THE OPERA.

Evening Star, Issue 3742, 19 February 1875, Page 2

THE OPERA.

The [Opera Company last evening played “ Fra I)i:;v;;io ” to a very well-filled house. This opera con tains sufficient of the romantic element to afford scope for every variety of musical effects, sufficient of the tragic to create and sustain dramatic iuterest tliroughoul, and sufficient of the comic to relievo scenes calculated to excite painful interest by their depressing tendency. The characters are English tourist-*, Lord and Lady Allcash (Mr Vernon and Miss Howe), Fra Diavolu (Mr Hallam), an Italian Marquis, captain of a baud of robbers; Gia como and Eeppo, two members of the gaiv (Messrs Leviaon and Rainford); Matteo, (Mr Newton) father to Zerlina ; and Zerlina (Miss Alice' May), daughter of Matteo, and Jiancte of Lorenzo, a young brigadier (Mr Templeton). We need net describe the plot, as it is not new to Dunedin, and shall content ourselves with a few remarks concerning the performance. The piece was well put on the stage : the scenery was good, the dresses exceedingly appropriate and the acting, with the slight execution of a raw recruit, was throughout good. Mr Vernon and Miss Howe represented the jealous husband and flirting wife in a manner in which propriety and comicality were well blended. Mr Hallam, as the accomplished and unscrupulous leader of a band of ruffians, sang and acted most effectively, ms polished villiany contrasting finely with the coarser exhibitions of his subordinates, Beppo and Giacomo. Several of the beautiful melodies incident to the part reejuire variety 01 expression, and, true to the style of the sentiment, he rendered them accordingly, Mr Templeton received a well-deserved recall in “ I’m thine, I’m thine ”; and Mr Rainford was also encored in the introduced song, “The Wolf” which, ‘however, we have heard him sing better. As Zelina, Miss Alice May appeared to great advantage, both as a songstress and an actress, The part is one that necessitates rapid changes of emotion, and to these she adapts (herself apparently without effort. In her representation of the character she identified herself with it. This evening Mr Allen, the conductor, takes a benefit under the patronage of the Mayor and Corporation, and we trust that the support he will receive will be a public recognition of his talent. Unobtrusive as his office is, much of the success of every performance depends upon him, and to the unremitting attention given by Mr Allen to his official duties, is owing, in a great measure, the really wonderful proficiency of the company as compared with their first efforts. Dunedin may fairly claim to have perceived and appreciated the talent of the members of the company when they first landed in New Zealand; the judgment of Dunedin has been endorsed.by the support they have received in this Colony, and in supporting Mr Allen the people of this town confirm the judgment they iormed of his abilities. The piece chosen is that truly pretty English opera “ Martha.”