The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1880-04-28
The PIRATE KING,
And His Musical Crew at the wheeling
Opera House.

I
Opera House.
There was comfortably full house last
night at the initial performance in this
city Of Messrs. Gilbert and sulliyAn's
newest opera, THE Pirates Of Peuzanee,
or the Slave Of duty" We were glad, as
the play progressed, to see this, for We
noticed signs OF disposition to walt for
the second night, in order 10 ascertain
whether the merits Of the company we,o
equal to those of the play. Those who
were present last night can certainly have
no lingering doubt on that score. The
troupe is above the average OF travelling
opera companies, being especially strong
In the choruses, more particularly in the
male ones. Miss Minnie Walsh, who takes
the part OF "alabel, +" Gen. StAuley's young.
est daughter, is q charming young lady
with an almost phenomenal voice. She
won two of the three encores given,
and all things considered was the
lavorite OF the audience. Kate,
Edith and Isabel, the three daughters
who do the talking for the other fifteen,
were also attractive in appearance, voice
and action. They were personated by
Misses Chappele, Mitchell and Perry, re-
spectively. Ruth, the piratical maid OF
all work, between whom and the Little
Buttercup OF Pinaiore some resemblance
may be traced, was creditably represented
by Madame Mott. Mr.. W. Marks, as
Richard, the Pirate Chief, performed fair
ly, as did also Mr.. Parr, as the Lieutenant.
The part Of Frederic, the "'prentice
hand" whose sense OF conscientiousness
wins for him the title OF "The Slave OF
Duty" was in good hands, Mr.. Louis P.
Pfau's voice, manner and appearance suit
ing the ideal of the part with singular ct.
ness, while the "Modern Major General
Stanley, Of the British Army, was repre-
sented almost as naturally as possible on
the stage by Mr.. Gillow. Harry Standish,
as the Sergeant OF Police, won the only
encore given beside those referred TO be-
fore. His manner was comically fitted TO
the solos which fall to his part.
The plot has already been sufficiently
rehearsed in these columns, but we may
repeat that 1t turns on the adventures Of
u set OF very mythical pirates on the Cor
nish coast, who are so excessively tender
hearted that their business is rather un-
profitable. One OF the members OF the
band Is youth named Frederic, who Is
apprenticed to the pirates until his
twenty.frst birthday. He is beloved bv
the maid al all work OF the baud, ma
ture damsel named Ruth, whom he almost
promises TO marry. AT this juncture
beyy OF the faif daughters OF Maj. Gen.
Stanley appear on the scene and Frederic,
who has never seen any other wo-
man than Ruth, is overcome by their
beauty aud by q sense OF the iniquity Of
his calling at the same time, aud
offers himself q willing sIcriice 10
any one OF the troupe who will take him.
In spite OF not unreasonable desire TO
be married, none OF the young damsels
can reconcile themselves TO becoming q
pirates wife and all refuse, when sudden-
" Mabel, the youngest daughter, appears
and announces her intention OF uuder-
taking the reformation OF the poor young
man. They embrace and things are satis-
iactonly arranged. The Major General
then appears on the scene, and the first
act ends with a surprise by the pirates,
who are about TO hustle their prizes off,.
when the Major General informs the
leader that he is an orphan, whereupon
the pirates, struck with contrition, grant
him and his children their liberty.
10 the second act frederic ia about to
start with detachment Of policemen to
arrest his former comrades, when the
Pirate King and Ruth appear and prove
TO him by indubitable evidence that his
term OF apprenticeship bps not yet expir-
ed, owing to the fact that he was born on
the Goth OF February, and will not, there
fore, have reached his 2lst birthday until
1910. Overwhelmed by this announce
ment and torn by his love for Mabel, con-
aicting with his ever present sense OF
duty, Federic wavers, and finally decides
that duty commands him TO fulall his term
OF indenture, and, therefore, TO rejuin the
pirates. After he has done so, his COM
rades decide to undertake the cap,
ture OF Major General Stanley, who
they discovered is not au orphan al.
ter all, and Frederic Is forced
to accompany them. While in
the act OF carrying Oft the General they
are attacked by the police squad, whom
they yanquish. The Sergeant Of Police,
however, summons them 10 surrender IN
the name OF Queen Victoria and their
Briton loyalty constrains them 20 acqut-
esce. Thereupon Ruth announces that
the pirates are all noblemen in disguise
and the Major General Is only too glad to
marry his daughters TO the lordly bucca-
neers and all ends merrily-as . we'll
conditioned burlesQue should.
The stage setting is superb, especially
in the second act, and a calcium light
shows it to the best advantage.
Considered as whole, Hn entertainment
which is as thoroughly charming and en-
joyable ia not often seen.