SOLDENE COMIC OPERA COMPANY.

Globe, Volume IX, Issue 1223, 4 February 1878, Page 3

SOLDENE COMIC OPERA COMPANY.

La Belle Helene. This opera-bouffe, which was performed for the first time in Ohristchurch on Saturday evening at the Theatre Royal, is an adaptation from the French, and possibly the libretto in the original possessed merits which do not appear in the adaptation. Those who saw "La Belle Helene " on Saturday were, of course, only able to judge of the English version, and their verdict upon it was, we believe, by no means favorable. The dialogue is pointless, and the attempts at wit are miserable failures; indeed it, is a matter for wonder how the artists of this excellent company could have deemed it worth while to produce such trash. The beautiful Helen in the opera is she whose faithlessness brought such woe to Troy, and the scene is laid partly in Sparta and partly at the neighbouring sea shore. The locality enables the characters to appear in Greek costumes, and the scenery is in keeping with the dresses. The action is supposed to begin with the first meeting of Helen and Paris, and to conclude with their elopement. Miss Soldeno was La Belle Heleno, and sang the music of her part in her best style; the song "I'm called Helene" was a charming piece of vocalisation. Miss Mattio Daniel was Orestes, a young rove. She played the part with spirit, but was scarcely equal to its requirements. Paris was represented by Mr C. J. Campbell, who had a very pleasing song, "On Mount Ida," to which he did justice. Messrs Wallaco and Marshall were Menekus and Calchas respectively, but these first-class comedians could make very little fun out of the material provided them. Mr Farley was Agamemnon, but had very little singing to do. The choruses were most of them pretty and lively, and were all well sung; especially good waß one (unaccompanied) in the third act, "Let us wreathe the crown of roses." The orchestra had some nice instrumentation, sparkling and attractive, a charming little bit being the accompaniment to Calchas when reading Venus's letter in the first act. Despite the drawbacks to which reference has been made, the audience was fully appreciative of the excellence of the performance. Miss Soldene and Mr Campbell were called before the curtain at the end of the first act. "La Belle Heleno " will be repeated this evening.