THE POLLARDS AT THE OPERA HOUSE!

Observer, Volume 7, Issue 234, 7 March 1885, Page 12

THE POLLARDS AT THE OPERA HOUSE!

This clover company of youthful actresses, (we don't notice any boys this trip) madetheir re-appearance on Monday night, in Lecocq's sparkling opera bouffe, Le Petit Due. The opex-a is hardly so well set with, musical gems as many of this composer's, efforts which have become familiar to Auck- ■ land audiences ; but it is very bright and. tasty withal, and affords fair scope for vocal display, and plenty of room for that byeplay for which these clever children havemade such a name. The role of Fabrice... Duke of Parthenay, is undertaken by Miss Marion ISTorman, a mite of I*2 yeai-s old at most, who is blessed with a sweet, sympathetic voice, of excellent timh)-e, a mezzosoprano, that she uses with judgment and taste, which in such a mere child is marvellous. In her love scenes with her child wife (Miss Lucy Cobb), little Marion is almost, touching in the intensity of feeling she throws into voice and action. Her principal numbers have been encored each evening, as was the pleasing duet between themarried pair, "I love thee." The part of Blanche, Duchess of Parthenay (Miss Lucy Cobb), is a very even and well sustained, performance. She looks good enough to. eat, and acts with a pretty archness, which, does not only her preceptors, but her own natural aptitude wonderful credit. Her voice., however, is not so good as Miss Norman's^, being shrill and childish, "where the otheris full and, to all intents and purposes,, matured. Leaving that aside, two prettier pictures of youthful love and trust than those presented in .the scene where they part in the convent, when the Duke sings,. "Alas ! she speaks the truth, dearest, "-and that where the Duchess comes to his tent on the battlefield, it would be hard toimagine. In the song above-mentioned, the. Duke surpasses himself (or herself). Miss M. Pollard acts the dashing soldier to the life, as Captain de Montaland, and her drilling of the troops in the third act is really a clever: performance, while of the troops themselves, (all ladies young and fair, by the way) it may be said that they entirely :; knock out" the. best drilled company of Volunteers in Auckland in one act. With all this, however, wemust suggest, that Miss Maud should not attempt to sing if she can help it, because shecan't sing worth a cent. The Madame de.Lausac, mistress of the convent school, of Miss Eva Clements, is an excellent study, anddoes the young lady infinite credit. MissLizzie Donnelly, as cc oi the seminary* is sifldply iiTesistibly|lraS^y," her bye-play being ridiculous; anf||jlj3Bdoes not fry tolook pretty, and so sp<i||pfood part through, vanity. As Matina, maid to the schoolmistress, Miss Minnie Eeece mashes morejuvenile dudes (and old 'uus, too, we feel) than any other little or big miss on the stage.. She looks just lovely — too lovely, in fact, for our peace of mind. If we only knew what to do with the missus and kids, and if our hair • would only grow on again quick, we would go in and try to do a mash ourselves and. annex that sweet child Minnie without delay. We are like the Baillie in -'.Rip Van Winkle," we "likes 'em young;" and Minnieabout fills the bill. The brightest vocal ge m of the. opera is, without a doubt, the beautifulintroduced song in the encampment by moonlight, " Shadows are falling and Day- • light , is dying," which is sung exquisitely by Miss Florence de Lorme, an Auckland young lady, who, it will be remembered, joined the troupe when it was here j>reviously. Miss do Lorme has developed into a well-grown young lady, and her then,

pretty voice lias ripened into an organ than which few we have listened to have given ms greater pleasure. There is no effort discernible in ...taking notes in the upper register, while smoothness and evenness •characterise/eyery note, high or low. Add to all this th§. varying feeling expressed, one moment martially ringing, the next sweet .and sad as twilight zephyr, and you can form some idea of the pleasure to be gained Iby listening to this fair cantatrice. The scenery and effects are excellent and appropriate in every particular.