SOLDENE COMIC OPERA.

Globe, Volume IX, Issue 1219, 30 January 1878, Page 3

SOLDENE COMIC OPERA.

Cjtit/peeic. As had been expected, the Theatre Eoyal last night was crowded in every part to ■witness Herve’s opera bouffe, “Chiiperic,” as produced by the Soldene Comic Opera Company, several members of which had taken original parts in it when first put upon the stage in London. The opera lias been made familiar to Christchurch theatre frequenters by the Lydia Howarde troupe, but certainly has never been given in so complete a manner hitherto as it was last night. The singing, however, is made subsidiary to the buffoonery, as we suppose it should be in an opera bouffe, but, though the vocalists to whom were entrusted some of the solos were scarcely equal to the task imposed upon them, their shortcomings were less noticeable, covered as they were by the excellent fooling of the comedians of the company. Miss Soldene’s Chiiperic is very full of life, and her singing again and again was encored. She repeated two of the prettiest songs, “Mighty Fanu ” and the “ Song of the Butterfly.” Her trill by way of a cadence was very amusing and clever. Mr’ TU. Marshall made a capital Senna, and brought down the house with his “ Sneezing Song,” which he had to repeat. Mr Campbell was Landry. He, too, introduced a charming songjj in the second act, which was encored, and the shepherd’s song, which is in bis part, was sung by him in such a way that the audience almost insisted on his repeating it. Mr John Wallace was, of course, provokingly amusing as Fatout. His burlesque dancing was rewarded by an immense cabbage being thrown to him by way of bouquet, and his kept the audience in a continual titter. Mr Farley filled the rdv of Divitiacus, for the music of which )iis voice appears specially suited. He has not appeared to such advantage as a vocalist on any previous occasion. Mr Alterton, in the part of Nervoso, made an cxeehent Spaniard, though his Spanish was probably unintelligible to better linguists than Fatout. Miss Mattie Daniel last night had a more prominent position than she had previously occupied, and deserves to be complimented for her performance. Ho” singing of “What moans this info-matlon ” and “ I am left, in sobvude.” was very good, and her s’.iat the end of the latter surprised those who had bepp ignorant of her capabilities. Her voice. too, harmonised v.-rv nicety with Miss Hoifhne’s in passages where they sat g together. Miss Clara Yescy also correctly sang with taste and sweetness the music allotted to Galsuindu, which is uniformly very pretty. Miss Maggie Liddle, as Bruuohaut, was somewhat tame. Tim choruses were all good, especially the unison choruses for mules and females respectively in the first act, the chorus of pages in flic beginning of the second net, and the Dutch concert at the close of the opera. The umbrella dance, which is so prominent a feature in this "opera, was thrown into the shade by the attend ion of the audience being altogether attracted by the extraordinary gymnastics of Miss Florence Slater. This lady last night gave the first indications she has favored us with of her having studied in the same school as Mdlle. Sara, of whom fame speaks so loudly. The opera is to bo repeated to-night, when those who wish can judge of Mies Slater's style for themselves,