The Ladysmith Story

Opera Synopsis

“With a new name inspired by romance and new industry we can visualize a brilliant future for your hamlet.”

—James L. Gates, president of Gates Land Co. of Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Cast of Characters

Mr. Manning, bank vice-president
Mrs. Manning, his wife
Mrs. Peters, her friend
Lucy Peters, Mrs. Peters's daughter
Will Cooper, a young man, son of a local farmer
Mr. Gates, president of the bank and wealthiest man in town
Tom Maxwell, reporter from Milwaukee
Isabel Rodgers, the intended bride of Charles Smith, a society beauty and socialite
Charles Smith, president of the successful Menasha Woodenware Company

Act I

In the middle of town, late afternoon, an announcement is being made. As people gather, the children sing songs and play games. On a small stage stand Mr. Manning and Mr. Gates. Other people grouped around. Mr. Manning is introducing Mr. Gates, who will make the case for changing the name of the town. Charles Smith and Isabelle will be coming by train the next day—the town will plan a renaming celebration in their honor. Mrs. Manning and Mrs. Peters also discuss it, with Mrs. Manning recounting the dinner at which the new name was chosen. Mr. Gates introduces Tom Maxwell, who will be writing a story about the name change for the Milwaukee and Chicago papers and asks the town to show him hospitality. Lucy and Will hang around as the crowd disperses, talk about their day; we see Tom watch them for a while, noticing Lucy. Will is upset at the name change and that it might bring more people to the town. Lucy heard Mrs Manning talking about Isabel and is dreaming about the life Lucy imagines Isabel leads. Will insists that they should be married soon and leave the town before it is overrun. Lucy is not so sure. They argue and part ways for the evening, but with plans to see each other later at the town meeting to plan the celebration.

Tom Maxwell is at the meeting, interviewing people about the town—we hear him talking to lumberjacks, getting tall stories, and also hearing about other colorful characters from the town history. When Lucy arrives, Tom goes to talk to her. He starts by asking her about the town, and then about herself, and ends up telling her about himself as well—he is from a small town, it turns out, but has been living in Milwaukee for years and is growing tired of it. As they compare the merits of big city and small town life, Will arrives, and is angered that Lucy is talking to the reporter, the man who will be partly responsible for bringing too many people to the town. Lucy tries to keep them from fighting, and eventually Will tells her she needs to make a choice.

Lucy, walking by the train station, kids pass by her all excited that the train with the important people has arrived and that in honor of the celebration day, Mr. Manning has declared that there will be no school so the children can practice their songs for Charles and Isabel. Lucy wonders what Isabel would do in her place and thinks about the choice Will has asked her to make. She wishes she could ask Isabel's advice. Tom appears – he is calling to take Charles to a meeting with Manning and Gates. They talk about the future of the town after the name change and Smith's business comes to town. Charles appears and they exit. Lucy is about to turn back towards home, when she notices Charles has left the door to the railway car open. On impulse, she climbs inside, determined to ask Isabel's advice.

Act II

As Lucy makes her way into the train car, she hears Isabel's voice. Isabel believes it is Charles coming back onto the train and tells him she is not getting off and he can just tell the town she was too sick to make the trip at all. Then, she sees it is not Charles at all. Although Isabel is at first alarmed and confused, Lucy's story wins her over and they talk about Lucy's choice, the choices Isabel has made, the advice she would give Lucy. Lucy asks her why she doesn't want to get off the train and come into the town and meet the people who are so excited about the opportunity her name might give them. Isabel says maybe it is better to remain a mystery, a wish, a dream. When they part ways, Isabel gives Lucy something to take with her – a book perhaps, or a scarf, a pair of gloves – something to keep as a reminder of Lucy's own dreams that she shared that day. She also asks that Lucy keep secret that Isabel is on the train.

Lucy exits the train car just as Will arrives – he is shocked that she would board the train uninvited, and demands to know what she was doing. Lucy tells him she was hoping to find Isabel and ask her advice – Will thinks this is ridiculous – but, Lucy says, there was no one else on the train. She tells Will she just sat and thought and imagined what advice Isabel might give her about wishes and dreams and what to do with them. He reminds her of his own dreams, how different they are from hers. When they part ways, with finality, it is with sadness, but understanding.

In the distance, Lucy can hear the town celebration getting underway, a band tuning up, the kids shouting, and she thinks about her town, what it has been and what it could be, and how much she looks forward to watching it grow. As she sings about this, Tom enters; he has been looking for her. He hears the end of her song and tells her that he has been talking with Del Richards, who publishes the Ladysmith weekly paper. Tom has decided to stay in Ladysmith and cover the story of the new industry in the town for his paper in Milwaukee, and also write for the weekly. But, he says, he will have to return to the big city from time to time, and he would prefer not to travel alone anymore. They compare the naming of a town with the naming of other things: rivers, animals, babies, the new name Lucy would take if she married. As they kiss, the celebration begins.