RIP VAN WINKLE.

Timaru Herald, Volume L, Issue 4829, 28 April 1890, Page 4

RIP VAN WINKLE.

One of tho chief reasons fcr tho remariablo success which Planquelte's beautiful vjork has achieved ib that, apart from the brilliancy of tho music, tho dramatic element is string ami sustained, 'the pathetic story of poor Hip a misfortunos is widelr known, roain.ly.Jiowevor, through the play which Jefferson: by l«a magnificent noting immortalised... lu'the opera, although the incidents of the play are; largely udkored to somo departures havo been rendered necessary. Tbo first act opens in the AmericanDutch v"i)l«°e of sleepy Hollow on the Hudson river. Hero in tho yoir 1775 Nick jVeddor keepo his inn, named with somewhat effusive lovaltv the " Qeorgo 111, " and hye tho villagers may be found holding high revel in honour of His Majesty. 'Ihesdveut </t somo British soldiers, under the command of their gallant officer Captain Hugh Bowley. iomewhat disturbs the jofcols. The tinjes ore troublous, and the captain after dismissing his company (who forthwith seek the congenial society of the maidens, to the great chagrin of their rustic admirers) delivers despatched to tho Burgomaster and informs him that it is, necessary to strengthen the defences of the Hudson. This step is reffdttred needful by the machinations of tho French and tho inoreas» pf disaffection among the colonists. The oaptain produces a plan which indicates that tbe land of Bip u to be taken for fortifications, and of course the government will handsomely componsato that worthy. The villago lawyer, Derrick van blous, tbo disappointed rival of Bip for the affections of Qretchen, craftily obtains the newß from tho burgomaste^, and resolves to wreak his vengeance npon the suecessf ul suitor. Bip has mortgaged hio land to the lawyer, and tbe day for payment of the principal is at hand. Derrick cunningly devises a scheme for keeping their good luck concealed from Bip and Frau Grechen. The captain in the meantime has beon flirting with tbe village coquette Katrina, much to the annoyance of her betrothed the schoolmaster Knickerbocker. Bip now comes upon the scene and " chalks up " many a drink with the garrulous old Vedder. Despite his rags, despite his dissipations, Rip possesses goodness of jheart which, doubtless, had stood him in good stead when his wife discarded the advances of the worldly-wise Derrick and linked her fortunes with his. Foremost among his good qualities Btands his love of children, and a acene wherein he muses upon his own vices and listens to the prattlings of his daughter Alice, and her little lover Hana van Sloua, is pathetically beautiful. A far different interview awaits him for his enemy Derrick confronts with a request for payment of his mortgage money, coupled with a threat of foreclosure if the money is not instantly forthcoming. To his amazement, however, Bip produces the gold and extracts a release of the obligation from Derrick. The lawyer toon Bfterwur&i discovers that the gold he has been paid with is of French currency, and at once seizes the opportunity of crushing his rival by accusing him: as a traitor in French pay, and secures the issue ot a warrant for Hip's apprehension. Act II op ns in the Kaatskill mountains, adjacent to rileepy Hollow, but long held in awe by the villagers on account of the uncanny legends of the disappearance there of a bold pirate, Hendrik Hudson and his crew. In these mountains Bip had unearthed his treasure, and thither it was that he had set out again after paying off his mortgage debt. The Burgomaster called his village force together and ast out for the Ksatekills, but they were not very vigilant in their search for Kip and returned without their man. In the meantime strange adventures had befallen Bip. Hendrick Hudson's Goblin crew in tho shades of night appeared before him. In this mysterious company, under the spell of weird music, and yielding to his old vice intemperance, Bip partook of the wine tendered to him by tbe seductive Bhine- Fay. The result was fearful. Bip slept a sleep of 20 years. Act 111 opens in the Kaat«kills, with Kip'» awakening. Mighty events have happened in the twenty years. The British Dominion in America is lost and the new republio bas opened npon its great career. Bip, thinking that he had slept one night only and bad caught rheumatics, wends his way to the village. There he finds things strangely altered. A young Vedder reigns at the Inn — now the "Qeorgo Washington " — and knows not Bip, who finds he can no longer

"ebitV np" ad lib. The village has grown into the smart town of Wideawakeville. Rip arrives on an eventful day. An election to Coogre?s i* pending ; the eandidatcß are Derrick, now a prominent citizen, and the husband of Katrinu. Another sudden arrival occurs in the shape of Derrick's nephew Hans, now a dasbiog Lieutenant in the Stales navy. Hans claims Alice as his own and marks his appreciation of his uncle by promptly voting against him. Kvery vote has apparently been polled and Hans equalised matters by voting in Knickerbocker's favour. The old man Bip who hoe become aware of his aged appearance by eeeing his reflection in the water of the well, is looked upon by the people as a harmless old lunatic who claims to be the long lost Kip Van Winkle. Finally he sees Alice, who fails to recognise him. He calls herGretchen, but she te'.ls him she is Alice and her mother died maDy years ago, aud again the old man is baffled. At last he remembers the song of Hans Bnd Alice's childhood, and his identity is estsblisbed. For Derrick the hour is fateful. His fraudulent dealings with Bip's property are disclosed, and Hip consummates his j vengeance by voting for Knickerbocker, thus winning for him the election. Thus the old man it restored to his property, and his child, in whom he finds some solace for his losa of Gretchen and a comfort for his stricken years.