THE ROYAL MIDDY.

Auckland Star, Volume XIII, Issue 3559, 5 January 1882, Page 2

THE ROYAL MIDDY.

The repetition of this charming comic opera bad the died of attracting a large and iunhionablo audience to the Theatre Koyal last evening. A brief description of the dramatis persona; will sullico to (lit,. clone Ibc nature of the story and tin: manner of its treatment. Lambert do St. Fresnay (Mr C. Turner) is a quondam midohipman ia tho Portuguese Navy, who Income the husband of his Queen and Lord High Admirnl; Fanchctte Michel (Mini Montague) is a Parisian soubrctte actress who follows him to his Lisbon residence and positively refuses to leave ; Don Janunrio (Mr Farley) is a Brazilian Cnnsus of most indolent habits, who fall a in lovo with Fanchettc, and who U attended by a negro (Mr Morrison) ; uiid Don Domingcs (Mrßenharn) is a portly and near-sighted Lord Chamborhio, possessed of a very curious disposition, ami a sleeploss jealousy of his wife. The other leading personages are the Queen of Portugal (Mies Josephine Deakin), and Donna Autonia, Domiugos's wife, (Miss Carrie Godfrey). The scene in the third act is laid in the Admiral's private apartments at the palace, whit.i tho Queen visits, and whither al»o tho soubrctte penetrates. At tho approach of tho Quean the actress hastily weapon into an adjacent room. Tho actress has a long and passionate interview with the Admiral, is seen and bolovcd by the Brazilian, and on tho approach of the Qucon, finds refuge in an adjaceit room. Suspicion, however, has been nronsed, but on the chamber being opened sho is found in the disguise of a Middy, and marital felicity again reigns supreme. Tho actress, however, having assumed tho rOle of a Middy, is perforce obliged to play the part out, aud herein the librettist finds occasion for much pleasantry and plenty of amusing by-play. Fanchette passes as animagioarv Captain Don Marizio, who has been scandalising tho city by hia amours and escapades, he has to conceal his sea-sickness, veil bis distaste for tobacco and rum, and summon up courage to fight a duel. These things transpire on tho quarter-deck of the Admiral's vessel. From it the sceno changes to the Queen's boudoir, where the suppositions Marizio, having inspired the Queen with a passion for him, by a ruto concerted with the Admiral finds his way nnd urges his suit. Lie is surprised, retreats to an inner chamber, and at the moment of discovery re-apnears in feminine habiliments. Low comedy linds apt exponents ir? Mungo (Mr MorrisoD) who laughs, sneezes, sighs, and raves with tho utmost effect and humility at tho command of his master, and in tho Chamberlain (Mr Benhani) whose short-sightedness causes him to blunder most amusingly. Mr Farley admirably impersonates the Brazilian. Miss Dcakin creditably plays the Queen, and Miss Montague and Mr Turner, of course, carry through the leading rOles very effectively. In the first act there are two very fine ducts, while a song by Miss Montague and a quartette by Misses Montague and Godfrey and Messrs Turner and Farley aro also "taking." The second act comprises songs by Miss Montague and Mr Turner, the Middies' Chorus, a pretty sestottc and a capital finale, while the third act contains a sciies of delightful concerted pieces. Miss Montague displayed to great advantage the range,purity, thorough culture, and wonderfulneximlity of borvoice by thcfacileand highly succcsful manner in which sho executed the florid and involved music of her part, aud Mr Turner did ample justice to the exactions of his own arduous role. "The Koyal Middy" will be repeated as»aia to-night, and we heartily recommend our readers to go and see it.