Opera Plots I - MDC Faculty Home Pages

Opera in Three Acts By Giacomo Puccini
Libretto By Guelfo Civinni and Carlo Zangarini (Adapted from the Drama of David Belasco)
First Produced New York, 1911
Chief Characters Minnie, Wowkle, Dick Johnston (Ramerrez), Jack Rance, Nick, Billy Jackrabbit,
Castro
THE scene is laid in California, the action taking place in a mining camp at the foot of the Cloudy
Mountains during the period of the gold fever, about the middle of the nineteenth century.
Act 1 shows the inside of the " Polka," a rough-and-ready miners tavern and gambling-house; and
a number of the miners are gathered there, drinking, smoking, and playing cards. Nick, the bartender,
is kept busy serving the" boys," some of whom are suffering from an attack of
homesickness, which is increased on the arrival of the mail with letters from home. Their spirits
are, however, presently revived by the entrance of a beautiful young woman-Minnie, the Girl of
the Golden West, who is adored by all the rough miners, who regard her as their " Good Angel."
Minnie is the mistress of the " Polka"; and she cares for the miners with great affection, and
permits them to keep their precious gold in a barrel at the back of the bar. She even holds a school
for the great rough fellows during the winter months, teaching them what little she knows herself,
and endeavouring to keep them steady and honest. Minnie, on entering, scolds the miners for their
rowdy conduct, since a squabble was proceeding as she appeared; and then, all smiles again, she
accepts from them several little gifts they have brought her-the one a ribbon, the other a scarf, etc.
Rance, the Sheriff, has conceived a violent, passion for her, and now begs her to accept him s her
lover; but Minnie dislikes and distrusts this man, and coldly keeps him at arms length. Presently
another interruption comes, by the arrival of a stranger, who gives his name as Dick Johnston, and
comes for refreshment and rest. Minnie at once recognises him as the stranger she has met once
before on a lonely hillside, where they struck up an acquaintance and were mutually drawn to each
other; and Johnson also recognises her, and seems much upset at finding her here. On seeing that
Minnie is acquainted with the stranger, Rance is filled with jealousy; and the miners also are not
pleased. Soon, however, a report is brought that the famous Ramerrez, the leader of a gang of "
greasers," or bandits, who existed at that time by plundering the various gold-mining camps of
California, as well as by highway robbery, has been seen with some of his company skulking in
the district; and the miners all depart to search for this despicable enemy, leaving Minnie in charge
of their gold, with Nick the bar-tender, and the stranger, Johnson, with whom she has a pleasant
chat when they haye gone, inviting him to visit her later in her own little home on the hillside.
In Act 2, therefore, Minnie is seen in her little house, which only consists of one room, with a loft
above it; and here she is waiting for her visitor. She is attended by Wowkle, an Indian squaw, who
prepares the supper whilst her mistress decks herself in all her little bits of finery, ready for her
expected guest. Wowkles lord, Billy Jackrabbit, also appears, but is soon dismissed by Minnie;
and when the latter has completed her toilet, and her guest arrives, she sends away the squaw and
her papoose also. Johnson and Minnie soon make a mutual declaration of the love they have felt
from their first meeting; and they are so happy that they are utterly oblivious of time. When they
presently discover that a terrible blizzard is raging outside, Minnie invites her visitor to remain the
night beneath her roof; but they are soon interrupted by a loud knocking on the door, and are
surprised to hear the loud voices of the miners demanding entrance. Not wishing to arouse the