Amusements.

Thames Star, Volume IIII, Issue 1758, 21 August 1874, Page 2

Amusements.

THE OPERA.

We fancy that Tery few of the patrons of the Jioyal English Opera Company would regret the substitution last night* of "Tlio J'aughtcr "ofTO Regiment" for "Dor Froischutz." Qj"he Jatter was originally annountiecTTor performance, but had tdbe postponed" inconsequence of the 'Btagc not being equal to itsrequiramfnts. "The Daughter of-the Regiment"/ is always a ,/avorite. „ It,, has merits far beyond .many of the operas^of .living com* posers. Its music, its incidents and its plot- aro r familiar; and yet they.seti&yKsr . new. It is to be regretted that tHS finfavorable weather which ushered in •• tie - season " coniinue?s~if possible increasing in dinageeableness ; but the popularity of the- company-is in the 'asccridant^'tnd it last was a source of considerable pleasure night to listen to" the announcement made by Mr. Allen that the company would prolong their stay fo'r roth"er' two^nigKts, simply changing tHeir 'locale from the Academyvof Music to the-Thcatreßoyal. Apropos of the. weather-it may-,b« mentioned that it did not materially affectthe , attendance last night, the rain came down iv a perfect deluge between | seven and«ight o'clock.,- JButthose .who j braved' the wind and rain to be present at the production of " The Daughter of the Regiment" ?Jlad no reason tortfgret their temerity, especially as the night proved fine for the departure. 'The beautiful music of Donizetti's composition was done full justice to.' Miss Alice May in the character of the vivacious vivandiere was simply charming. - The martial \s<fag "List what I say, every one knows, . was rendered with such a true spirit of the sentiment as to delight every one pre> sent; as was also the " Rataplan." Before the singing lesson Miss 'May sang " She,wore a wreath of roses ; "..her rendition was'in such perfect taste 1 accompanied with so tntieh feeling that an ; encore was demanded, which the fair prima donna gracefully responded to by giving that evef:popular old Scotch ballad " Coming through the rye "in the happiest manner-possible. The mtisib lessou; waf a real treat, not only for the vocalisation but for,the capital,acting with -which; it was accompanied,—lt is difficult to say which is the most appreciable, Miss May's deliciously clear-voice and marked ?m----tonatioo, <or. her yersatile: powers as an actress. It is rot often such a rare combination is met with in a young' 3ltdy as \ that possessed by Miss May, c£ a'Welltrained voice, correct taste andithe ability to give due effect to* song" by'appro- | priate action; but having noted these 1 gifts it is nob difficult to accouat for the "■ popularity of - 'the '^possessor* The performance, last .night was not a lengthy one. The two acts were divided j into four, but with the extras noticed it 1 did not occupy the usual f time.. No / dissappointmenf. was felt, however j the quality of the music and the piece made up for the want in point of quantity. The . character of the crusty old Sergeant Sulpice was admirably rendered by Mr. Rainford, whose peculiar abilities were displayed to much advantage. Mr. Hallam infused more spirit ?into his part of Tonio than we have noticed ..before. Moreover he was in fine voice, and seemed quite at home in the character. Mr. Howard Vernon aljp made, "a- favorable impression as * Hortensrus. "~ If would require |but a few,more,impersonatioas such as this gentleman's, Fritz and Hor- I tensius to, make hip, unanimously popu- > lar; being generally alloted.partsof the low comedy order he contrives to show that he is not-a mere singer; but has the metal to give individuality to the character. Miss E. A. Lambert's part was scarcely suited to her, and' could only have been thrust upon her by the fxigencjes of the company. The same'may be said of Mr. Lester s Duke of Grandtete, 'but both made the best of their allotted parts, and are the more entitled to.credit.*, The performance wai tin some respects, the most finished that has been given during the fire nights of the company's star. To-night the opera of " Satanella" Will be given at the Theatre Rofai; and on ' Saturday night " Der Freirfchntz," both of ffhich; we, are informed, willlbe produced with all their grand scenic and spectacular effects. Mr Allen said these wererthe two best operas of thelcoiipany^s extensive repertoire; after which it would < be superfluous to say anbtKer Jword.