SOLDENE ENGLISH COMIC OPERA.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 5284, 2 March 1878, Page 3

SOLDENE ENGLISH COMIC OPERA.

The production of “ Chilperic” by the S'ddene Company last evening may very fair’y be described in the phraseology of the playbill as a “glorious success." As played last night we can quite understand its immense success on the London boards, where Miss Soldene was the original representation of the part, and produced it under the personal direction of the author. The music is exceedingly pretty, aud everything connected with it is of the most lively and inspiriting description. The dresses last night were most gorgeous, and especially pretty were,the pages’ costumes and "get up.” Miss Soldene’s impersonation of Chilperic was extremely good—full of life and “go” from beginning to end; while the music al otted to her was rendered with much taste; and several of the solos and the duets, in which she took part, were warmly received and encored. Indeed she was somewhat too severely tasked by her audience. As Landry, Mr. Campbell played with much taste, and, as a shepherd, looked particularly handsome. ' Miss Le Fevre appeared as Fredigonde, and acted with very 5 great spirit, while she rendered her music with excellent effect, securing more than one encore. The Senna of Mr. Marshall was a most amus-

in<r performance, and his introduction of a ■ sneezing songwas a novelt. which the audience appeared to highly appreciate, laughing most outrageously, and demanding an encore, which was 5 * given.- Mr. Wallace’s Fatout was an -■ inimitable piece of acting—full of fun, and -■'highly ludicrous without being offensive. VThe iindience were kept in a continual state of amusement by the extraordinary antics he cut. “ As the leader of the Druids, Air. Farley sang ‘ the music of his part with very great effect. We r ■ do not think webave heard him to better advantage. ‘As Brunehaut, Miss Vesey looked very . pretty and sang very nicely, securing an /encore for the only solo she was set down for. • The other characters were well filled in every ■'paftidnlar. One of : the features of-the even-ing-was the grand umbrella dance, which was exceedingly pretty and lively, and afforded KMiss Slater another opportunity of exhibiting her undoubted qualities as. a danseuse. i’“. Chilperic ”is in our opinion the most-suc-cessful and most pleading of the s company’s many excellent performances, and we 5 -would recommend those who would enjoy a great - treat not to miss the opportunity which to- . night offers of seeing “ Chilperic.”