MASTERTON AMATEUR OPERATIC SOCIETY.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XVI, Issue 5186, 20 November 1895, Page 3

MASTERTON AMATEUR OPERATIC SOCIETY.

i "LBS CLOCHES DE CORNEVILLE." The following is the argument of I Planquclte's celebrated Opera, "Lcs j Cloches de Corneville," to bo proi ducetl in Masterion, by tlio local | Amateur Operatic Society, at the jTheafro Royal, on Wednesday next,! November 27th The Comte do Lncenay, attainted for political reasons, Hies from France, leaving his infant daughter Lncienne j and considerable personal property! | in the care of a retainer, Gaspard. i ! This wily Norman, however, foresee-! ing that the Comte may neverrelnrn to claim his own (which indeed happens), brings up the child as his' ! niece, under the name of Gerniaine, \ and gratilies his insatiable greed fori money by hoarding the Cointe's treasure. He has chosen for his I cotters the decaying rooms of tho old Chateau of Corneville, long since deserted by its lord, attainted of treason like De Lucenay, and an exile from France The grandson j of this Marquis do Corneville, is, I howevor, alive, and tlic interdict on the estates having been removed by tho King, tlio village gossips believe that one day the long-expected heir will return, ileanwhile the Castle has an evil notoriety. Itia haunted: mailed spectres stride alongits corridors,and ghostly phantoms (lit across its lighted windows at night. Dut in truth, these are devices of the cunning Gaspaid, to frighten away all intending tenants of the old Chateau.

it the opening of the Opera a knot of girls are on their way to tlio hiring-fair. Amongst these is Serpolette,a waif picked up by Gaspavd 011 a bank of wild tbynie in one of liis fields, and grown now into liis servantof all work. She has thrown up his protection,however, and seeks a better place. Germaineeventually joins the band, also living from Gas•pard's bouse—but from a very I different motive. Tho old Miser has 'promised her hand to the village Bailie, a prompous, meddling ohl | fellow, lately come to his Kingdom, with a strong desire to open the Chateau and audit the Barony accounts. Now Germaine bas betrothed herself to a ne'or-do-weel of the locality, a young fisherman named Grenicheux, who, as she supposes, saved her from drowning. But in fact her deliverer was really tho long-lost heir—the young Henri de Corneville, now Captain of an fivined ship, with a roving commission, who, a year before, had put ashore at Harfleur to revisit the house of his father, At the opening of the Drama, he again returns—and this time ho resolves to take possession of his ancestral castle. The hiring-fair, whore ho engages servants—amongst others Germaine, Serpolettc, and Grenicheux (now turned coachman), concludes tlio first part of tho sloiy. The scene changes to the haunted halls of tho Chateau. Tho young lord, with his officers and crew,torch and sword iu hand, break into the deserted rooms—and lay their plans to surprise the adventurers, whom they suppose to be really the ghosts of tho village tradition. Two discoveries, bearing directly on the fortunes of tho two heroines, are hero made by the Marquis, Firstly, ho finds that the girl lie rescued from the sea, is the Germaine who has captivated him,but who believes herself bound in honour to Grenicheux. Secondly, ho discovers certain documents (left byoldGaspard) referring to the llight of Comte do Lucenay and placing of his infant daughter with the Miser. Tho vivacious Serpolette immediately rushes to the conclusion that she is the noble child iu question,and thenceforth gives herself all tho imaginary airs of her rank. The arrival of some one is announced by the scouts-Grenicheu* is put into a suit of mail to watch tho intruder unseen—and tho Marquis and bis crew retire to the Armoury. The old Miser appears—works his phantoms—lights the candelabra—wallows in liis gold—and then comes a swift and awful vengeance. The rusty bolls toll—a ghostly chaunt is heard-then a legion of mailed spectres-all the dead and buried Lords of Corneville appear-andadvauceon the appalled Miser, who sinks wandering and terror-stricken on his gold, This startling tableau concludes thesecond part of the story. The last Act is dovoted to the unravolling of the mystery attached to Germaine. This is done by patching together Ihe hints dropped in his ravings, by old Gaspard—who confirms them, on his return to sanity, and owns that Gei'imtino is not bis niece, butMdlllo.de Lucenay. In the same moment, that young lady learns that she is free to givo her hand where she loves, for that to Henri de Corneville, and not Grenicheux, she owed her life, Across tho serious interest of the denouement comes thelightertexture of Serpolotte's fortune, No sooner does she assume tho silks and satins of rank, than she is undeceived as to her real ' position, and has again to look forward to sabots and cotton. Over the betrothal of tho Marquis and Germaine come this time gladly, the chimes of "Les Cloches do Corneville,"