THE OPERA.

Evening Star, Issue 3702, 4 January 1875, Page 2

THE OPERA.

On Saturday evening another of Offenbach’s comic operas, “ Genevieve de Brabant,” was substituted for the “Grand Duchess.” As a dramatic production we need say nothing of its merits, and even as a satire but little can be said in its favor. It breathes pretty much the same spirit as the “ Grand Duchess,” but seems intended to ridicule high-flown efforts at tragedy, and to burlesque medimval history as well as to expose aristocratic immorality. The looseness of the plot gives room for the introduction of anachronisms that, mixed up with a story of the crusades, form very amusing combinations. For instance, we have a Port Chalmers Railway engine being employed to convey men clothed in armour to fight against the-Saracens, and being detained until a drunken duke sings a song in praise of tea —“the cup that cheers but not inebriates.” Of course time being sot at defiance, place is of no consequence, so many local hits representing men and things in Dunedin were placed side by side with the names of heroes and heroines who never dreamt of such a place. Miss Alice May appeared as Drogan, and, as in every part she undertakes, she both sang and acted most charmmgly. Mr Hallam appeared to great advantage ae the Duke. Pethaps bis most

effective effort was the tea melody, although throughout he sang pleasingly. Messrs Levison, Newton, Lister, and Wilkinson, with, in fact, everyone who took part in the piece, gave effectual support to the leading characters. The music, like all Offenbach’s, is light and appropriate to comedy, but leaves little room for the higher musical effects. All that can be said on the subject, therefore, is that everyone combined to give the utmost point to the whimsical harmonies with which the piece abounds, and which are really more difficult of execution than music of a higher class. The pantomime followed the opera, and both a>e announced for repetition this evening. The house was filled to overflowing.