Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-01-02
THE GONDOLIERS.
Notes on the Story of Gilbert and Sulii-
vans New Opera
From the Saturday Review.

From the Saturday Review.
The story of The Gondoliers" may be very
briefly summarized One of the two. Marco IT
giuseppe Palmieri. is believed TO be herr 10
Barataria; they have both married; but if
either is king no was married in infancy 10
some one else; so that there are two husbands
and three wives, and mystery attaches TO the
problem who is at once king and bigamist. A
very neat end is, however. provided. for il ap-
pears that the king Of Barstaria is quite
another person, and that he has long been de-
votedly attached to the girl to whom
he was welded at the age OF six
months. This is the main story. the
clever satire Of a monarchy tempered
with republican equality being incidental The
verse which describes this form of government
Sould De Wen worth quoting. but that Mr.. Gil
pert VINO Is SO rarely siipshod. does not seem
able to ind rhyme for equality" and re-
peats the word. Casilda. daughter Of the
duke OF Plaza-Toro, an impecunious hidalco
who Is being made into a limited company.
loves her fathers suite" his drummer iulz.
the sole attendant upon the impoverished duke.
Casllda learns that she was married in infancy
TO the prince of Barataria and. as he lives LUZ
and she must part "Henceforth," she saws.
my life Is another's" The dialogue con-
tinues:
Luiz-"But stay-the present and the future
they are another's; but the past-that at least
is ours, and none can take it from us As We
may revel IN naught else, let us revel in that -
Cas.-"I don't think grasp your meaning. s.
Lulz-,'iet 1t is logical enough. You say you
cease to love me?"
Cas-. (demurely)-''I say NAV not love YOU. s.
Luiz-"But you do not say you did not love
me?"
Cast loved you with a frenzy that words
are powerless to express-and that but ten brief
minutes since"
LUZ" Exactly. My own-that is, until ten
minutes since. my own-my lately loved. my
recently adored-tell me that until say a quar-
ter of an hour ago, was all in all to thee
Embracing herr
Cas.-I see your idea. 1t is ingenious, but
don't do that. (Rcleasing herself)
Luiz-There can be no harm in reyeling in
the past
Cas.-None whatever, but an embrace can
not be taken to act retrospectiyely.
Luiz-Perhaps not.
Cas.-We may recollect an embrace recol-
lect many-but We must not repeat them.
Lulz-Then let us recollect a fewi "a
moments pause. as they recollect, then both
heave deep sigh.)
Lulz-Ah, Casilda, you we're to me as the sun
is to the EARTH
Casa quarter of an hour ago?
LulZ-About that
Cas.-And to think that, but for this miser-
able discovery, you would have been my own
for life.
Luiz-Through life to death quarter of
an hour ago.
Cas:-How greedily my thirsty ears would
have drunk the golden melody of those sweet
words quarter-well, it's now about twenty
minutes since. Cooking at her watch)
Lulz-About that. In such a matter one
cannot be too precise.
Tie verse is frequently poetical. and il is
charming to note the manner in which Sir
Arthur sullivan enters into the spirit of the
lines. The GOndoliers' duet, We're Called
Gondoiieri," is light and gay until a reference
Is made IN the course of il to vespers and yigils
and serenades, and then a shade of sentiment is
cunnlngly suggested in the score by other
means than simple piano. The good ideas
are discreetly handled and not overdone. The
fantastic notion of turning the duke of Plaza
Toro into a limited company is a case
In point. A few sentences spring from the
announcement. The daughter trusts that she
may never be called upon at any time to wit
ness her honored sire IN process of liquidation:
and her mother admits that IF your father
stops, 1t will of course be necessary to wind
hlm up. Otherwise little is heard of the duke
In his novel capacity until the excellent satire
OF the song in which duke and duchess describe
the nature of the functions they fulfil. the duke
explaining how he secures honors TO satisfy
cheap ambition, advertises ''ready-made"
tallors, at whose manufacture he admits that
Robinson Crusoe would gibe; while part of the
duchess confession runs:
n L..