Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1894-07-19
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duced at the Tivoli Theatre, san Fran
cisco.
The comic opera entitled "Dick Tur.
PIN" was produced for the first time on
any stage at the Tivoli Theatre, San
Francisco, Monday night week. The
music was written by Bowness Briggs,
the well-known musician of this city,
and the lbretto by II. Grattan Don.
nelly, the celebrated playwright, author
of ship Alloy Later on" "Natural
Gas" Darkest Russia" &c.
MIR. Briggs and Professor G. B. Rhoads
started West about three weeks ago to
be present at the initial performance of
the opera. Private dispatches received
in this city announced ii complete
success. The interest manifested on the
second night of the performance was
even greater than on the first night.
The opera is founded on the romantic
story of the highwayman "Dick Turpin,"
but the librettist has taken the liberty
of making Turpin an heroic character,
(tenor) an English lord, who has been
defrauded of his rights as master of
lockwood Hall. by his uncle, Sir Oliver
Cross (baritone.)
The opera is divided into three acts.
Act |. shows the exterior.0f the "Royal
George" an old English inn; on the
trees are placards offering rewards for
the capture of Dick Turpin. The cur
tain goes up on an opening chorusby
villagers and gypsfes. Sir Oliver Cross
conspires with Major Slasher4 of Her
Maiesty's Dragons to'carry off Eleanor
Mortimer, the" Beaity.ot Bath" Gross
assumes the character Of Dick Turpln
and arranges to stop the York mail
coach in which Eleanor is travelling, and
take hcr,to Rookwood Hall. Handassah,
gypsy maid in love with Sir Oliver,
betrays the conspiracy 10 the real Dick
Turpin. The coach arrives which ends
the first act, the curtain going down on
coaching chorus with taily.ho accom-
paniment.
Act II. shows gypsy camp, with
moonlight effect. During this act
Turpin arrives and arranges to have
Sir Oliver captured when he assumes
the character of Turpin and handed
over to the detectives, who have been
sent from London. This plan iscarried
out, and when the mail coach arrives,
the real Turpin stops ii, and discloses
to Eleanor the plot against her, and
confesses his love for her. After a very
pretty love scene, Turpin tells Eleanor
his real station in life, whereupon she
assures him of the full pardon of the
king, handing him ring upon which is
engraved:
Who shall this golden pledge possess,
Whatever wrong he may confess.
His paTdon's granted by this ring,
Upon the word OF George the King.
Act Ill. opens in the drawing room
of lockwood Hall. Four footmen sing
an opening chorus. Sir Oliver, who
has escaped from his captors, arrives in
a great rage, vowing vengeance on Dick
Turpin. In the meantime, Turpin,
Eleanor, llandassah and two attendant
gypsies have by stratagem entered the
hall and concealed themselves. One of
the gypsies DISCUSSES himself as Major
Slasher, the friend of Sir Oliver, and
enters the room leading Eleanor by the
hand, and tells Sir Oliver that he cap.
tured her on her way 10 York.
Sir Oliver is ovcrioyed and makes
arrangements to have his marriage
celebrated Immediately, Eleanor ac-
quiescing. She retires to put on her
bridal robes. Instead of doing this thew
attire Handassah in the bridal garments,
in which disguise she is married 10 Sir
Oliver. Dick rurpin and his men then
enter and tie conspiracy is disclosed.
Sir Oliver finding himself helpless,
acknowledges his wrong doing, halls
Dick Turpin as master of lockwood
Hall, and promises to cherish Handas-
sab, his newly made wife. The curtain
descends upon the new master of Rock
wood Hall with his promised wife, the
"Beauty of Bath"
There are twenty.eight numbers in
the opera, exclusive Of the choruses,
equally divided between sentiment and
comedy. The opinion of critics is to
the effect that Mr. Briggs has used rare
judgment in setting the lyrics. Edgar
smith, the stage manager for Seabronke,
after hearing all the numbers, stated
that tho sentimental numbers more
nearly approached those of Stephen
Foster (author of "Oid kentucky
Home" &c.l than any he had ever
heard, while, at the same time, the
comic numbers, he thought, could not
be eXCelled. -.
Wilmingtonians will doubtless have n
chance to hear the opera during the fall
season, as several comic opera managers
are now in San Francisco for the pur-
pose Of arranging to produce dick
Turpin" in the East.
Last Friday George Fl. Kerr of this
city. received the following telegram:
PALACE HoTEL, SAN FRANctsco, July 10.
-undoubtcd success assured; enormous
houses repeated enCpreS