The Globe. WEDNESDAY, MAY 17, 1876.

Globe, Volume V, Issue 596, 17 May 1876, Page 2

The Globe. WEDNESDAY, MAY 17, 1876.

The interlude at the Theatre last evening must have afforded some amusement to the audience. The speech made by Madame Simonsen, who appeared with two newspapers in hei hand, and which we have eopiec in this day’s issue from the Lyttelton Times, cannot fail to show how easily wounded is the self-esteem of an artiste. We wish to be heard on the subject, and we unhesitatingly deny that the article in question, which

appeared in our columns last evening, attacked Madame Simonsen’s professional reputation. The object of the writer is evident; it was a strong condemnation of the piece selected. From the criticisms in the local papers on the aovcal operas produced, which we have perused, we find that the company has had most complimentary notices upon the merits of the artistes of whom it is composed. “ Perichole” may be the finest work of the best of composers, or it may be quite the reverse, but the selection of the piece which is to be presented is where the taste of the management is exhibited. We think it a great pity that artistes should feel themselves alluded to when it is only the morale of the piece which is commented on; but we might say further that many who would visit the Theatre nightly, and who would support true “ Opera,” do not care for “ Opera bouffe.” It is our impression that Madame Simonsen and the members of the troupe have received throughout the time they have been performing here, every consideration and support at the hands of the press, and such is nothing more than their just due, but we do not think they should expect that every production which the management selects, is to be lauded to the skies. So far as the producing of the journals on the stage, we have reason to believe that the unrehearsed sensation ”is a mistake of the writer of the article in the Lyttelton Times, some person having been sent on behalf of the company to request theattendanceof areporterfrom the staff during the evening’s performance, and this is corroborated by the fact that when Madame Simonsen read the paragraph alluded to, an official named Wheeler, from the office of the Times , suggested to , a bystander to call out for the name of the paper. So much for the “ unrehearsed.” It will, we think, only be rendering justice to the gentleman from Dunedin alluded to by Madame, if we say that she is entirely mistaken. We may conclude by stating that we wish Madame Simonsen and the company every success, and simply suggest that the avoidance of the production of such pieces as “La Perichole” would be the means of preventing the use of observations like these, of which Madame Simonsen has made public complaint.