Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1880-01-03
THE PIRATES OF PENZ 4NCE.


The Funny story of the New Ope-
retta by Sullivan and Gilbert.
The Pirates OF PenZance were the most ruth
less and accomplished cut-throats, who ever
scuttled White Star steamer. Their lair waSa
rocky place on the coast OF Cornwall, remote
enough for quiet andyet convenient for business,
With equal ease they could swoop from their
hiding upon the Liverpool and New York mail
packets or cut out the full-fre1ghted argOSieS
which ply between Boulogne and Folkestone in
connection with the tidal trains Of the South
eastern Railway. Yet, as their chief mournful-
ly observed, somehow 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 always got thraShed.
1t was their rule to have mercy upon orphans.
Though we are Pirates," said the Chief 1--WE
are not insensible to the promptings of human
ity: we are orphans ourselves and we know how
| 1t feels" The trouble was it got about that
they always spared orphans, and as oonse-
quence every ship they captured was found III
differed entirely by that interesting and af11ict-
| ed class. Yet, as one of the pirates remarked,
| 1t Is certain that the British mercantile marine
| is not recruited 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
trusted to a nurse in early childhood to be ap-
prenticed to a pilot. The good woman made
| slight mistake, and the boy was firmly inden-
tured to band OF pirates-an error for which
the nurse could hardly be blamed, since the
| words are so much alike. Frederic was most
excellent person and useful pirate. In all his
| Oh duty. Those who have read In the Bah Bal
lads the story Of Captain Reece, commanding OF
| the Nantlepiece," are well aware that Mr.. Gil
bert has keen appreciation OF the heroSm OF
duty, and that he eXcels In analyziRg the opera
| lions of a mind controlled by a sacred sense OF
Obligation. The character OF Frederic, torn by
col f1icing emotions, loathng the trade of theft
and pillage, yet doing violence to his natural
impulses In stern fidelity to the bond OF inden-
ture, 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 In the Pirates lair, and when the action
tegins Frede, &c is within few hours Of the end
OF his apprenticeship. At IL o'clock he will be
Nv eni y-one years OF age. He informs the band
that he is about to leave them forever. He loves,
tdmres, revereS them as comrades: he detests
them as pirates, and 1t his purpose to devote the
remainder OF his existence to their extermina-
ton. OF this resolve, since it is prompted by a
sense OF duty, the pirates find 1t unreasonable
to complain, and at the end of the act the sepa-
ration accordingly takes place. Not, however,
until there have been some stirring scenes. A
beyy OF charming girls, looking, In their high
WASTED and shortskirted gowns, and their
broad hats as pretty as picture by Gains
borough, come tripping over the rocks ana pre-
Eater TO heT BY the
their alarm is piquantly expressed tn a hopping
chorus, to which the pirates contribute, being
W gel lQnle0latelV thrOuph
the fundamentally OF
A doctor of divinity
Located in the vicinity.
The discovery that all these girls are Wards
raj" Is quickly followed by the appearance OF
their military papa. This parsonage has been
supplied with tn, rafting which
with scientific terms of tremendous length and
difficulty, it recounts the accomplishments of
the distinguished officer, who seems to be thor
lllal history and nearly all branches of science
except, 1nCeed in military affairs. The rapid
delivery OF this song Is occasionally Interrupted
III slgny fn lMdcrous manner by the Generals
edge off thepubltc enjoyment by disciosinS the
denouMent Of the first act; it is eXcessiyeIy
s:S,i; the music Is brisk and taking, and we
amid roars OF laughter.
me second act which passes In ruined
chapel by moonlight, is full of surprises and Of
i9dicrou US incidents. The nurse, Ruth, repre-
Ing Little ttercup) divulges dreadful secret
which places Frederic in the most deplorable OF
Gilemmas. Far be 1T from us to tell the distress
ing story prematurely, or to describe the be-
hav1or OF the most excellent young man when q
stern sense of duty suddenly oblIges him to dash
,pe,s cup OF happiness from his lips. Without
one or two scenes which are likely to PROVOKE
great deal OF amusement. There is a Chorus of
pdnt emen, dressed In the uniform OF the British
NUoJ eehu oImCu WIFI CluUS, upon WINCH
beng drawn up in line across the stage they
perform. as refrain to song, sort of taran.
tara, tlumpetcan before marching to battle
with the F1rates. The song itself Is excessiyeiy
funny, and the footing business ought to be a
great addition to the effect. There is an ad-
mliaDie Dul lesaue upon serious opera in scene
where the Pirates are hidden in one aisle of the
chapel and the Policemen in another while the |
MAJOR general with his daughters occupy the
nave. An elaborate concerted number is sung
here, str0phe and anti-Strophe alternating in |
sulct order, and the music presumably 1--WE have
not heard this portion of 1t) proceeding by an
intricate 1nterW eav1Dg of parts, although the
8 pal ate groups OF perSonages are supposed TO
Of unaware OF one anotherS presence. and deaf
TO ole another's swelling voiceS The perfect
so emnlly OF this performance blinds you at first
70 the wild 1mpossfbil1ty OF the situation YoT
mcSt stop and think moment before the fnli |
aDSuTdlty OF 1t strikes you. There is another
scene, however, OF the same sort where the gen |
eral enters the chapel thinking he has heaSi q |
noise; ana here the impression of the ludtcrous |
Is certain to be immediate and overpoWerlnr
The police, all through, are delicious TheSv1
nave little chant In monotone with which |
they lntone short comments upon the Ianguage
OF Inc pf1na donna, and in this both the aIth0r
ana the composer seem to have made the nan
pest use OF the element Of unexpectedness THE
catastrophe OF the opera Is brought about nv q
device not less daring and Ingenious than that
or the climax Of IS Pinafore IN u T.i,mne
18th. - 'o''''e'
az Bishop Chataxd, OF Indiana denossd ia
EttZn0fffck