The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1880-01-16
THE NEW OPERA.

The Pirates of Penzance," the new
opera by Gilbert and Sullivan, is said to
be funnier and superior in all respects to
"Pinafore." The plot is one of the most
| absurd things that ever emanated from
mental BRAIN. 1t is thus summarized by
the New York World:
The plot of the opera is based on the
strong sense of duty that rises in the
breast OF young man who at u very
early age has been apprenticed to a band
of pirates by his nurse, who being hard
of hearing, mistook her instructions
pilots being originally intended. On
discovering the fact she was afraid to
return TO her masters house, and becomes
piraticaP maid of all work" The first
act is laid on the rugged coast
of Cornwall, England, and discloscs the
in rocky defile. The young
man, who will become of age in half AN
hour, discloseS the fact that he feels it a
sense Of duty to eXterminate the band
and on this account he will leave them
as soon as the clock strikes u, when the
term OF his apprenticeship will eXspire
As piece of parting advice he tells the
chief that as pirates they are too tender
hearted, as they will not attack all YES
sells and always allow orphans to escape
The pirate chief admits the force of the
argument, AMI the young man is told
that lie must go. The nurse wants to
accompany him, but las being doubtful
as to whether she is handsome, asks her
to tell him truly how she is as compared
with other women. She tells him she is
quite well and has been called handsome,
and, as they are about to depart, the
sound OF girls voices are heard on the
clltI. CONSERVATION is the lot of the
nurse, who does not know what to do,
while the boy is carried away by the
beauty of ii beVy of young maidens he
sees approaching. The nurse runs away
and hiGcs among the rocks to see
what they will do. They are the daugh-
tiers of major general who lives in the
vicinity, on picnic. While waiting
for lunch they decide to paddle in the
water, and, while they are in the act of
taking their shoes off the apprentice dis
covers himself He asks if there is any
maiden there who will love him and they
answer him, No" Just as he finishes
his pleadings, the major generals
youngest daughter comes in, and, after
Gliding her sisters, says she will love
him. Arrangements are made to be
married Immediately, but the plan fails,
owing to the return OF the pirates, who
capture the young ladies and claim them
as their wives. Their father, the major
general, comes 10 their aid, and they are
released because he says he is an orphan
The act closes with the young ladies,
their father, and the apprentice leaving
the place waving an English flag, while
the pirates elect the major general as an
honorary member, and wave the black
flag in farewell.
The second act represents a ruined
chapel on the estate of the major zen. |
eral, who is discovered surrounded by |
his daughters mourning the fact that he |
had escaped from the pirates through a |
lie, as he was not an orphan. The young |
apprentice Is now the captain of force |
10 exterminate the pirates, and his |
troops, which represent a corps of Lon |
don policemen, are brought in 10 receive |
the major generals parting blessing. |
All retire, leaving the apprentice alone, |
ans he is approached by the pirate chief |
and his nurse, who announce to him that |
he was born on the goth of February,
anG Bence he is only five years old and |
still their apprentice, as he does not |
reach his twcnty-first birthday until
1910. His sense of duty
compels him 10 return with |
them and assist in the capture of the
major general. The police return, and
nearing the pirates approach, they hide.
The pirates also hide on hearing the
major general approach. The latter is
and the police come to the
rescue, but they are defeated in the con-
dict. However, they call upon the
pirates to surrender in the name of the
Queen, and they do so. The major gen
eral calls a couTt-martial Immediately,
lut on learning from the nurse that the
pirates are noblemen, he asks forgive
ness and marries his daughters to them"
The opera was received in the most
enthusiastic manner in New York, and
'reated uproarlous applause and laugh
err