"Martha": an opera in four scenes

              The Redpath BureauHARRY P. HARRISON, General ManagerpresentsThe Aborn Grand Opera CompanyinMARTHAAn Opera in Four Scenes
Libretto by St. George and Friedrich

Music by Friedrich von Flotow

CASTLADY HARRIET DURHAM, maid-of-honor to Queen AnneETHEL HARRISONNANCY, her friendESTELLE ENGLERSIR TRISTAN MICKLEFORD, Lady Harriet's cousinCHESTER BRIGHTPLUNKETT, a wealthy farmerFREDERIC TAGGARTLIONEL, his foster-brother, afterwards Earl of DerbyCHAS. D'ALTONIMUSICAL DIRECTORMARGERY MORRISONSTAGE DIRECTORCHESTER BRIGHT

SCENE I—Lady Harriet's Boudoir.SCENE II—Fair at Richmond. SCENE III—The Farmhouse. SCENE IV—Richmond Forest.

Organized and staged under the personal direction of
MILTON ABORN
for the
REDPATH BUREAU

(SYNOPSIS OF MARTHA ON OTHER SIDE)
Synopsis of the Opera MARTHA

SCENE ILady Harriet, maid-of-honor to Queen Anne, is weary of the monotony of court life. Tristan, Harriet's cousin, an ancient beau, proposes a long list of diversions for Harriet's amusement. She declines them all. The song of servant maids on their way to the Richmond Fair is heard, and Harriet conceives a desire to accompany them. Nancy, her maid, and Tristan protest, but she orders them to dress and go with her to the Fair, the ladies in the guise of servant girls and Tristan as a farmer.

SCENE IIThe scene changes to the Richmond Fair. Two young farmers, Plunkett and Lionel, now enter, the latter being an orphan and an adopted brother of Plunkett. Lionel's father on his deathbed, had given Plunkett a ring which was to be presented to the Queen should the son ever be involved in difficulties. The disguised ladies now appear, accompanied by Tristan. The two young farmers spy the girls and offer to hire them. The ladies accept the money which is offered them, not knowing that they are legally bound to serve their new masters for a year. Tristan is hooted off the grounds and the frightened girls taken away by the farmers.

SCENE IIIAs the curtain rises the farmers enter dragging with them the unwilling and terrified maidens. Plunkett shows the girls the door of their room. Anxious to escape from the scene and have an opportunity to discuss their predicament, they start toward their room, but Plunkett, thinking of his appetite, stops them. The gruff farmer realizes that these are servant girls of a most unusual kind, for when they are ordered to get supper they promptly refuse. Lionel and Plunkett, astonished by such signs of insubordination, order these strange domestics to show their skill at spinning. Nancy maliciously over-turns the wheel and runs out, pursued by Plunkett, while Lionel finds himself falling in love with the beautiful, "Martha." (Nancy has taken the name, Julia; and Lady Harriet the name, Martha.) Martha is impressed, so when be asks her to sing she consents, and, taking a rose from her bosom, she sings The Last Rose of Summer. Nancy now returns, still pursued by the exasperated Plunkett. The farmers bid their new-found servants good night. The ladies retire to their chamber and Plunkett and Lionel to theirs. The maidens return and are discussing their plans for escape when Tristan's voice is heard outside. Overjoyed, they make their escape and return to their home. (In Scene III is heard the famous Spinning Wheel Quartet.)

SCENE IV
This scene represents the Forest of Richmond. The farmers, who have sought vainly for their servants, have come hither to witness the hunting. Plunkett leaves Lionel alone when the latter encounters Lady Harriet and warmly pleads his love. Lady Harriet calls upon Tristan and declares that Lionel. must be mad. He is distracted. Nancy now enters and she and Plunkett soon come to an understanding. They decide to present Lionel's ring to the Queen, hoping thus to clear up the mystery of his birth. By this means it is discovered that the young man is really the son of the banished Earl of Derby. However, Lionel, angry at Harriet, refuses to accept his rightful rank. Harriet in the meantime enters with Nancy, dressed in the costumes worn at the Fair. Lionel is overjoyed when he sees Harriet dressed as he first saw her. The two couples pledge their troth and all ends happily.