The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1897-12-05
THEATRES THIS WEEK.
DEwoxT HOPPER CAPITAN'
TO-MORROW.
Story Of the Play which Has Been 20
FssorsbIy Robert Down
ing on Wednesday.
Monday-Dewolf Hopper.

"a . vet the writings OF the book and
score came about In an odd way. Hopper
ala not 10 prospecting for an opera Us a
minor does for ore. He fell into "A rich
quarry without knowing IT, 'El-Capitan"
was produced in Boston "A little over
year ago. and. strange TO say. the critics
Of tNe Hub. uUprcpared for such a SPLEEN
ala opcra. did not appreciate at once the
magnitude and spendor Of the production.
The Hub critic has been In the habit OF
taking his cue from New YORK. where
Hopper has always given initial produce
lions That he came 10 Boston was look
"a upon as peculiar. and served to MI the
Bostonites with suspicion. They did not
know what 10 make OF "H-Capitan'-
there WAS so much OF ~, so splendidly
presented Hopper was not quite salts
lied with his Boston reception. so after
hacking the Broadway Theatre. New
York. for twenty weeks. he resolved 10
give the Puritan Metropolis another thai
So back went Hopper with his "El-Capi-
tan" and-well nc was not mistaken in
believing Boston his stronghold Boston
wants him again.
But how did Captain" happen? Its
success Is another question. Ever since
the davs Of the McCaull Opera Company.
Hopper has had associated with him, Al
fred Klein. the diminutivc comedian. lie
was here with Hopper In wang and
will be remembered as the Hottentot VINO
had the ill-luck 90 be uncOmfoftably near
the big elephant when he was blown
up. one day Alfred told Hopper that he
had u brother Charles who was uncom-
monty clever. and who had In his keeping
the outline OF comic opera which looked
promising. Hopper tried all SORTS OF
ways 10 olude that libretto-since he IS
asked 10 read one twice every twenty-four
900 ~
commonly offered. would be fatal
But little Alfred Klein was persistent
and IL would be ungrscious TO reject the
work OF a brothers friend. SO Hopper
consented at last TO see Charles Klein
and his work. IL didn't promise well al
all. because Charles confessed that he had
never written a libretto, and couldn't
write a lyric TO save his life. Neverthe-
less Hopper read the synopsis OF the plot,
and the idea of the double character OF
El-Capitan and Medigua fascinated him.
After consultation with his managers. he
accepted the librettO. and the next day
he took Il down 10 Manhattan Beach and
threw IL at Sousa with the words. Here
is vour nbrettO. now write me an opera
Sousa took kindly TO the idea and Ell
Captain" grew apace from the FIRST day
the composer and librettlst got together.
IL is seldom that a comic-opera as val
little trouble comparatively speaking.
II is an interesting fact. too. that the
opera owes its name TO an American
origin. Some years ago. Sousa visited
California 10 seek rest When in the
Yosemite Valley he was captivated with
the beauties and Erdndeurs OF the great
Fl-Capitan Mountain-that great smart
OF rock piercing high heaven al "a helsht
Of four thousand feet II made a lasting
impression on the composer. so when
ne and Charles Klein came to give their
quaint composition a name. El-Capitan.
sulting UOppcrs giant proportions ana
the character Of the Spanish soldier was
suggested and adopted.
For months after DeWolf HOpper's ini-
ffal presentation Of "El-Capitan' In New
York city. everybody I'm the streets seemed
TO have caught the Infection OF Sousas
delightful music for on every side could
be heard the more popular melodies or
the score Of which the topical song or the
opcra. ''rhe Typical Tune Of Zanzibar
seemed 10 be the hot favorite, for every
man and boy seemed 20 be either whist
ling or hummng n. Few people know
that the words as well as the music OF
this dainty little number was written and
composcd by Mr.. Sousa, who IN fact
wrote quite a number Of the lyrics or Eli
Capitan." but the Zanzibar number Is the
most popular OF his rhymes. The trio
tells OF n pathetic love tragedy In these
5ingling phrases;
Under her window he softly crept
while father and mother and Towser
slept:
Then plunking n tune on his light guitar.
lie warhled a ballad OF Zanzibar.
FROM ont Of her chamber emerged maid,
Begging the name OF the tune he played;
said he as he plunked his light guitar
IT'S the Typical Tune of Zanzibar.
'syours for ave" the maiden cried.
"Tn ready TO mary. 20 be your bride;
only plunk again on your light guitar.
The Tvpical Tune Of Zanzibar"
Lacking with love on his brde-to-he.
lie tuned the strings in another key;
Thon plunkcd again on his light guitar.
The Typical Tune Of Zanzibar.
oulcklv she leaped from the easement
high;
Info his arms and ready 10 fly;
But Towser had heard the light guitar
And the typical Tune OF Zanzibar.
They buried them down by the ocean
Where Oft at night so the neighbors
say
rs heard the plunk Of the light guitar.
And tho Typical Tune OF Zanzibar.
OF course. DeWof Hopper Is the most
important factor 10 the opera, ana IL
10 not difficult 20 imagine how he enjoys
Tho portravaI Of this character and how
,iso his audiences laugh almost as much
with him as at him His makeup as
Ei-capitan Is copied from Don QuiNote
,,,o and his appearance In armor Is one
:, the most absurd things imaginable.
Resides the Titan comedian Is pretty
s,,le EDNA Wallace-Hopper Alice Judson'
Alice Hosmcr. Alfred Klein Thomas 5
Euise. and John W. Parr.
The opera will be staged with lavish
nsnd and its scenic environment Is me
,ooet sumptuous ever given comic opera
abduction IN this city.
ROBERT DOWNING.
NJ, Robert Downing will appear AT the
Academy OF Music next Wednesday al
ternoon and evening.
A. ,eh matinee he will be seen In In
romar" and at night in samson and
Delllah" -.
,rhe Biblical story Of the mighty hero
-, indca ie followed very closely. and the
,ev small details interpolated are only
.,,ch as are necessary for q stage produc-
ION The play makes Delilah loving wo-
man Through her. 1t is true. samson
ia shorn OF his hair and strength, but
he protects her aged father. she OBTAINS
from I.amech the promise that her Ju-
dean husbands life shall be respected,
me fights against the strongest. appeals
o ner patriotism until extreme pressure
Is hroucht 10 bear At the moment wnen
her Establishments have wrested the Sc
,ret Of his hair from his lips the specta-
at.n Nurh 81