The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-12-12

The largest audience of the season well
coined De Wolf Hopper and his excellent
company in the opera Eel Captain" last
night. There was not a vacant seat in the
house. In fact the capacity of the theater
was exhausted long before the doors were
opened. Standing room was scarce when
the curtain went up. Many of the ladies'
and gentlemen were in fun dress, and
some of the boxes contained theater par
ties. This was Mr.. Hoppers second APP
pearance here as star; he played Or
Syntax" here two years ago.
The merry, tuneful opera was hugely en-
joyed by the large assemblage. Many Of
the numbers were enthusiastically encor-
ed and the choruses at the finales of each
act were repeated. Mr.. Hopper was at his
best AS the Viceroy of Peru,
he was, if that is possible, even funnier
than in the character of "Dr. Syntax."
Pretty Edna Wallace Hopper came in for
good share of the applause, and the entire
cast and chorus did splendid work.
The action of Eel Captain takes place
in Peru. King Philip of Spain has, for
state reasons, appointed Don Medigua vice
roy of Peru, instead of Dom LUZ Cazarro,
whom he has summarily removed. Upon
the new viceroy's arrival in Peru he dis
covers that Cazarro, the ex-viceroy, is at
the head of a well-organized army of Pc
ruvian insurgents TO deprive him of his
viceregal authority. Seeing himself in i'm
mediate danger, Don Medigua declines to
publicly pose as viceroy and appoints one
Pozzo, a poor dependent, to act as the
kings representative instead of himself;
thus Pozzo's life is constantly in danger
while Don Medigua, the real viceroy, joins
the insurgents under the nom de guerre of
FL Captain for the purpose of finding out
how matters are, so as to be on both sides.
Once in the enemy's camp, Don Medigua,
who is masquerading as Eel Captain,
spends money freely and acquires an emil
nent reputation as a fighter, mainly
through reports which he circulates him
self and finally when the Viccroy's PAL
ace is attacked Ell Captain himself leads
the mob captures Pozzo, accuses him of
being the newly appointed Viceroy, and
gags him to prevent him exposing his real
identity, and having won the plaudits of
the gentry by his generosity and bravado,
he becomes the hero of the hour.
Estrelda, the daughter of Caz1rro, a ro-
mantle hero-worshipping young girl falls
in love with Don Medigua, whose prowess
as Ell Captain has completely turned her
head, and thus arouses the jealousy of
Scaramba, her lover, and also the fury of
Princess Marghanza, Don Medigua's wife.
viceroy. and Ell Captain, the fighter, to be
one and the same person. Eel Captains
rcputa ton as a fighter grows so enormous
ly that CaZarro determines to make him
his son-in-law, and Ell Captain is forced
to accept the yoke of engagement to Es-
trelda, and tries 10 live up to the stua-
ton as Estreldas lover. In the meantime
Pozzo is in a prison of which Eel CAPTAIN
is goaler, and in order TO allay any sus-
picion as to PoZZo's real identity Ell Capt.
tan subjects him to many indignities, keep
ing him constantly gagged so that he can
not denounce Don Medigua, who is posing
as Ell Captain, the viceroy of Peru
Estrelda becomes jealous of the Princess
Marghanza's devotion to Eel Captain and
goads her on to desperation by making love
to him whenever the opportunity presents
while the princess determines to denounce
her husband and is about to do so when
the news arrives that the royalists have
come to rescue Don Medigua. Cazarro calls
his men to arms and appoints Don Medi-
qua captain general Of the Peruvian forces
and Medigua is compelled to lead the enc
my to battle against himself
Ell Captains much Wanted bravery is
now put to the test. He tries to lose his
army in the woods and acts in such a cow
ardly manner that he is denounced on all
sides as a traitor. and Estreda's love for
him vanishes as she sees him in his true
colors. He is finally captured, and is about,
to be treated as an insurgent when he is
recognized by the general and released.
The opera is sumptuously staged, and
the costumes are elaborate and handsome.
Savannahians will have a variety of
amusements this week. The theater will
he open four nights. Frohman's ''Never
Again" is the opening play tomorrow
night. Palmer Coxs brownies" follow
Thursday, and then comes Prof. Carraway
with two nights of mind reading and hyp-
notism. Prof Elson will give the second
entertainment of the Y. NJ. c. A. star
course at the Guards hall Thursday night
The theatrical season, so far, has not
been all that could be desired. The en-
gagements of a number of companies have
been cancelled and the dates have been
filed with other attractions. The list for
the remainder of December after this week
includes My Friend From India" Dec.
%; Hoyts Stranger in New York"
Christmas matinee and night; when Lon
don Sleeps" Dec. p and Is; Fast Mail"
Dec. 80, and Otis Skinner, Dec. 81 open
ing the new year with matinee and night
performance.
1t is probable that one or two attractions
may be added during holiday week.
Never Again will be seen for the first
time in Savannah. 1t is described as "a
riot of laughter not that kind of laugh
ter which succumbs to horse play or buff
foonery, but that which yields to bright
brisk. terse dialogue, ultra-farcical situa-
TONS rapid action and the intelligent fun
that naturally arises from a well told story
dealing with the humorous side of life
Never Again" is from the pens of two
French authors, Antony Mars and Mau-
rice Desvallers, and of all plays derived
from the French, it is said to retain more
OF its original atmosphere than any of it's
predecessors, and has all the piquancy and
dash characteristic Of the authors of that
tongue. There is a score of well drawn
characters in the play and fully as many
plots and counter plots. Not only is il said
TO be good story cleverly told, but "A
bunch of amusing fiction deity crowded
together in colors which contrast wittily
ana laughs grow like weeds every minute
mat constitute the play. New York
laughed at Never Again" for six months
last season, and Chicago re-echoed the
laughter throughout months of the sea-
son.