Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-11-23
The story Of the opera, the scenes of which

The story Of the opera, the scenes of which
are laid in Spain, is as follows:
Don Bamboula, who is the ruler of an OBJ.
scure province, comes with his retinue for
the purpose of hunting, and also with the
idea that he may find, at distance from
the court, village girl willing to marry
him.
A male heir is necessary to preserve the
title to his Dukedom, and Don Bamboula
Is therefore most anxious to marry, but he is
so painfully ill-featured that none OF the
court ladies will listen to his suit, and his
estates are in fair way to 60 to his niece,
Dolores, who is next in succession.
On this part of the coast there is legend
regarding a fabulous parsonage known as
the Sea King, who is supposed to visit the
coast once year for the purpose OF carry
ing off one of the village girls.
The Sea King is, in reality, Mateo De
Villereal, the rightful heir to the Dukedom
which Don Bamboula has usurped. The
latter has been the cause of the banishment
and death of Mateo's father, and Ma.eo
himself maintains his existence by smug-
CLING, and is vested by the peasantry with a
supernatural character.
Mateo and his band visit the coast simul-
taneously with Don Bamboula and his
courtiers, and Dolores and the smugpler
Among the supernatural characteristics
imputed by the peasantry to the Sea King
is the power to render handsome all with
whom he associates, and as Rosita, a vii
lage belle, has agreed to wed Don Bamboula
provided he becomes more fair of lace,
the latter proposes to Mateo to exchange
Dolores hand for Transformation into per
sonal beauty.
Don Bam boula Is in reality practicing du-
plicity, for he means Dolores to wed Pedrillo,
a young nobleman OF wealth, for his own
pecuniary benefit. Learning of this con-
templated treachery, Mateo and his crew
carry of Dolores, Don Bamboula and other
members of the court to his stronghold, the
entrance of the Sea Kings ship and the
embarkation constituting the striking finale
Of Act I.
The scene of Act II is the grotto of the Sea
King, known as the Pearl Palace-a most
picturesque and effective setting.
1t is Mateo's intention to hold Don Bam-
boula prisoner until he is brought to terms,
when the Sea King will wed Dolores and re.
cover his dukedom.
Don Bamboula, not altogether confident
OF Mateo's ability TO improve his looks. en-
cages himself to Donna Olima, an aged
court lady who has for years been a captive
OF the smugglers, in order that he may be
onio VI WhS SuOulQ ne 1all 10 win ROSlta,
The anxious old bachelor, resolved to wed.
despite all obstacles, is lavish to prodigality
with his affections, and, together with two
OF his retinue, lays siege to the smugglers'
wives, thinking them captives of the Sea
Kings followers. Their wooing is over
heard by the smugglers, who swear venge-
ance, and but for Mateo's Intervention it
would have gone hard with them.
Mateo again asks for Dolores hand. re-
yealing his identity when Don Bamboula
declares he cannot give his niece to one who
is not of noble birth. Fearful of couse-
quences. Don Bamboula again effects to
consent, but secretly dispatches Miguel, his
1avorlte page, by a secret path to the nearest
town for the military. At an opportune
moment the soldiers appear, rescue Don
Bamboula and his companions and carry
Mateo away with them prisoner.
Act LII. takes place in Don Bamboula's
palace, where preparations for the marriage
of Dolores and Pedr1llo are rapidly being
carried out. Mateo is retained prisoner in
the dungeons of the palace, awaiting his
trial for treason.