The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1913-04-15
MARTHA A CHARMING
OPERATE NOVELTY
To be Presented Here With Splendid Cast.

When noted stars of the Boston
opera company visit various
towns to give Western New Eng
land its first touch of grand
opera, the program presented viii
be as novel and varied one
IS can be imagined, combining the
operate scenes. with scenery, in
costume, and concert numbers which
enable the individual artists TO best
Hlspldy their vocal abilities.
Perhaps the novelty of the even
lhg would be called the condensed
lar grand opera by Flotow, which is
The best exponent of the desirability
OF opera being sung in English. The
second act is presented in its en-
tlrety, consisting OF the rollicking
comedy scene where the young far
mers, Plunkett and Lionel, endeavor
10 teach Lady Harriet and her
companion, Nancy, their duties of
the household. The story is a rare
one, and holds interest equally with
any play of a light nature. Essen
tally entertaining, Martha" COM
play, far better melody than any mu-
steal comedy. and a chance for the
opera stars to sing wonderful ariaS,
duets and the great final quartette.
The opera was based on an old
| story, later adapted by Flotow to
his operate score. Lady Harriet, a
maid of honor to Queen Anna, weary
ing of court cCnventionalities, dis
auises herself and her maid as ser
wants, and mingles with a band Of
menlals who have gone to the fair
To be hired out Among the far
! mers present are Plunkett and his
foster brother, Lionel, the latter a
waif who had been left at the door
OF Plunkett's father with nothing to
| identify him but a ring, which in
cdse of need was to be shown to the
| Queen. Lady Harriet, now known as
/ Martha. and Nancy are engaged by
/ Plunkett and Lionel, and by accept
| ing earnest money make the engage
ment binding on them. Against their
! wishes they are brought home with
! the young farmers. This begins the
i second act which is presented in full.
| The attempt to set the young women
/ to work fails, for they do not even
know how to spin. Lionel loses his
heart to Martha, who at his solicit
| tatlon sings 1.-The Last Rose Of Sum-
mer" After the goodnight song the
men go to bed, while the women are
rescued from their awkward predica-
Il ment by an aged cousin, Sir Tristan.
/ This ends the second act. In the
| next scene PIunkett and Lionel dis
i cover their supposed servants in the
hunting train Of Queen Anne They
assert their supposed rights, but
/ ;
Lionel sends his ring to Martha. BY
means of this ring he is identified,
IS the Earl Of Derby, son of the
old Earl, who had been banishe ed
from the Kingdom, though guiltless
IF the offense with which he was
charged. The story ends with Mar
tina the prize of Lionel and Nancy
the prize of Plunkett,
The cast which will present MAR
tina" in Vermont will be as notable
a one as could be selected from
| operate circles. Difficulties are
many in finding grand opera stars
who can sing effectively in English.
Perhaps the most interesting star
to appear in Martha" is the won
derful prima donna soprano who
sings the title role. She is Nine
Evelyn Scotney, hailed as the peer
of Tetrazzini, and successor Of Abel
ina Patti. 1t was only four years ag,
| In Melbourne, Australia, that Nine
Media went to a reception to Lord
Kitchener and first heard Scotney
sing. She at once declared thai
SCotney was a marvel, and the
younger woman soon became a pro
tegee of the great diva. Nine. Melbs
arranged her studies in Paris and
I.ondon,-and just two years age
Mime. Scotney had her first appear