JOSEPHINE STANTON AMERICAN OPERA COMPANY.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXIII, Issue 207, 6 September 1901, Page 2

JOSEPHINE STANTON AMERICAN OPERA COMPANY.

1 There was a large attendance at the 1 Theatre R>yal on Thursday evening, 1 wheu the Josephine Stanton Opera Oompiny opaned their seison here with' Auber's romantic Opera " Fra D'avulo," The overture, wh eh is alwa- s a gr-at, favourir.e, was well rendered by the ' orcht stra, and the opening set no was well ieO' ived, the effect if th i picturesque dresses and tbe artistic representation of the inn being very pleasing, while the chorus was tuneful and shun el cout-i ierihln po »e-. The plot, has already been e-k tched in t <ese columns, so that it only remains to indicate how the various ch<rac'ers pe--formed their several par's. Needless to ray, Miss Jo Stanton wae facile principa among th- Compiuy, her singing being full of melodious vivacity, and her acting that of a w <ll-tr.ined aras'e Her singing whilst disrobing in the bedroom scene was adniTßble, ard ihe clever way in which thm scene was oirried out was g eatly applauded. As Lady Allcash, Miss Ola'a WisJom found a congenial part, and infusei ioti it a c<i tain amount of drollery that caught on veil In filling the tile role, Mr. Henry Hallam showed that he po-sessed a voice of considerable range and power, 'hough with a tendency to overuse of the faleett i. His delineation of tha character was somewhat devoid of that sprigbtlinere usually awociited with the pa t, but o'h r was in to d taste and at times very effict.ve The t.wo ban 1 its, Messrs de Lacey at.d "Van Dyne, were excellent low comedians, and kept the hou e in r.ars o' hugnter, their make up and by-play being exceedingly funny, whi'e their vocal powers were pat*:iculny good. Their duet in the last act, " We're not so much amias," evoked a roar of applause, to which they responded with r i encore. In Mr. Gaorge Kunkel the part cf Lort Allcisb rtceived amplt justice. His drollery was iir.s'stitjle while his singing was excellent. Iu his hinds the character became of greit prominence, and help'd considerably to [the success of the piece. The other . parts were all well filled, and with good I scenic accessories the opera went well, and was enjoyed from start to The singing throughout wm ve^^d,

but the orchestra "'as frequently toe powerful to ernble tho words sung to be l.c;tr<|. The company decidedly scored a success, and should be favoured with another large attendance

TO NIGHT. When " Maritana " is to be placed on the boards. This opera is so well known and so full of bright sparkling music, aflording considerable ssope for tbe histrionic powers of the company.