Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1883-03-25
THREE NEW OPERAS
To Ee Pre:enie by the Charles E. Ford
Comic Opera Company This
Week.
Gilbert d SuIliVan's ''Iolanthe," Strauss
"6erry War;" aud ''Les nan.
teaux NOirs."

The Thester ma bee1 occupied the past
week by Prof.. C-omWsl, who gave series
of delightful entertainments. His views of
European scenery and ART we're the most
iife-like and Interesting ever seen 10 Mem
phis, aud be showed the rare faculty OF ex-
planning them IN clear and plea-iDg style.
This week we are to have Ford's Comic
Opera Company, who will present three new
eparas, opening with Gilbert q sullivan's
Ioldnths, which has already become wonder
fully popu ar. The plot runs thus:
phyllis" the heroine, is an Arcadian shepherd
ess and presumably an orphan, for The Lord
Chancellor is her guardian Strephon," the
hero, owes his being u q romantic marriage be
tween a fairy and chanceTy barrister, who, when
introduced 10 the audience, has recently achieved
the woolssck. .'strephon's" physical and mental
'parentsge is CO.. structed upon the duplex &C
ton" system. His body is partly immortal and
rs rty ble-his soul Is at odds within Itself
upon political and other questions Of importanc-
Strange 10 say his affections are undivided, ana
belong in their entirely 10 'Phyuis" as DO hers 70
him The union OF these two pastoral lover Is
prohibited by the Lord Chancellor (who is pro-
fOundy unconscious OF the fact that ''5tTePhon"
is his son., born in lawful wedlockl chiefly be
cause that legal dignitary wants to marry ''Phyl
lis'' himself He attractions, indeed, are SO over
pOwering that they have csptlvated the hearts Of
all the peers Of the realm, WHO, as well as their
learned speaker, suitOrs for her hand. Through
his fairy neither however, '.otrephOn" secures the
patronage OF her supernatural relatives, Who ore
prepared at q moments notice to turn all huHH2
Institutions inside-out in the matrimonial IN -
eat of their kinsman and portsge. They get HIM
into the House of Commons for fa1ry-borougn,
and Practice spells upon the other members, with
the effect OF getting all his revolutionary measures
passed.
in love with them and turn them into fairies TO
avoid future complications Of the 'Strephon "
order. Wings sProut from their lordsnlps shoul,
ders. Phyllis" ''Suephon" and Private Willis, -
a gigantic Guardsmsn, in whom the fsiry queen
finds a cO"Jugal match.ior her own lofty stature
md ma i've nrfif a a
her majesty's spear, endowed with those volatile
appendices. And the opera concludes with q
song and chorus, proiessedly preparatory for a
fight sky high" where noble lords are to ex-
change "House of Peers for House of Peris." The
plot Of IolGHie has been most ingeniously wrought
The fairies and their stupendous queen at tn e
opening Of the piece. recommend themselves TO
US by good looks and singing, pretty dresses,
graceful gestures and excellent delivery OF the
amusing incongruities with which their speak
ing parts crowded. At this time,
''Iolanthe " is a fairy in disgrace. For
is-and has been, for quarter Of
century outstanding on her head az the pot
land trife duh without her, petition the queen
to pardon her, which that vast potentate readily
does, moved TO pity by the remembrance OF the
services formerly rendered to her by ''Iolanthe,
as her iustTuctress in gymnastics. 10 teaching sc
sbnormally robust person as her majesty TO eur
herself Up inside buitercup ''Ioanthe" has incis
putsbly displayed talents that should not be al
lowed 10 remain in allegiance under water. she Il
summoned 10 the surface of her aqueous peniten
q
ner old rank in the fairy court AS soon she ha!
informed her sisters that she has a hybrid son
engaged TO a ward in chsncery, 'strephon" enteI
in the kapprOved pastoral garb OF Already CapeIinl
hilariously and playing upon a hageolot. I'M
fairies take him up enthusiast lea ly and then taxi
themselves off 'PhylIis' joins him, ana th'
lovers resolve upon a clandestihe martisge tina
Guards', band in full play, procession
Of the most gorgeous being that s TS
ttod the boards OF any , she a; e- Iht
annals. is exhibitedstO the general public in all
glory singing a rollieking chorus the refrain Of
march around the stage to- the bray OF rumpets
and the rsll of drums. For the most part, thelI
sweu'' type happily orossed Chiefly in expressionl
with the common councilman, churchwsrdeB and
ceil0r," followed by train bearer, who IS JOY
forever. The House, every member OF which is
head over ears in love with Phyllis has met in
extraordinary session to discuss its position To-
ward that fascinating young person, who appears
before it in obedience 10 her legal guardian s
mandate, conveyed to her by the Earl Of Mount
arsrat." This nobleman and Irish peer, Lord
TOli oller." are by reason OF their youthfulness-
nearly all tho other patrcians are past their prime
the most eligible OF AZ the titled candidates iOr
"Phyllis's" hand AID they plead their cause. a.
well that of their order in Mr.. Gilberts
nobiy corn with love affected, urges Lord Toi-
loller' in fine gentlemanly brogue, NOR treal
with virtuous scorn the well connected. High
rank involves no shame-we coast an equal ca III
with him of humble name, Jealousy is arous q
in her breast by the following subtle contriyances
eternal youth Is "IOlanthe'.'-thati Is TO say sh {
waxed older in appearance from her birth to he
seventeenth year, but not aiterwaTd. Perhaps
early marriage stopped her growth. Anyhow, SUI
looks lat forty much younger than her son
n stout lnmpkin OF four and twenty. Mother an'
| child are, however demonsTat1vely fond OF on
another, aud their natural caresses, witne,e'
| by Phyllis" seem TO admit of but on
| interpre tsuOn. She breaks with ''Strephon'
despite the Intervention of the fairies, who bes
witness to the real character OF mis- relation &
"Iolauthe," and, highly irritated at the incredi
tibility with which their assurances received
by the Peers, threaten to abolish their order AM
stead of birth. The finale in which this ''situs
tion"is developed viii rank(until surpassed by tn
plete of Messrs. Gilbert & sullivan,s joint compo
si,ions. 1t is positively cTammed full OF goo'
things, both in words and music An assemble
with the patter burden, "Faradiddle, tiradidole
toll toll, layl positively sparkles with literary AM
musical humor, and so, indeed does another, il
gaiop-Iime c'Young Strephon Is the King Q
| Loye''), to which the curtain falls as phyllis
| swoons into the arms of 'Iolollor" and Mount
srsIat %agnicent Grena ID GIaTdsmaP
palace yard, opens the second act with an al
| mirable song, his sedate, deliberate ana tuneiu
tripping fairies and tstrutting peers then indulS
in some neat epigrammatlcaI Wrangnpg on Tn
subject OF parliamentary reform; In pseudo
patriotic lay Lord MountsraTat sets forth tn
splendid services rendered to Britain by the uppe
house, when absolutely inert. By this time III
fairies are irrevocably enamored Of their lord
| ships snd betray their feelines in a duet an,
| chorus & In Vain to Us You Plead, " the gem Q
/ the opera. Music and word alike are surpassingl
| sympathetic sna charming. he fairy queen, toe
| is soul smltten by the thews and sihews OF Pr
vate Willis" but hopes to quench the rising fam
| OF her great love- By the aid of Capt. Shaw s
/ brigade. The chancellor discovers that his fai
vile is living as well his grown-up son, the oil
| ject of his wards affections OF course everyuod
| is made happy. Fairies mate with peers, thei
| queen proposes TO Private Willis" and is al
| copied by him in self-sicridcipg spirit where
| upon he developes a dainty pair of scarlet wing
(the chancellOrs are snow white and contrast yer
| comically with the jet-black of his leyee dress
| brisk dancing chorus.