A NEW COMIC OPERA.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 10200, 7 November 1894, Page 2

A NEW COMIC OPERA.

i'-. A. Most successful full dress rehearsal of Signor* 'teju,vi'ys,'h(;w'cojnic opera ''Fabfan'.'-tookjilaee ..last'.night atthe Princess Theatre. , The smoothness with which the rehearsal went off augurs well for a successful representation on Thursday evening, when the first public performance will take place. It, is but seldom that a new opera is produced in the colonies, and it is to be hoped that the Duuedin public will duly appreciate their privilege in being called upon te give their decision on a production which may possibly attain more than a local reputation. • The plot of the opera is briefly as follow*:— "Fabian and Lelio, two students at Padua, have been visiting.at country houses in the neighbourhood of that town, and attending many of-the entertainments given. At the village of Valdagno a/e*t« isbeing held, and here the two friends fall in with a fellow student, Conrad, who has takenuphis quarters at, the village inn. To him, they impart the information that a few weeks previously tbey had met in a country lane, a short distance from this village, two young ladies, whosp. grace and .beauty had taken their hearts by storm—Fabian beiug captivated by the more staid/of the two girls, Lelio by her,arch and lively, companion. All attempts to .find out who these fair ones are had so far been without result. As the three students are conversing therepasses by the inn, an eccentric-looking old gentleman (Major Nespola) talking to himself, who makes mention of his 'daughter Drusilla and niece Marcella, over both of whom it appears.he keeps a strict watch and guard. .Tt.occurs to Fabian as: just possible that these may be the two girls tbEy seek, and he. and Lelio follow the old man. Fabian's conjecture proves correct. Drusilla and Marcella, who have far from forgotten their,chance, meeting with the two young, men, take.advantage of the major's absence to slip from thy house. .Fortune guides their steps to the inn, where, on returning, the two students, to their surprise and delight, discover them. Fabian places himself atDrusilla's side and tells her he loves her, and Lelip is not backward in addressing Marcella. Coldly received at firat, in the end the two students are made happy by learning that their affection is returned. But the certain opposition of the major has to; be reckoned with, and the lovers separate without anything being decided upon. Fabian is, however, ready with a scheme, which he la?s'befpre Lelio and Conrad. He will gain admittance somehow to Major Nespola's house, and by methods peculiarly his own force him to give hia consent. And iv order to take the old "gentleman by surprise, he will pay. him this visit at daybreak the foUowing morning. Pleased with this idea, Fabian invites ; the villagers to the inn to drink success to his'project. ..In the second act Fabian, is found to have made his wayiute the hall of Major Nespola's house. Marcella, aroused at the noiss, makes her appearance, aud is indignant at this intrusion, but Fabian pacifies her with the assurance that helio will shortly be there to see her, and prevails on her to carry anote to Drusilla. Seeingaguitar hanging on the wall he takes it down, and proceeds to serenade his betrothed. Disturbed by the sonnd' of approaching footsteps, and believing that Drusilla is coming, half laughing he drops on one knee before what he takes to be her door. It opens, and the major and his wife appear. No whit abashed Fabiau, talking incessantly so that nothing can be said in reply, mentions his name and asks the major for his daughter's hand. The major and his wife are jnst able to get in a few words when Drusilla enters. Fabiau implores her to fly with him. While she hesitates Lelio arrives on the scene, and, as previously arranged between them, Fabian charges him with being a lover of his Drusilla, and proceeds to assault him. In the hubbub that follows, the neighbours, headed by an officer of the guards, run in to ask the cause. Order being at length restored, Fabian asks Drusilla before them all if she loves him, and is willing to marry him. The answer is, of course, yes. TM neighbours thereupon declare that the major cannot now withhold his consent, which at last he reluctantly gives. Fabian then presents Lelio to the major as the lover of Marcella—not of Drusilla, that wai a mistake. The major consents again, and all ends in general rejoicing.

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— The roar of the lion can bf heard farther tban the sound of any living creature. Next comes tbe hyiena, then the screech owl, the panther, and the jackal in succession. The donkey can be heard 50 times farther off than the horse, and the cat 10 times farther than the dog. It is strange that the quiet and timid hare, when sho cries in fear, can be heard farther off than either cat or dog.

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