The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1895-09-27

Smith and herbcrt's New Opera Is
Produced at Wilkes. Barre.
1T HAS ELEMENTS OF SUCCESS
Delightful Music; Harmless Fun; ElabOr
ntc Scenery; Dazzling Costumes and
Stage Pictures Among the Features
That Charm q Large Audience.

A large audience representing the
wealth and culture of Wilkes-Barre
gathered at the Grand Opera house at
that city last evening To witness the
initial performance of "The Wizard of
the Nile" the new comic opera, the
joint work of Harry B. Smith and Vic
tor Herbert.
II the managers of the enterprise
have ever had doubts as to the ulti-
mate success of the work. they must
have been dispelled by the reception
given the opera last night. The beauti-
ful picture disclosed at the rise of the
curtain on the first act was greeted
with burst of applause. and the en-
thusiasm of the audience was kept up
through the evening. From beginning
to end it seems that no detail has been
omitted that would assist in making
The Wizard of the Nile" an ideal pro-
duction. Continuous fun. delightful
music. elaborate and realistic scenery
and dazzling costumes are among the
features that will no doubt make this
opera one of the most successful ever
produced since the days of '>Erminie."
In the arrangement of the various de-
tails of the book and musical score,
Messrs Smith and Herbert have en-
tered upon new avenues, and while the
opera is fraught with feminine beauty.
rich coloring and musical gems. II pos
sesses marked features OF originality,
when considered as a comic opera.
story Of the Opera.
The story of "The Wizard of the
Nile" narrates the adventures of Ei-
bosh. wandering necromancer, who
is making professional tour of Egypt.
The scene is laid in that country dur
ing the youth of Cleopatra. 1t appears
that Ptolemy. king of Egypt has in
vested the royal surplus in desert lands
in and adjacent to Egypt. He,has been
led to do SO by Cheops. a weather
prophet, who has predicted that the
next annual overflow of the Nile will
be Of such unusual magnitude as to
fertiliZe the desert. Cheops' prophecies
invariably go by contraries. and in this
case instead of an unusual overflow of
the Nile. there is none at all. and a
drouth results. As penalty for his
unlucky prophecy Cheops is to be be-
headed amid the rejoicing of a thirsty
pUpulace. In the midst of the festiv-
tiles attending the execution, 1t Is an
nounced that the barge of Cleopatra
is approaching. The barge appears,
but instead of Cleopatra, il contains
the tramp magician Kibosh. who has
appropriated the barge while Cleopatra
and her maids left it for the purpose of
gathering lotos-lilies. Kibosh and his
factorum. Abydos, are sentenced to
prompt decapitatiOn for stealing Cleo
patra's provate yacht.
Just as the axe is about to fall upon
kibosh's neck, he says. regretfully.
that with him perishes the great se-
cret for causing the Nile to overflow.
Ptolemy stops the execution just i'm
time. and begs Kibosh to try his magic
upon the sacred river. If he succeeds
in effecting the inundation KibOsh Is
to be loaded with honors. and is to
marry the Princess Cleopatra, who Is
at present a young girl, who has never
heard of love.
kihOsh Is introduced.
Cleopatra and her maids enter twin
ing garlands of lotos blossoms. and
Kibosh is introduced to the princess
as possible husband. A kings daugh-
ter can be made love to only in the
presence of witnesses, and Kibosh Is
placed in an embarrassing position: he
must make love to a girl who never
heard of love. and that too, in the
presence of the entire court After this
trying ordeal. Kibosh is requested To
make good his assertion that he could
cause the overflow of the Nile. AS he
is an absolute charlatan. he tries to
postpone the affair. but Is forced to the
proof of his powers. Accordingly he
goes through a scene of incarnation,
exhorting the Nile to rise. but feeling
all the while that his efforts are hope
less, and his doom certain. To his as
;,t,s hi
is followed by signs Of approaching in
unda ton. 1t Is mere coincidence, but
Kibosh takes all the credit to himself
and demands the hand of Cleopatra.
The act ends as Kibosh and the
princess are borne in triumph to the
royal palace, amid general rejoicings.
Incidental to the main story is sub
plots concerning the love of Ptarmigan.
Cleopatra's music teacher, for his royal
pupil. She makes a compromise be-
tween her curiosity and her dignity and
allows him to love her on the even
days of the month, while on the odd
days he must keep his place as singing
teacher. Further complications result
from the fact that Abydos, KibOsh's s
Greek servant, also fails in love with
the irresistible Cleopatra.
Troubles OF kihOsh.
In the second act it appears that in
stead of a deceDt overflow, the Nile has
so flooded the country that the popula-
ton has taken to living on the roofs
The scene Is the roof of the royal palace
and Ptolemy and his court are suffer-
ing from colds. as the result of the
flood Instead of marrying Kibosh to
Cleopatra. he Is to be executed for over
doing the Nile rising, but he cannot
be found. Finally he appears in a
small boat and takes refuge In the top
of palm tree near the palace roof.
Here he is captured and ingenious tor
lures are devised for him. He Is re-
leased, however. when he discloses the
plan of Cleopatra TO elOpe with her
music teacher.
The announcement Is then made that
the unusual food has fertiliZed the
desert lands bought by the king. The
royal land speculation is success,
and Kibosh demands CleOpatra's hand
as his reward. Kibosh Is loaded with
uncomfortable honors. Alydos, furi-
ously jealous. causes an explosion
among kibosh's magic paraphernalia.
the queens apartments are wrecked
and Kibosh, charged with this mis-
chief is stripped of his honors and
sentenced 20 be walled up alive In a
pyramid. Ftarmigan. for planning the
elopement, Is doomed to be one Of the
slaves to wall him up.
Interior Of q Pyramid.
In act third the interior Of pyramid
Is shown; the stonecutters are prepar-
ing TO imprison Kibosh. Pfarmigan Is
one of these slaves. Cleopatra comes
to tell him that at last she knows
what love is. He Is Overjoyed. thinking
that ne Is the object of this newly dis
covered passion: but the princess pro-
duces a medallion of Marc Antony.
She has fallen in love with the picture
and feels that this Mr.. Antony, though
at present a stranger. Is her affinity.
A duet follows, in which Cleopatra
comparesthe portrait with Ptarmigan
to the latter's disadvantage. Abydos
and the royal page appear and take
the places of mummies In the pyramid.
1t Is their intention to effect the release
of Kibosh after frightening him.
Kibosh enters with lPtOlemy. who
A. Il.