SIMONSEN'S OPERA COMPANY.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XL, Issue 192, 4 August 1876, Page 2

SIMONSEN'S OPERA COMPANY.

" La Pille de Madame Angot," which was performed last night to a full house, was not a fortunate selection, for the reason that the stage was totally unequal to the requirements of the piece. The chief attractions of this opera lie not in the music but in the acting, and many of the scenes, in. order that full justice may be done to them, require a crowd of performers/ who should be able to move about with : some degree of freedom. On the stage at the Oddfellows' Hall this is simply impossible, consequently the opera was performed under very adverse : circutnstauces. Notwithstanding this great drawback, however, the ' several actors appeared to have made up their minds to do their very best, and as a natural result they succeeded in delighting their audience. Madame Siraonsen had an opportunity, of which she readily availed herself, of showing how versatile are her talents. We have seen her now as the dignified Lucrezia Borgia, the charming and ladylike Martha, and the bouncing daughter of the fish market, and although we have our own opinion as to the character in which we like her best, we are at a loss to say in which she acted with the greatest ability or naturalness. Miss Lambert as Mdlle Lange* was delightful, charming in her duett with Clairette (the musical gem of the evening), and full of life and fire in her quarrel with the same lady. Indeed, both of them seemed to be so terribly in earnest that it was quite a relief to see them separated. The gentlemen generally performed their parts well, though, as we have said before, we prefer Signor Morley's Binging to his acting, and could not but wish that there had been more of the former last night. The ballet -vith which the third act opened formed as pretty a scene as could be imagined on so small a stage, the many colored lamps with which it was lighted producing a very pretty effect on the dresses of the dancers, and of the market people by whom they were surrounded. In this, of course, Fraulein Fanny and the juvenile members of the Leopold family took the leading parts, and their graceful movements formed a strong contrast to the. comic quadrille followed, and was so well done as to give rise to an irresistible demand for an encore. We repeat that the selection of the opera was not so judiciousas it mighthave been, and at the same time reiterate the statement that all who took, part in it did their very best to make it pass off with spirit, and it must be gratifiying to them to know that they were successful. For to-night, the last of the Company's appearance in Nelson* they have announced a rich treat • indeed. The magnificent opera of " Norma," in which the prima donna will have full scope for her splendid voice and exquisite acting, will be put on the stage in first-class style, and the after piece will be the last act of " La Fille de Madame Angot," in which all the beat aud most amusing parta of the opera are concentrated. The whole will form such an evening's entertainment as has never yet been placed within reach of the people of Nelson.