THE OPERA.

Globe, Volume V, Issue 576, 24 April 1876, Page 2

THE OPERA.

[By Semi-Qcaver.] Offenbach's folie musicale— for one cannot call it an opera—was repeated on Saturday evening, and went capitally, Madame Simonsen and the whole of the characters supporting her entering most fully into the spirit and humor of the piece. There is one very noticeable point about the production of the various operas by M. Simonsen, and that is the excellence of the dresses and the careful attention to the little details of the stage, which go so far to make a piece a success. As the Grand Duchess, Madame Simonsen acted and sang with a vivacity which made her representation very enjoyable throughout. She sang the opening rondeau, "Oh I dote on the military," with much archness aud expression, and so also the following song, "Oh, what a gallant regiment," in which I may note the chorus went decidedly well. Madame Simonsen sang the " Sabre song " with just the amount of vivacity and markedness to make it go well, and she was very good in "Say to him," especially in the concluding verse. Miss Lambert, as Wanda, again created a very favorable impression, especially in the " Kegulation duet," which was given with much archness. I must compliment the young ladies who sang "The letter song," upon the admirable way in which it was given, indeed it was one of the features of the night, and was deservedly encored. Signor Morley did fairly as Fritz, though a second opportunity of seeing him in the character confirms my first impression that opera bouffe is not his forte. There is really no opportunity in the part for the display of his fine voice, and consequently it would not be fair to criticise his performance of Fritz too closely. I cannot say either that I liked Mr Steinbach's Prince Paul. He sang the one melody, "The Hamburgh journal," well, but there was a want of life in his acting, which militated against his success. It is true that the part is that of a fop of the first water, but Mr Steinbach made, I think, the mistake of bringing this characteristic rather too prominently forward, to the exclusion of the other salient points of the part. Those who remember Mr Templeton's admirable pourtrayal of the character will see at once what I mean. Mr Tomholt was appropriately brusque as General Boom, and Sing the comical "Piff Paff " well; Mr Markham made a capital Barron Puck. I incline to the belief that Mr Darbyshire somewhat overdid the make-up of Baron Grog, as it is hard to suppose that a young lady of the discriminatory powers of the Grand Duchess as to good-looking men would have been at all struck with his appearance. Mr Levison made the most of the small part of Nepomuc, which does not give much scope for the use of his voice. The choruses throughout were rendered with great spirit and effect, and the orchestra worked, as indeed they always do, admirably. The ballet by the Leopold Family and the other members of the o <rps do ballet was prettily danced, and generally, with the exception of the one or two defects I have referred to, the piece was a success.