AMUSEMENTS.

Evening Star, Issue 4269, 1 November 1876, Page 2

AMUSEMENTS.

A second representation of "Faust and Margnerite was given at the Frinoess’s last evening to a thin house. Mr Dumpier makes an excellent Mephistopheles. On Friday nightlMr John Bryan, the oortly and genial manager for Mr Dampier, takes a benefit, oh which occasion, he will make his llvst bow before a Dunedin audience as Jack Qong m the Adelphian drama, “ The Green Bashes." Mr Bryan met with unvarying success In Melbourne for a considerable time in his representien of this character.

Auher’s popular opera, “ Masaniello," occupied the boards at the Qneen's last night. The dramatic incidents of this opera ore very heavy, and require an unusually large company-to give due effect to the representation; and, bearing this in mind, we w.-reuarreeably surprised at the spirited ™<yii ß which the performance was given last night. Madame Simonsen was Elvira, and dressed and sang with her usual excellent Judgment. Her renderiug of the recitative and air “ When the sigh long suppressed," in the first* act, was one of her best efforts, and was duly appreciated by the audience. The burden of the opera, however, falls on Masaniello, and in that character Mr Morley found abundant scope for the exercise of nis nistncnic and vocal powers. The wellknown barcarole " Behold 1 how brightly breaks the morning, with its pleasing chorus, was given in a vigorous and artistic style; and, exceptmg that at times he was inclined to be a little too vehement in his gestures, his conception of the Mediterranean fisherman—the hero of the populace —was a finis.ied performance. His song in the second act, “ My sister dear,'* was especially good, and h-.d to be repeated .■ We were almost sorry that the exigencies of the opera demanded that Miss Lambert should represent the dumb girl, as her voice is never out of place; but the intelligenl and natur 1 manner in which she played Fenella proved tne wisdom of the management in casting her for that character. Mr Steinboch dressed becomingly aa the Neapolitan aristocrat, Alphonse, and Ban? with taste, more especially in the quartette liVi ac L and the opening cavatina, Oh thou whose heart." The other characters were very fairly represented, Mr Barrington in particular being heard to great advantage in the concerted pieces and choruses. One objectionable feature of the performance was the frequency with which the prompter’s voice was heard; but, taken' as a whole, and considering that each night a fresh work is produced. “Masaniello" was very creditably performed. The orchestra and'chorus, ns u*ual, were most effective. For to-night “The Hermit a Hell,” said to bo the masterpiece of the company, is advertised, and to-morrow evening Madame Simonsen takes a benefit.