The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1897-01-28
PIRATES OF pENZANCE.

L OSs~'SsSS
lethargy of winter amusement stagna-
ton is the opera light, comic opera,
the participants in which we all know,
can criticise with greater suavity,
and can applaud for charms, graces
and artistic ability without feeling
that our enconiums are not thrown
away. All this comes from the Pr
rates of Penzance, the opera, and the
local artists who so cleverly distin-
guished themselves separately and
collectively at its production on two
occasions Thursday and Friday ev-
ening of last week.
The scene of the story is laid off the
coast of Cornwall, England, where a
band of pirates rendezvous. One of
them, Frederic, a boy, bound to serve
as pirate instead of pilot, by mis-
take,unt he is 81, becomes disguised
with his calling, and proposes to leave
the band. Ruth, his nurse, determines
to go with him, and Frederic, not hav-
ing seen any other woman, proposes
to marry her. A band of charming
young maidens, the daughter of a
British general, appears at this
time, and Frederic concludes that
Ruth is not the handsomest woman in
the world, rejects Ruth and soon has
an amour inone of the bevy of beauti-
full maidens. Frederic was born in
leap year, and through this knowledge
he is forced to return to his band of pi-
rates until his 21st birthday. The pi-
rates propose to raid the...major gen
erals house. The police interfere but
the pirates overpower the latter. The
police command them to yield in the
queens name. They do SO and are
granted full pardon. Ruth tells who
they are and the general gives his
daughters in marriage to the crew
amid a grand finale.
It was Mrs. Patterson's debut in
Redwood Falls, so far as the stage is
concerned. She was cast as the star
inIthe part of Mabel. From her first
appearance, when she came to grant
the supplication of Frederic, to the
closing chorus, she was the Mabel Of
our hearts. Willowy and graceful in
figure, charming in countenance.
magnetic in actions, sweet and strong
in voice, she was the perfect heroine,
the fit leader of boquet of charming
sisters. At times her voice exhibited
a suffering from light cold, but it
was scarcely apparent, and i'll the lul-
labys, where the severest test. was
necessary, it was not noticeable. In
the latter she was supported by Mrs.
G.. R. Pease, who not only was superb
in that support, but who assumed the
role of Edith. to perfection, in music
as we'll as in art
Mrs. o. w. Mcmillan has frequent
ly been before Redwood Falls audi
ence, but never to better advantage
than in the character of Ruth, the one
woman of the pirate crew. AS of yore
her voice was equal to the occasion
and the superior stage artist was al
ways manifest. Mrs. Mcmillan, first
of all, is at home on the stage. She
neither borrows nor initiates. She is
original, and graceful in her original
ity, tasty and approprlate..in. COSTUME.
all combining to make her favorite
with an audience.
4 Lewis G.. Buxton assumed the role
of Frederic" or the slave of duty
Mr.. Buxton, aud the same can be said
of HI. E. Jones, who took the part Of
the Major General, had but one fault
on the stage That was the fault Of
looking at the.foor instead of at the
audience or the parties addressed
when singing the lines. Mr.. Buxton
is an excellent tenor and his singing
was all that could BIZ desired. Horace
Jones had a good basso voice with
him, was costumed to perfection, anc
could not be improved upon in the
; part, except in the manner above not
ed. G. G.. johnson as the pirate kine
was an ideal. He had the proper ide;
Of stage bearing, and his eyes neve
went to the floor. E. w. Drake alst
made hit as sergeant of the police
DIR A r HaweS was cast as lien