The Washington times., 1901-12-29
National

| National and an extraordi-
narily large COM
pany. numbering
10 people. will present Nixon q thinner
mans production of George Edwardos'
latest London Gaiety musical comedy hit
THE Torendor" for the first time in this
country. at the National Theatre tomor-
row evening.
'The Tc-eador'' was presented at the
Gaiety Theatre last June and made a ire
mendoUs hit. Since then il has drawn the
largest audiences in the history of this
notably famous theatre. which has been
the scene Of moro musical successes than
any other playhouse in the English me-
tropolis. The London critics, since the
urcmiera Of the piece. have accorded The
Tareador" most unstinted praise. es7e-
cially commencing the book for the clev-
erness of its construction and the devel-
opr1ent of its humor, praising the lyrics
for their witty lines. and the music for its
fascinating brilliancy.
Tho Torcador' was written by six ia
nous authors and composers, all Of whom
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London musical successes Of the past six
or eigh; years, notably the immediate
predecessors of The Toreador," The
Messenger Boy and san Toy" James
Tanner and Harry Nichols wrote the
book, Adrian Ross and Percy Greenbank
the lyrics. and Ivan Caryll and Lionel
Monckton the music.
The Toreador' is staged in two long
acts, with scenes which represent the in
terror Of Mile. Susan's flower shop in the
Grand Hotel, Biarfitz. a watering place
in France CT the share of the Mediter-
raBean. and the plaza or market place of
the Spanish town of Nillsya, distant about
forty miles. While the story is mainly
of a humorous character. very entertain
ing sentimental interests are woven into
IL. together with sub-riot, which greatly
strengthens IL Some OF the situations
are serious. but they are given a humor-
Gus aspect by the way they are played.
The principal comedy interest, of course,
centres in the character of Sammy Gigg,
young footman, or Tiger" played by
Francis Wilson.
The story OF THE Toreador" relates
that Mrs. Hoppings. a wealthy English
widow. meets at Biarritz the noted Span
ish bullfghter, Caraiolo. She has been
most assiduously courted by Pettifer, an
animal dealer. but notwithstanding this
she falls in love with the toreador and
consents 10 marry him when the piece
opens preparations are going on for the
wedding, which Is to occur the next day.
After the wedding Carajolo and his bride
plan to go TO Yillaya. his native town,
whore he is TO celebrate his honeymoon
and return by fighting eight fierce Texan
bulls. provided for his especial benefit by
Pet.ifer.
in the event that the bulls fall 20 kill
Caraiolo, Pettifer plans to force him TO
fight a tiger, hoping in this way TO re-
move him from his path. He therefore
adveriises for one. Sammy Gigg is in
Biarri;z with his master. and has fallen
in love with Susan, who runs the flower
shop. Pettilcr's advertisement strikes his
eye. and he throws Up his position and
applies to the animal dealer for the place
Indicated by the advertisement. The foot
man believes he possesses all the fighting
disposition d tiger should have. He Is
much dismayed when he finds that a real
royal Bengal OF the man-eating type is
wanted, and seeks consolation from Su-
san.
The sub plot here Introduces Dora Sell
by. a rich young girl on her way 10
Nillaya to see her guardian Nancy Staun-
ton. Mrs. Hcppings' niece, her friend, ac-
companies her. Augustus Trail, the son
OF Dc-a's trustee, anc Sir Archibald
Slacketi, young Englishman, who res
cuco Nancy from hotel fire in Dresden
and who fell in love with her. but who
has not seen her since that exciting
event, are to meet them in Yiilaya. Dora
receives letter from her guardian. in
which he states that he viii send his son
Augustus to meet her al BiarritZ to es-
cort her to Tillaya. He hopes the young
man viii faTorably impress her Believ-
ing Augustus a fortune hunter, Dora ar
ranges q scheme with Nancy 10 imper-
senate young man and 10 pretend TO be
her newly welded husband. Mr.. Robin
son" The part o! Nancy will be PLAYED
by the well-known young singing CO.
mediennc, Christie Macdonald. and in It
she viii make her first appearance in
boys clothes.
At this juncture OF the story Teresa.
a former sweetheart OF carajoIo. arrives
from Villaya in search Of him Moreno.
Carlist conspirator. has arrived ahead
OF her and informs Carajolo OF her com
ing and t,:at he has been chosen to lead
Carllst revolution 10 be precfpItated
by the coming bullnght. Carajolo at
tempts TO avoid Theresa. but she finds him
and denounces him FOR his falsity 10 the
cause and TO her. she having been engaged
TO him. Tettifer draws Mrs Hoppings
TO the scene and she oyerhecrs the con-
rersation. She reHOunces Carajolo.
throwing at his feet in disgust the pass
port they were TO use 60 enter Spain the
next day. Teresa secures this. Sammy
Gigg mentions that he is going 10 VII
lava to return TO the service OF his old
master. As she will be unable TO crogs
the line into Spain on the passport un-
accompanied, Teresa begs Sammy Gigg
TO 90 with her. This he consents 10 do.
a complication here arising translating
the story and the principal characters,
with the exception OF Caratolo. 10 Nillaya.
IN the second act, Sammy Gigg and
Teresa arrive in Nillaya. The bullhghter
has not been in the town since his youth
and GiKg, travelling on passport for
"Caratolo and wife, is immsdiateiy taken
for the bullfghter. honored by tho Coy
ernor. Toasted by the men and feted and
kissed 10y she ladies, and finds himself in
a position. despite his expostulations that
he Is not the torcador, where he is ex-
pected TO fight eight bulls and lead
carlist uprising.
These comical complications follow in
rapid succession till Gigg is called to
appear in the arena in gorgeously dec
GRATED brllhghter's costume presented to
him through the generosity OF the popu-