The evening light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1881-1883, 1883-01-15
DONNA JUANITA.
A synopsis of the German Comic Opera to
be Presented This Evening.


Synopsis of the German Comic Opera to
be Presented This Evening.
Marie Geistinger, supported by a large com
pany, will appear in German opera at Turner
hall this evening and tomorrow, in Donna
Juanita" this evening, in ''Boccacio' to-mor-
row at matinee and in 'Trompette" Tomorrow
evening. Donna Juanita" is a comic opera in
three acts, by Suppe.
The locality of the opera is the fortified city
of San Sebastian in the year l79G, during the
war of the allied armies of France and Spain
against England The city is in state of great
excitement, as the French armies are preparing
to attack the English army within its walls,
and rid the inhabitants of the English yoke
RiegO, public letter writer, gives to
CASTOR, a brave French officer. captive
to the English, and who is in love with PetritO,
the sister of the innkeeper Paolo, a dispatch
addressed to Sir Douglass, the English gov
ernOr, which he has taken from an English
carrier. While the inhabitants are in council
the English governor, accompanied by the al
calde, secret friend of the English, appears
and the pOpulace dispense, Olympia, the wife
of the aicalde, a former ballet dancer, Is also
in love with the captive CASTOR anu enaeayOrS
in every way to attach him toher train, but he
has I'm abhOrance for her. She is still fond of
her former occupation as danseuse, and is
constantly uanClnR, even 10 uanclflg the IAN
dango on the public streets of the town. Rene
Dufour madame Geistinger) q French cadet,
brother to CASTOR, disguised as II muletccr,
manages to enter the city, where CASTOR, in a
lit of jealousy, dcnounces him as such to the
governor. Rene, pleased wth.thc idea, resolves
10 carry il out anu is strengthened in his purpose
by RiCgO, and the governor and the alcalde fall
violently in love with the supposed female,
who assumes to be Donna Juanita.
7 In the second act the two enamorcd old
men engage band OF students to serenade the
glnnnCnI Donna -Inlnitn. and
themselves TO present their compliments. Out
of this ensues some very romantic scenes,
and finally Rene presides over the secret coun-
ell, when she discovers that the English are eX-
pecting reinf0rcements in the person of fifty
soldiers dressed as pilgrims. She makes i'm
mediate use of this important discovery
and sends RiegO to the French general
with the information, so as to capture the fifty
Engiishmen and substitute fifty French soldiers
in their place, to gain admission TO the city, in
that disguise, and deliver it TO the allies. After
a little Jealous scene between CASTOR and Pc
tIita, occasiOned by Rene's love of mischief,
which he afterwards quiets, grand reception
is Civ en- by the alcalde, during which he also
receives the supposed pilgrims, whom he, of
course, presumes are EngliShmen
When act third opens the alcalde has ar
ranged with Rene donna JuanitD 20 appear
ms "a baby at the jamaica Children's Carnival,
which is about to take place, and Rene pro
poses on that day TO open the gates and hand
the city over to General Pichegru,
the French commander. The supposed
pilgrims are at their respective stations, and
await the prCcOncerted signal. Olympia, an old
coqlette also appears dressed as a baby, and
the fun becomes general. For the purpose of
Kidding herself of Olympia, Rene tells her that
CASTOR has praised her greatly, and, filled with
JOY, she disappears, dancing a fandango. The
alcalde now appears dressed as Il baby, and all
join in the dance and make merry. a cannon
shot is heard, which is the Signal the pilgrims
open the gates and General Pichegru and his
comrades ride into the city. Rene delivers to
him the fortress, to the surprise of the English,
and as his reward he is Immediately made
colonel.