AMUSEMENTS.

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

AMUSEMENTS.

THE OPERA

(From the Lyttelton Times.)

e< La Perichole” was repeated last night to a thin house. In the course of the piece an unrehearsed sensation was afforded to the audience by Madame Simonseu. On the termination of the second act of “ La Perichole,” last evening, this lady, in response to a recall, appeared in front of the curtain with two newspapers in her hand, and addressing the audience, spoke as follows : Ladies and gentlemen,—lf you allow me I appear before you in a new character. I am pretty well endowed with a great deal of patience, but there is a limit to all things ; and therefore when I am attacked in the manner I have been, I have a tongue to defend myself against those who attack me without any reason. (Applause). This morning, in the paper—at least I was told so to-night, because I don’t pay much attention to the newspaper myself—but I was

told that in this morning’s paper I was considerably put down. A few things that are said are rather hard, but of course we cannot expect better things from those who wrote them. (Applause and laughter.) There is only one little thing which I will read to you, as follows “We consider it not only as debasing high art, but as exceedingly derogatory to the position of an a’tiste, to be expected to sing such a song as is allotted to La Perichole—‘l’m tight, boys!’’’ I I don’t think it is derogatory to the position of any artiste to sing any song of the author’s as long as it is in accordance with the character, and as long as the artiste can do it pretty well. (Loud applause.) Worse than that, in this evening’s paper remarks are made that are perfectly ridiculous. It says—“We are sorry that the management jaave been compelled, by the poverty of their repertoire , to fall back upon such a wretched abortion as ‘La Perichole,’ which we are justified in saying would be hissed off the stage of the unclassic ‘ Pavilion’ in Whitechapel, or the ‘ Elephant’ in Newington.” I don’t think our repertoire is so bad after all. (Applause.) [A voice : What paper, please ?] The Globe. (Applause and laughter.) As to its being * * hissed off the stage of the unclassic “ Pavilion” in Whitechapel, or the “ Elephant” in Newington, I don’t happen to be acquainted with these two places—(laughter)—and therefore I cannot speak about them. Allow me to tell you that “Perichole,” when produced in Paris, in 1868, ran for 200 nights at the Theatre des Varietes ; at the Philharmonic in London for sixty or seventy nights ; and, when a French Company went over and performed it in London, it ran for forty nights more, making over a hundred nights in all at the Gaiety. Surely, therefore, it ought to run a few nights in Christchurch. (Applause.) Now, let me say something explanatory of the motive of such writing. I happen to know who wrote this. The a—a—a—gentleman—who wrote this was in Dunedin while we were there, and being very noisy fora coup l e of nights in the stalls, he was refused admission. He declared at the time that he would make it hot for the Simousens when they came to Christchurch, and he is trying to do so now. lam very sorry for him; it is a very poor revenge. (Hear, hear, and applause.) I think the managers of the paper ought to look twice before they put such a disgusting little thing as that in it. (Applause. ) If they do so another time it will do them no good. Madame Simonsen then retired amid loud applause; she was recalled with a still greater demonstration from the audience. THE LYDIA HOWARD TROUPE. The agent of this company—now en route to Christchurch—has courteously forwarded to us a precis of the operatic extravaganzas which will be produced duirng the stay here. The newest and best pieces on the list are “ Nemesis” and Chilperic,” the former now, and for months past, the chief attraction at the Strand Theatre. The last-named opera bouffe is by Herve, and ran during all last season at the Alhambra. If these pieces are put on the stage with anything like care, a rich treat may be anticipated, notwithstanding the company have not the good fortune to have a Terry as Calino, or a Lyall as Chilperic.