in the water.
They are caught with one shoe off, and
their alarm is piquantly expressed in a
hopping chorus, to which the pirates
contribute, being determined to get
married Immediately through the in
strumentality of
A doctor of divinity
Located in the vicinity.
The discovery that all these girls are
"Wards in Chancery and the daughters
of q Major-General is quickly followed
by the appearance of their military
papa. This parsonage has been sup
which can hardly fail of a great effect
Studded thick with scientific terms OF
tremendous length and difficulty, it re
counts the accomplishments of the dis
tinguished officer who seems to be thor
oughly versed in astronomy, mathe'
mates, natural history, and nearly al
branches of science except, indeed, in
military affairs. The rapid delivery OF
this song is occasionally interrupted in 8
highly ludicrous manner by the Generals
hesitation for a rhyme. We shall no,
take the edge off the public enjoyment
by disclosing the denouement of the first
act; it is excessively droll; the music is
brisk and taking; and we shall be sur
priyed if the curtain do not fall amidst
oar of laughter.
The second act, which passes in 8
ruined castle by moonlight, is full OF
surprises and of ludicrous incidents
The nurse, Ruth represented by the
lady who has recently been playing Lit
tie Buttercup) divulges a dreadful Sc
cret which places Frederic in the mos
deplorable of dilemmas. Far be it from
us to tell the distressing story prema'
turely, or to describe the behavior of the
most excellent young man, when a stern
sense of duty suddenly obliges him to
dash the cup of happiness from his lips
Without indiscretion, however, We may
call attention to one or two scenes which
are likely to provoke a great deal OF
amusement. There is q chorus of pO-
licemen, dressed in the uniform of the
British I" Bobby, and armed with clubs,
upon which, being drawn up in line
across the stage, they perform, as a re;
frain to a song, a sort of taran-ti-ra, a
trumpet-call before marching to battle
with the pirates. The song itself is ex-
cessively funny, and the footing business
ought to be a great addition to the eff
feet. There is an admirable burlesque
upon serious opera in a scene where the
pirates are hidden in one aisle of the
chapel and the policemen in another,
while the Major-G General with his daugh-
tiers occupy the nave. An elaborate con-
certed number is sung here, strophe and
anti strophe alternating in strict order,
and the music proceeding by an intricate
Interviewing of parts, although the sep
arate groups of personages are supposed
to be unaware Of one another's presence,
and deaf to one another's swelling
voices. The perfect solemnity of this
performance blinds you at first to the
wild impossibility of the situation. You
must stop and think a moment before
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