Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1885-12-20
VERY FUNNY OPERA.
''The MikadO, or the Town of Titipu''
Ms Rendered by the Abbott
Troupe.
Brief biography Of Pretty Yum Yum,
Ko-Ko aud Pooh-iiah and the De
cayed Katisha.

cnyed kntishn.
The Abbott troupe appeared in matinee
Yesterday afternoon with nellini as Yum
Yum, and Annandale as Katiska. A fair
audience and "a highly appreciative one
witnessed the performance. The clear,
ringing voice of Bellini is as musical as a
mocking birds, and the contralto of
Annaudale has won for her reputation
as wide as the continent 1t was a
musical festival that well repaid attend
ancc. Hearty were the encores, and
beautiful bouquet attested the partially
OF some admirer of Annandale.
The Mlkado has family resemblance
to "Pinaforc," "Iolanthe" and
"Patcnce," perhaps more in style of
humor than in its style of music, but il
Is, nevertheless, Just as new as the operas
that have preceded it by these two gifted
gentlemen, w. S. Gilbert and Sir Arthur
Sullivan. "The Mikado" Is funny through
aud through, and is sure to make u hit
wherever it is given. The acting aud
costumes are exceedingly dToll aud pic
turesque, the dialogue is full of humor,
and those who listen TO the music the
first time will want to hear II the second
and third The scene of the opera is laid
in Japan, and probably it libels that
country no more than England is libcled
in some Of the operas, by the same gem
tlemcn, that have preceded it. Perhaps,
the plot or even the dialogue will appear
fiat on paper, but briefly, Act L, opens
with Il scene in the courtyard of Ko-Ko's
palace in the town of Titipu. Japa-
ncse mobiles are standing and sit
ting in attitudes suggested by native
drawings. Soon Nanki-Poo, son of the
Mikado, disguised as n wandering min
strel, and in love with Yum-Yum, enters
in great excitement and says ga year
ago | was n member of the Titipu town
band II was my duty to take the Capround
for contributions. While discharging this
delicate office, | saw Yum-Yum. We
loved each other at once, but she was
betrothed to her guardian, Ko-Ko, a cheap
tailor, and saw that my suit was hope
less Overwhelmed with despair |
quilted the town. Judge of my delight
when heard a month ago that Ko-Ko
had been condemned to death for flirting.
hurried back at once in the hope of
finding Yum-Yum at liberty to listen to
my protestations." But he learns that
while Ko-Ko was condemned to death for
flirting, he was reprieved at the last mo-
ment and raised to the rank of lord high
eXecutloner. But Nanki-Poo is told by
Pooh-Bah, lord high almost everything,
that his suit is hopeless.
Young man, despair,
Likewise go, too.
Yum yum the fair
You must not WOO.
IL Will not do
I'm sorry for you,
You very imperfect ablutoner.
Nanbi-Poo is in despair, and finally re-
solves to commit suicide, but he is dis
suadcd by theLord HighEXecutioneer, who
tells him if he really means to die-"If
you really mean what you say, and if you
are absolutely resolved to die, and if
nothing whatever will shake your deter
mination-don't spoil yourself by COM
hitting suicide, but be beheaded
handsomely at the hands of the
Public EXeCutioner." He finally con
SCENTS on permission of EXcutioner Ko-
10, who, by the way, is in love with her
himself, to allow him to marry Yum-Yum
and live with her month. Act IL. sees
Nanki-POo and Yum-Yum about to be
married, while Ko-Ko, who cannot get up
courage to behead Nanki-Poo, lets him
off, and gets the "Lord Chief Justice and
Lord High Admiral, Commander-in-Ch Chief,
Secretary of State for the Home Depart
ment, First Lord of the Treasury and
Commissioner of Police" all in the per-
son of Pooh-Bah, to swear that he has
been executed, which he says will do Just
as we'll. Ko-Ko's description to the Mi
kado of the execution that did not take
place is very funny. ole says "a
tough fellow he was, too-a man of gi-
gantic strength. His struggles were ter
rifle. 1t was really remarkable scene"
and sings:-
The criminal cried as he dropped him down,
In a state of Wild alarm
With frlghtful, frantic, fearful irOwn
barred my big right arm.
| seized him by his little pig tail,
And on his knees fell he,
As he squirmed and struggled
And gurgled and gugglcd,
drew my snickcrsnce'
on never shall
Forget the cry,
or Che shrlek that shrekcd he,
As gnashcd my teeth,
when from It's sheath
drew my snickcrsneC
Even Pitt-Slng, one Of the three little
maids, adds her testimony regarding the
affair:
! He shivcred aud shook as he gave the sim
| For the stroke he didn't dcseryci
| When all Of Il sudden his syo met mne
And J. seemed to brace his nerve
| For he nodded his head and kissed his hand
Aud he whistled an air, didhe,
As the saber true
| Cut clcanly through
I His Cervical vertcbrC
And PoOh-Bah corroborates it thus:
/ Now though you'd have said that head was
dead,
| (For lis owner, dead was hol
4 IL stood on It's neck with a smile well bred
/ And bowed three times to me-
| II was none Of your impudent, OF hand mods,
Butas humble rs could be,
| For Il clearly knew
| The Difference due