Opera Plots I - MDC Faculty Home Pages

First Produced Dresden, October, 1889
Chief Characters Lenchen, Hedwig, Bernhardt, Walther, Rupelmei (the Burgomaster), Marquis de
Maltracy, Prince of Dessau
THE scene is laid, during the Franco-German war, in the town of Schilda, which is ruled by a
foolish, con-ceited, and narrow-minded B urgomaster, nicknamed Rupelmei (meaning the "clown
"), whom the citizens, being also noted for their narrow views, regard as a paragon. He has issued
orders forbidding any maiden under thirty years of age to marry, and he now goes further, by
commanding all the girls in the town to be locked up every night in the town-hall, to keep them
safe from intruders. His two nieces, Lenchen and Hedwig, being lively and pretty, determine,
nevertheless, to have a good time, in spite of their silly old uncle; and, having fallen in love with
two handsome students, Bernhardt and Walther, they arrange a plot to enjoy their company a little
longer. A French refugee-courier, the Marquis de Maltracy, earlier in the evening, has begged the
Burgomaster to protect him from his Prussian pursuers; and Rupelmei, being bribed by the
promise of a Cross of Honour, hides him in the town-hall. Meanwhile a party of gay students have
come to amuse themselves with the maidens of Schilda until sundown, and when Rupelmei
blusters and tries to drive them away, they put him into a tub, and compel him to watch their
frolics. When it is time for the maidens to be locked up, Bernhardt and Walther, having been
arrayed in female garments by their sweethearts, are taken away with them, and they have a gay
time dancing and singing with the girls. Meanwhile, the Prince of Dessau has arrived in search of
the students who, in addition to their love-making, have come to Schilda to escape enlistment, and
on being admitted to the town-hall, he is delighted with the bevy of pretty girls who are amusing
themselves there, and he insists on joining in the dancing with his attendants. The dis-guise of
Bernhardt and Walther is thus discovered, and they are dragged away to their military duty
without further delay. In the third act the audacious Lenchen and Hedwig come to the barracks,
where their sweethearts are being drilled, and by their wheedling of the sergeant, they quickly
transform the scene into one of merriment, dancing with the delighted ex-students. The Prince,
however, appears unexpectedly, and orders the sergeant and the two students to be shot for neglect
of duty; but when Bernhardt, happily recollecting that the French spy is still in hiding in the townhall,
declares that they have captured this desirable enemy, they are released as the reward for their
assumed zeal, as the capture of the Marquis is of much importance, since it helps the Prince out of
a dangerous position. Not only are the students set free, but they are also permitted to marry the
two merry girls who have sought them out, and the scene ends with their rejoicings.
49 GREYSTEEL; OR, THE BEARSARKS COME
TO GURNADALE
Opera in One Act By Nicholas Gatty
Libretto By Reginald Gatty
First Produced Sheffield, March 1st, 1906
Chief Characters Ingebjorga, Gisli, Ari, Bjorn (The Bearsark), Kol
THE scene is laid in the north of Norway during the tenth century, and the action takes place
outside the homestead of Ari, a farmer. As the curtain rises, Kol, a bondsman, is seen polishing his