New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-01-08
SONGS FROM 1.-THE UOCNTEB1NKS.'

SKELETONS FROM Mr.. GILBERTs CLEVER
vrRSrs- THE CAST FOR THE OPERA
A sketch Of the plot Of "Thc Moun,ebanks" the new
opera by W. s Gilbert and Alfred Ccl'pr. when !" |"
he sung for the first time In this city al the "hrd"h
Theatre on Wednesday evening was given in these
cor,nrs a few dave ago Mr. Glhcrt's books ar" al
WAYS Interesting not only because the story j. usually
clever bnt the lyrics and IN" dialogues nave
, brightness and deftncss % execution ana Uhe
literary uralty that r.lr,shlng IN comic "p'T'
~ thev are unusual. \ bit OK thi, t heard al the
very beginning Of The aintohanks. when the mem
her, u the ramOIia secret society, when mas MI
ancient vendetta on it, hnnds. sing
We orc members OF a secret society.
Working by "a" moons uncertain dis'
Our motto (. "Eevongr without Anxiety
That H. witlou: unnecessary FISH
The numerous situations Of the opera arse OF course
from the circumstance Of nearly al the Characters
pretending to be- for various reasons. what they are
not and from their dnukinr a magic potion wmoh
change, them all into what they are Al th" moment
pretending TO be- Thus these same Ianorr'7' NM
nuered,ng as monks are transformed into true MONKS
The village gIs. supposng that II Is suIl ohN mas
auerade expect III" same AFTERNOONS iro' l"''' "''
,hcy have been accustomed 10 receive ana I" the'r
1uproach.s the chief Of the Thn"rra7 f"phcS'
Th4s. Establishments pray you curb.
Nor think churl--nor think u, chnrH'
Our uiOus calm do not disturb.
Now there's good girls-n"w there's GOO s'
We try % ifccIc-we Try 10 HeeAc'
We don't as yet pretend 10 be
81 Anihonics-st AnthOnles:
So 40 along-nOr think III chuils
Now there's good girls-no" there's good gfiA
II has always been noticed that Mr.. Gilher:
initiate, himself and The habit has seldom. II ever been
,,o,o marked than in The Mounebanks." 1t Is inl
~ little things which recall tue writer's previous
works. For instance. Nh Gilbert IS always iona %
making hi, characters talk about their own beauty
CaIoteo doe, IT, Grosvenor does II. Yum ium docs
it. ard now IN the opera TcreS says
It. my opinion-though own
In thinking 80 I'm quite alone
In some respects I'm but a fright
yon like my features. supI"'ef
Pm d.appo ntod with my nose;
some rave about it-pcrhap- they re- Hsh@
Nv figure Just sets or IT,
,ut when they -y ~ exquisite
and they do -ay 80, that 700 strong
I hon, I'm not what p,op.e csD
Opniatcd After all,
I'm but q goose aud may be wrong.
,,ore f. n.rhap, nothing in the whole opera NOR
,,v,aIv 6;illertian than the attempt 10 pro'o ''"'
n,u. u,s secretly married 10 Hamlet far'oo
y.. .Tbcro's nothing Ia show that th'N WIT wv
married. secretly" to which Pietro Objects :. "
had been the case IT would have Dceh a,a'u ,".
Mia replies: Not II II was secret Inv i' :,
II Was not mentioned shows that IL was s''i''. :,
| +, hadn't been a secret why conceal it!' sever"
80 songs o,e worth quotng. but one more must
~, h., row Mr. Gilbert has long been an
u,bority ON the feelings and the conduct OF o'ohS
IND and here is what Alfredo. Teresa ana 'i'ice
1 say about them
,r-Xow ladies', pray YOU listen to me-
Dlcky.birds Ia their nest agree
n they can do 81. do 80 to-
Ter and rt-What has IT, pray 70 10 VIII" 'o1'
UIt-Dicpy birds don't 10 gain their onu''
p,prccatc their absent friends
-pIckyblrds don't. wbae'er they near
FORGET that they are ladies. dear
Al Dicky.brIs twectc, twcctlc. twcek,
which may bc silly, and does sound weak
M, dicky. birds don't. whate'cr they hear
| Forget that they are ladies. deal
Hero & the east with which "1he Moun'ebanks' Is
! to be presented: - ,,,o comr
Alfredo. '-'-'''' ~ + ,arl,,1u
PAR
Ic.s %
Giorgo hoNIoV Charles RouN
sn.,o ,t,od.rck
p.niso HuS'" nas.i