The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1894-12-30
SIR ARTHUR'S LATEST
NOTABLE OPERA Is "THE CHIEF
TAIN, RECENTLY PRODUCED.
Brilliant Book by Burnand, but Not
Up to the Masterpieces Turned
Out by Mr.. Gilbert.

The first performance of a new opera by
Sir Arthur Sullivan is always an event OF
Importance in the London musical world,
and for some weeks past amateurs and
patrons of the lighter vein of opera have
been looking forward to the first night of
another Sullivan score, with the ring and
Jingle that long ago did SO much to add to
Sir Arthurs reputation in the peculiar line
of melody he has made distinctly his own
Sir Arthur's latest contribution TO the light
opera stage, recently produced at the Sa-
voy, is worked-over production twenty
six years old. 1t is that long since +. G.
Burnard and Arthur Sullivan concocted
bright little comic opera in two acts, called
THE Conrtabandista," which really fur
nishes the book and some of the music for
the Savcy's new opera, ''The Chieftain."
The original work was written, composed
and produced in the limited space of sixteen
days. The late Mr.. T. German Reed opened
st. Georges Hall with the "Contraban-
dista" just twenty-seven years ago this
month, the actual date being Dec. Is, 1867.
There are nearly dozen additional char
acters in the new opera, while but five of
the original musical numbers are retained.
Practically, therefore, as Sir Arthur Sulli-
van says, the greater portion of the .Chief-
tain must be looked upon as a new work
Among the original numbers is a lovely
Spanish dance in the first act, a delicious
bit of melody, full of southern feeling and
color, but in the new opera Sir Arthur has
added brilliant chorus and greatly i'm
proved the orchestration. There are many
happy suggestions throughout all of the
telling orchestration in 1.-THE Chieftain,"
though, that are very pleasantly reminis-
cent OF some of Sir Arthur's earlier and
most successful operas. In fact, it is Sir
Arthur Sullivan at his best and brightest
once more. The score is full of those little
quips and quirks this ingenious composer
made one familiar with nearly a score of
years ago, and there is an abundance Of
melody In several of the songs and Choir
uses, particularly. that are of the sort that
sends people away from the theater hum
ming the air running through them.
Thus much for the score. As for the
story of sThe Chieftain,'' Mr. .Burnand has
managed to handle the plot in such a de-
lightful manner that ones interest is kept
lyrics, too, are quaint and witty, and.
while not Gilbertian, are sufficiently droll
to make the absence of Sir Arthur Arthur Sulli-
state of things not to be met with in His
Excellency," where Mr.. Osmond Cars mu-
sic by no means replaces the more gifted
and experienced Sir Arthur.
The story of THE Chieftain" Is as
amusing as it is reasonable. Briefly told,
it runs as follows: Peter Adolphus Grigg,
having concluded the business that
brought him to Spain, goes, with his pho
tographic apparatus, for a pleasure trip
into the mountains in order to procure
some picturesque views Of sunny Spain to
carry back to his wife and family. While
thus engaged he loses his way and is
eventually captured by good-natured, If
seemingly desperate, band Of brigands;
who are in the midst of mourning the
prolonged absence of their chieftain, one
Ferdinand de Roxas. 81
Now, the law of brigands Cor ladronas)
demands that, IL the chieftain does mot
return to his band within certain fixed
period. any stranger who may arrive In
their midst on certain day shall be
elected to fill the position of chieftain,
while at the same time he is bound to be-
come the affianced husband of their chief
tainess. Inez de Roxss Should :, the
stranger refuse these double honors he
Will be shot by the brigands. = er g Il
Naturally Qor the sake of the story lit
is Mr.. Peter Adolphus Grigg who is, the
first stranger that comes among the brig
ands at this most inauspicious moment, and
it is under the compulsory pressure of
carbines, pistols and daggers that Mr..
Grigg consents to accept his undesirable
honors. He is at once enthroned as the
affianced husband of Inez de Roxas, and is
declared chieftain of the ladrones.
In the meantime, Count VasqueZ friend
of Grigg, has come, disguised, in search of
Rita, an English girl with Spanish anees-
tors, to whom he is betrothed. Rita has
been taken prisoner merely for the, ransom
her release will bring, and her lover OBJ
tanning the ransom, he and Rita are re-
leased, while the unlucky Grigg is0left in
the mountains as the prospective husband
of the fiery IneZ.
In the second act, Grigg has been released
some sum Count Vasquez has sent by his
secretary, but only on condition that he
will return when summoned by the chief
tainess. 10
Aftsrward Inez and her leading lieuten-
ants in the band of brigands disguise them
selves as a noble and a lady and the MEM
bers OF her suite, and start off for a last
search for the missing chieftain, Ferdinand
de Roxas, who, when he departed a year
before for parts unknown carried With him
all the spoils in the brigands' cash box. III
There are photographs everywhere and
the police are on the lookout for the miss
ing chieftain., so. in order to escape capture
himself, Ferdinand assumes the disguise
and profession OF a courier, and in this ca
pacity is engaged by the real English wife
of Grigg. who has arrived in Spain in
search of her missing husband. -
1t is at Compostello, where Mrs. Grigg
and her courier and Mr.. Grigg and the
day, that Mr.. and Mrs. Grigg again meet.
Count Vasquez, who has married Rita since
the events of the first act have taken place.
also runs across MI. Grigg at Compostello,
village of Dehesas. where he and Rita are
TO pass their honeymoon. As Mr.. Grigg's
luSSdSc, anu tApcfsScS DIS Wen, nave Decn
attended to by the count. and the former
sent on to the chateau, Grgg is obliged to
accompany the count to Dehasas in order
to regain his luggage, and so, with the real
Mrs. Grigg and her new courier, he arrives
at the counts chateau to pay the newly
welded couple brief visit.
The courier hopes that, by remaining
with his new employer. he may carry out
his wish of going to England with the con-
tents of the stolen cash box.
But the unhappy Grigg, who is aware
that he has in effect Spanish wife, or, at
least, an affianced bride, in the person of
Inez de Roxas, dares not conf;de the truth
of his adventure in. the mountains to his
lawful English spouse. and eagerly looks
forward to meeting the count and countess
in order that they may concoct a story
which will satisfy the curiosity of Mrs.
Grigg, who wants to know what has kept
her Peter so long away from her in Spain
without his having written her q single
line.
The count and countess help him out OF
the difficulty, and Mrs. Grigg is induced
to believe that her husband is an unusually
modest self-effacing hero of romance
But suddenly Inez and the Ladrones. all
in disguise, appear on the scene. prosecuting
their search for their lost chief Inez
makes the acquaintance of Mrs Grigg.
passing herself off the Duchess de RoX-
as, and as such Mrs. Grigg introduces the
unlucky Grigg to her. Grigg would DENY
the story, but the witnesses are all pres
ent and the damning evidence Of a snap
shot photograph, taken by the count, OF
Grigg and Inez in a decidedly compromising
off cfaS tl.oo