Act 1: Polka Bar The curtain opens after a short prologue.
At dusk, the miners gathered in the dark polka bar. The owner of the bar, Minnie, was a smart and sensible western girl. Unfortunately, her parents died, and she continued to run the bar left by her father. . Due to the recent discovery of gold mines in California, many new gold diggers need to drink and have fun. Minnie is better at gambling and shooting than men. Moreover, people in the mine are willing to be her voluntary protectors. Anyone who offends or insults her will be sentenced to death immediately. On this day, the miners who had just gotten off work gathered in the bar to greet each other. The waiter began to light the kerosene lamp, while the miners sang happily and ordered drinks, and soon began to play cards. A troubadour stood outside the door and sang "Old Man at Home", a song about hometown with the accompaniment of a turtledove. The singing was moving and many people shed tears. After a while, he came in while singing. Minnie then sang a love song, which also stirred up the emotions of the audience. While they were singing, Sheriff Lance also came to the bar. He lit a cigarette and the miners were joking. The Sheriff had been in love with Minnie for a long time and wooed Minnie again under the influence of alcohol, but Minnie refused. Pay attention. At this time, Ashby, the manager of the transportation company, also came to drink and told Lance that Ramelez, the leader of the bandit group, would be caught soon. It turns out that the mountains behind the mine have long been ravaged by a group of illegal gangsters, headed by Lamarez. Gold diggers once offered a reward to eliminate them, but this group of green forest heroes are very brave. They don't take the miners seriously and plan how to rob the mine.
The miners toasted to the popular girl Minnie, the hostess of this bar, and Lance casually called Minnie Mrs. Lance, but this joke became a joke with Sonora. The cause of the quarrel. Minnie, armed with a pistol, rushes in to intervene. The orchestra plays a lyrical melody that represents Minnie.
As a result, in order to make Minnie happy, everyone surrounded her and tried to please her. Sonora gave her a bag containing gold sand, and Minnie deposited it into a small jar. Then Minnie took out the Bible and read a hymn from David, talking about the dignity of love and God's redemption. At this time, the postman came and said he saw a strange stranger. After the miners received their letters from home, they were both happy and sad, and then walked to other rooms.
When only Lance and Minnie were left on the stage, Lance approached her and proposed to her. But while playing with the pistol, Minnie said that the person she wanted to marry had not yet appeared, and she declined. Lance sang: "Minnie, ever since I left home." He said that although he was swayed by the charm of gold and indulged in gambling, what he wanted most now was Minnie's kiss. This passionate confession of love, written in a recitative aria, vividly portrays the character of this sinister police officer.
After hearing these words, Minnie sang the song: "When I was a child in Soledad", recalling her parents who loved each other, but she has been waiting for the man who truly loves each other. Nick brought in a foreigner who wanted to drink whiskey. After meeting Minnie, both of them felt like they were electrocuted in an instant. The man called himself Johnson, and Minnie recalled that they had met before, so she felt nostalgic.
The unfriendly Lance immediately called the miners out. When everyone gathered, they began to question this strange man why he came here, and Minnie defended and guaranteed him. Soon, riding on the miners' singing, she and Johnson embraced each other and danced a waltz.
After a while, the roar of the miners was heard, and then Stroh, a subordinate of Lamaris, was brought in. He told everyone that he was willing to reveal the hiding place of the leader, and then took the opportunity to tell Johnson that his companions had arrived and that the signal to assemble would be a whistle. The miners left Minnie and Johnson behind, and left together under the leadership of Stroh, preparing to arrest the bandit leader.
After Nick left, only Minnie and Johnson were left. The longer "Love Duet" begins. Minnie was gradually attracted to Johnson, saying that she had never given her first kiss to any man, and then sang: "I am an ordinary woman, I hope to be promoted because of you." Johnson professed his love to her as he danced and expressed joy in hearing the beating of her heart. At this time, there was a sharp whistle, and Minnie was frightened. She pointed to each jar and said that the gold sand and money earned by the miners were stored there, and she was willing to sacrifice her life to protect the property of these poor people. Johnson comforted her and said, "Don't be afraid." After escorting Minnie home, he said that although he liked her very much, he had to go back for something. When Johnson was about to leave, Minnie asked him to come back to his cabin afterwards. Johnson cordially said to Minnie, "You have a face like an angel," and then said goodbye and left. Minnie, who was left alone, repeated his words as if in a dream. She completely accepted his attentiveness and love.
Act 2: Minnie’s house
This is Minnie’s hut on the mountain. An hour after the previous scene. Indian woman Wakuer holds her baby and sings a lullaby. At this time, Billy, who was also an Indian, came and told Waku that Minnie wanted them to get married.
At this time Minnie came back, asked Wakuer to prepare dinner for two, and then started to dress up. It is very rare to have flowers in your hair and perfume on your body. Soon, Johnson comes to visit, and Minnie sings: "If you only knew what a pleasant life is," briskly expressing how happy it is to ride a pony in the wilderness.
The love between the two gradually grew and Johnson asked to kiss her. At this time, because Wakuer was afraid of the coming storm, Minnie asked her to go home early, and then threw herself into Johnson's arms to enjoy the carnival of love together. Soon after, Johnson said goodbye to her and was about to go back, but there was a strong wind and snow outside the house, so Minnie thought it was fate. Suddenly there was the sound of a pistol. Johnson was already on his guard, and the two sang the love duet "No More Separation" and embraced passionately. And vowed to live and die and fight.
Then Minnie gave up her bed to Johnson. After praying, she wrapped herself in a bearskin and tried to lie down when someone came to the hut and knocked on the door. The frightened Minnie hurriedly hid Johnson and opened the door. It turned out that it was Lance who came with the miners. He said that Johnson was Lamarez, the leader of the gang, who had heard of his arrival and came to arrest him.
After hearing this, Minnie immediately denied it and asked them to go back. Then asked Johnson to leave immediately. At this point Johnson begged for just one word, and he sang: "I ain't comein' for the snatch." He said: "I am indeed Lamaris. Because his father died six months ago, I had no choice but to become the leader of the bandit group. But after meeting Minnie, love awakened him, dreaming of a new life, hoping not to Let her know her past, but it was all just a dream."
But Minnie still blamed him for betraying her trust in him and stealing her first kiss. She knew what was going on outside the house. It was already dangerous, so Johnson was kicked out. At this moment, gunshots and the sound of someone falling were heard outside the house. It turned out that Lance was still ambushing nearby, and now he shot and wounded him. Minnie ran out in panic. She saw Johnson who was in a state of embarrassment after being injured. Feeling pity again, she dragged Johnson in and hid in the attic on the roof, and dismantled the stairs. At this time, Lance had chased in to arrest the bandit leader. After searching, no one could be found, but he hugged Minnie tightly, but encountered fierce resistance. At this time, there was blood dripping from the ceiling, and Lance immediately judged that the injured Johnson was hiding in the attic. Immediately afterwards, Johnson, who was absent-minded, walked down on his own.
Interestingly, after seeing his pitiful appearance, Lance suggested that he would decide his fate by gambling. After hearing this, Minnie immediately agreed to give it a try. Minnie made a bet with playing cards. If she won, she and Johnson would be free. If she lost, Minnie would marry Lance and Johnson would be arrested. So the gambling began with playing cards that decided the outcome three times. When Minnie lost, she was so nervous that she finally won the bet by cleverly moving her hands and feet when Lance left the table to get a refreshing drink. After Lance withdrew his troops and left, Mini happily hugged Johnson tightly.
Act III: California Forest
Under Minnie's care, Johnson quickly recovered to health. After he promised to disband his party members, he went to another state to live an honest and normal life as a citizen. When Lance heard that he had recovered and was going to join his gang, he summoned a group of guards and miners to capture Johnson. In the great forest at dawn, Lance, Nick and Ashby gathered around the campfire and talked. The Sheriff and the miners searched the forest together to arrest Johnson, who escaped from danger due to Minnie's care. However, Nick sympathizes with Minnie, who has fallen in love. Soon after the call came, another group of miners appeared. In order to capture Johnson alive, Ashby walked into the forest with them.
When Lance said to himself, this time it was Minnie's turn to cry. At this time another team of miners arrived and talked about the search. Soon, Sonora came to say that he had captured Johnson, and the miners immediately shouted that he would be hanged. Nick took a small bag of money to Billy, who was holding the hanging rope, and sternly ordered him to delay the execution, and then left in a hurry.
The miners excitedly chorused: "It's a death sentence! It's going to be hanged!" When Johnson arrived, dragged by a team of cavalry, everyone insulted him in unison. Johnson argued that although he had robbed, he had never killed anyone, but the miners angrily accused him of robbing Minnie. Johnson said he was not afraid of death, but asked to be allowed to say one more word before being executed, so he sang a beautiful aria: "Please let her believe that I am free to go far away." After hearing this, Lance beat him angrily, and then Johnson was taken to the big tree where he was executed.
At this time, Minnie came galloping on a horse. Although Lance shouted to hang Johnson quickly, the miners made way for her to go straight to where Johnson was. Minnie raised her pistol and defended Johnson desperately. Seeing Minnie's serious look, Sonora comforted the restless miners. Minnie said that she had sacrificed her youth to serve everyone, and had also kindly cared for the sick miners, begging everyone to spare Johnson's life. Although Sonora complained that Johnson had stolen Minnie's heart, she still sympathized with her and persuaded her friends to agree to Minnie's request. The miners stubbornly refused at first, but were soon moved by her true feelings. He agreed to pardon Johnson. When Sonora praised Minnie and said: "We all present you to Minnie", Johnson also happily replied: "Thank you, brothers!" Then the miners sang "It's time to go back", Minnie and Johnson sang together: "Goodbye, the land of longing, California" to bid farewell to everyone, and walked into the depths of the forest together with everyone's chorus.
Curtain End
Act Three: In the Redwood Forest When Lance heard that he had recovered and was going to join his gang, he summoned a team of guards and quickly arrested Johnson. The miners took a rope and hung it on a tree, preparing to hang him. Before the execution, a priest was invited to give him a short period of confession and to receive the "holy death". At this moment, Minnie rushed forward. She told the gold diggers that Johnson had promised and was willing to change his ways, and tried her best to persuade everyone to pardon his death. Later, Lance helped Minnie to let Johnson escape. So Minnie and Johnson fled to other states in the east. After getting married, they lived a new life of joy, love and joy.