AUCKLAND AMATEUR OPERA CLUB.

Auckland Star, Volume XXV, Issue 87, 12 April 1894, Page 5

AUCKLAND AMATEUR OPERA CLUB.

' "MADAME FAVART."

The Opera House was crowded lasb night with a mosb enthusiastic audience, when " Madame Favarb " was produced for the secon* time by tbe Auckland Amateur Opora Club. From the use of the curtain to its fall the performance was a pronounced success, and encores were the order ot the evening. The opera is mounted and staged in a moat lavish manner, while the groupings of spl.ndidlyattired ladies and gentlemen in the difierent acts is very tine indeed. Nothing could -c moro striking or effective than the drill chorus at the opening ol the third act, and the audience loudly testified their approval. . The. choruses as a whole, indeed, wenb off splendidly, there being now almost an entire absence of what little detects were noticeable on the opening night. Added to this there is an absence ot staginess about the membersof the chorus and a brightne.j and charm aboub the whole which is charming. The cachucha introduced into the third act and danced by Misses Keeve, Laura Warren, Davie, Turk, Parker, Elsmore, Reynolds, and Evans, proved a big "hit." The dance was gracefully done, and ab the conclusion the young ladies were deservedly encored. Mr John Fuller's pure tenor voice was again heard to advantage in the beaubiful Spanish love Rong " Espanita " (interpolated), and the last verse had* to be repeated. Miss Lizzie Warren was the recipient of two floral oiierings during tho evening, one being a hanasome basket of flowers. She sang and acted her part really well throughout, and in her song " Tho Debutante," at fche opening of the second act, she scored decisively. One of the.most succoasful and best-ieceived numbers in the opera ia "The Puff Song," by Mr Goorge Warre* (Favan). The " business " and humour introduced by Mr Warren are very clever indeed, and 6hows that the exponent of this pare has much natural talent as an actor. Mr Warron gained a well-merited recall. The appearance of Mr Archdale Tayler ou the stage was the signal for an outburst of applause. Hia impersonation of the Marquis de Boispreau is artistic ancl well thought out, while no fault can be found with his acting, in fact in this respect he far excels above the other members of the caste. MrTayler's singing <s also satisfactory. Mrs Cooper is the lilo and soul of the opera, and her vocal contributions came in ior marked favour. Her singing of the air " The Novice " was highly etlective, and elicited a round of applause. Even more successful was her song "The Artless Thing," with its rich and vigorous chorus. The voices of Mr Fuller and Mrs Cooper blended beautifully in the catchy duet "In the Dusk of the Twilight," and they richly deserved the encore gained. One of the besb played and actod parts in the whole opera is that of RJ.cotin, the innkeeper, by Mr F. Cotteroll. The part is only a small ono, but Mr Cotterell made ib a feature of the performance. The more we see of Mr Geo. Reid, the more we regret that he did nob see his way bo take a bigger part than "the sergeant," of which ho make, the most, but he has undergone the labour at leading roles in previous operas, and well deserves a rest. On the whole, last night's production showed a marked improvement on the opening night, and the performance, moreover, was got through in good time, "Madame Favarb" will be staged again to-night, and the Club should have a most successful season. The booking for to. night and to-morrow night is very largo.