Bismarck weekly tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1884-1943, 1890-11-21
Grand Opera.
from Sundays Daily. I

night on the Bismarck Stage-rObuSt, ma
jestic and more queenly than ever. Nor is
it the magnificent wardroDcs of Worth that
charms the audience; it is the perfect voice
sweet and m~elodious-the artistic herself
that captivates. Seldom, if ever, has Bis
marck turned out such Il large and Ell
thusiastic audience as listened to Emma
Abbott and her superb company in the
opera of "Martha' last night. And there
seemed to be a bond of sympathy existing
between the audience and the singers that
prompted applause at the proper time and
to the proper extent. The singing of THE
Last Rose of Summer in the third act
brought forth tremendous applause. En-
ma AbbOtt's rendition of this
popular melody is superior to that of any
other actress on the operate stage and last
evening the charming warbler was az her
best. The tenor of F. Michelena and the
rich bass voice of VIM. Pruett met with
hearty encores, and the chorus of sixty
voices and the orchestra of twenty artists
made up a perfect performance.
A special train from Mandan brought a
large number of people from over the river
and delegations were also present from
Steele, Dawson and other points in the
vicinity Of Bismarck.
The argument of the opera of Martha or
the Fair at Richmond is as follows: Lady
Harriet, tired of the amusement which
court life affords, forms a plan to visit the
fair at Richmond disguised as a servant in
search OF employment. She is accom-
panied by Nancy. her maid, and Sir Tristan,
a cousin and admirer of hers. ali appropri-
ately attired for the occasion. Two
| young farmers, Lionel and Plunkett, also
nnmn thnrn VinnAl - q ~ oln,fnI nhilJ 30
Plunketts PARENTS. now both deceased.
Lionel's father died leaving him nothing
but a ring. with the injunction to present
it to the Queen if he should ever be in dis
tress. The two foster brothers came to
the fair for the purpose of engaging help
personal appearance of Lady Harriet and
her maid, and offer to engage them. The
Lady and Nancy, who relish this joke, ac-
cept the offer and take the earnest money,
unaware that thereby they are bound in
law to serve for the space of one year.
When they wantto leave the fair the farm
ers detain them; TriStan's interference is
useless, and as Lady Harriet does not wish
to reveal her name and rank. she is obliged
to 60 with them. The foster brothers soon
find out that their new servants know alb
solutely nothing Of their duties. But as
Lionel is quite smitten with the Lady, and
Plunket with the maid, their domestic in
capacity is excused. Lionel, left alone
with his Few servant, who has adopted the
name OF Martha, makes advances and asks
her to become his wife. Lady Harriet
laughs at him. They are interrupted by
Plunkett and Nancy. The clock strikes
midnight and masters and servants part to
go to rest. Tristan, who has followed the
track of the ladies, assists in their escape.
A little while after this occurrence the
Queen, with the ladies of the court, among
whom are Lady Harriet and her maid,
hunt in a forest adjoining Plunket's farm.
Plunket and Lionel recognize their former
of them. Lionel, driven frantic by the
cruel calmness with which Martha pre-
tends not to know him, remembers that he
has the ring left him by his father. He
i~ntrusts it to Plunket, who delivers it to
the Queen. Lionel is discovered to be the
ended his days in disgrace into which he
had unjustly fallen. Queen Anne causes
the title and possessions OF the late Earl
to be restored to the son.
Lady Harriett, anxious to re-establish
herself in the favor of the new created earl,
cOntrives to be the first to communicate to
him the news of his parentage. But Lionel
receives her coldly. and when she offers
him her hand, he even then cannot over
come the bitter feeling in his heart toward
the false and cruel one. But Lady Herriett
with the assistance of Plunkett), contrives
SClll announcer plan 10 DrlnE ABOUT a recon-
citation. A part of the Lady's park is
transformed into a fac smile OF the market
place at Richmond. Farmers and servants
appear, and the Lady in her peasants
dress mingles with che throng. At the
sight of Lady Harriet in the costume OF
a servant, Lionels former love for her re-
turns, aud the two lovers are at last united.
So are Plunkett and Nancy and the curtain
descends on two happy couples.
NOTES.
Senator Pierce: I saw Emma Abbott at
Grand Forks-have seen her a great many
times-but 1 want to say that | never saw
her appear to such an excellent advantage
as in the opera of Martha presented at the
Atheneum last evening. And the audience
was so intelligent II appreciative-1 tell
you it was a rare treat-cOuldn't have been
better on an eastern stage.
Much credit is due MI. Wakeman for his
excellent management, as shown in the Or
der kept throughout the performance. the
securing of the electric lights and special
preparation made for the troupe on the
stage. None of the leading theatrical COM
panies of the world need turn their noses
up at the Bismarck opera house after
this.
The last act was cut slightly but it was
hardly noticed. The company had to &c
away on the 11:S0 train.