THEATRE ROYAL.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 3558, 4 December 1882, Page 3

THEATRE ROYAL.

Tambour-Major

The attendance at the Theatre Royal on Saturday evening, when Offenbach's immensely popular opera "La Fille dv Tambour-Major" was produced for the third time by Mr Macallum's company, was not nearly so good as the merit of the performance deserved. A more appreciative audience, however, could scarcely have been got together, and the frequent rounds of applause that greeted the efforts of the principal artistes were hearty and well deserved. When we say that the performance, bofh in detail and as a whole, came off with even greater eclat than the previous representations of " Tambour-Major," we feel that we have said as much as could be expressed in a column, the popularity of the piece being now so firmly established in Napier as to require no recommendation of ours. Miss May in the role of Stella has lost none ot the characteristic grace and power of pleasing that has marked her singing and acting from the first, but on the contrary she seems to ingratiate herself more and more into the favor aid good wishes of the audience with each successive appearance. Special mention is also due to Miss F. Liddiard and Miss Blanche Lewis, whose careful impersonations of Griolet and Claudine vere again the subject of most favorable comment. Their Binging was spirited, aad their bye-play, while never overdone or out of place, kept the house in cons'ant good humor. The Duchess was taken by Miss Navarro with her well known aHlity, and Miss F. Lewis looked exceeiingly pretty as Lorenza. Of tbe male characters it is needless to say that Mr Vernon's Monthabor (the Tambour-Major) was the leading feature, and t.at he was well supported by Mr Dnyton, Mr Fred Dark, and the several o:her gentlemen in the cast. Mr Dark as the near-sighted Duke, whose affliction is always leading him into the committal of the most laughable mistakes, never loses a point. The singing throughout on Saturday night was excellent, amongst the best items in the part music being the septett and coro at the close of the second act, and the quartette, " Once Again," in the third act. To-night " TambourMaior" will be repeated for the last time, when it is to be hoped the enterprise of the management in bringing to our very doors, with all its costly scenic effects and properties, so magnificent a production will meet with that degree of support it so richly deserves.