THE OPERA.

Evening Star, Issue 3449, 12 March 1874, Page 2

THE OPERA.

Last evening, the performance by the English Opera Company of the “Grand Duchess of established their claim to hi«»h artistic merit, both as singers and actors. A few years ago an effort was made in Dunedin to produce the play, under the direction of an amateur. Considering that the libretto was an original translation, _ and the music not Offenbach s, but a gathering up of fragments supposed to be suitable, a very tolerable piece of patchwork was effected; but it was as unlike Duchess,” as last night played, as lito Kosvavu to General Cameron. A Ini.morons conception in itself, tbs opera requires those who understand its humor to adequately express it, and in the English Opera Company the fun was sown in congenial soil. Ibe chief charm of the piece lies in strong contrasts—the court versus plebianism; education against want of culture ; the common feelings of humanity against conventional distinctions of rank. W itli such wide divergencies of mode and expression of thought, the task of an actor is to avoid vulgarity, both in the stooping of the representatives of the move refined, and in the utterances of those of the less cultivated classes: and this, malgre occasional slips of the translator, was carefully kept in mind last night. Miss Alice May, as the Grand Duchess forgetful of her rank and over-mastered by womanly I 'l'P u ' tiCS ) was refined and graceful. Mr Hallam, as Fritz, the soldier in tho ranks, raised by his sovereign to command, though true to the patois of his class, never offended bv gesture or by word. Miss Lambert, as W auda, represented a pretty, innocent peasant girl; iMr Templeton, as Prince Paul, an aristocrat of the Lord Dundreary class—quiet m his manners, foppish in his dress, amushudv stupid in his style of thought, and every inch an exquisite m his mode of speaking. Baron i uck is supposed to be a prime minster, attenuated after the Wolsey style, and was well represented by Mr Vernon, while Baron -nog and Mr Lester seem introduced to fill im places m the picture. As for General Boom, who found a good representative in Mr Raiur i i' eCo o ! 'ise a modern dwindlccl-clowu Sir John F alstiitl--quite as blustering and bonmT a T illain > bllfc no* so great a blackguaid. The whole of the corps dranintiqm to 10 en°iov 1 the ? psm a PI-»em-ed thoroughly VMS tw rfe ■ WOrk > the consequence \\as that the singing was good, tlie aotiii" good, the chorus was good, and with f®” 1 ? B rnf lfc , s Y- 3 tb , e acccompaniments were f ot J c hi uo leading theme of the opera is “ Lo, f l “ y sire »” san Shy Alice May, on presenting a sword to Fritz. The P ee PS out here and there on o'ccafsious, and is a pretty and popular eftro, Jt was

given with excellent taste and finish ; as was also the regimental song that some time before preceded it. One of the most amusing and admirably performed ballads, with chorus and tumbler-glass accompaniment, is “ There lived m times, now long gone by.” Next to the wand Duchess, the heavy work of the evening lies upon Fritz. Mr Hullam is fully equal to the part, and sang and played with spirit and effect. The piece was well put on the stage, and the dresses appropriate. The scenery too was specially prepared by Mr Willis in his best style—which is saying much for it. The house was crowded in every part, not a seat being vacant; and on this bead we do not thinly it out of place to notice that, notwithstanding the large number of persons present, none appeared uncomfortably hot, and there was no sign of that listlessness and weariness too frequently observable in large assemblies. Although the pleasurable character of the entertainment contributed much to this, the completeness the ventilation and consequent comfort which enabled the audience to give undivided attention to what was passing, had no small share in the enjoyment. The actors were frequently called before the curtain, and throughout were warmly applauded. The Grand Duchess will be repeated to-night, and to-morrow evening Donizetti’s charming opera “The Daughter of the- Evgimont,” will be played. It is so well known that the plot needs ho description.